Federal Election 2022 Results: Incumbent Macarthur MP claims victory

Labor’s Mike Freelander has claimed victory in the seat of Macarthur, telling his followers he will “not rest on his laurels”.

The current MP for the seat of Macarthur has claimed victory after more than 30 per cent of the votes were counted, telling his followers he will “not rest on his laurels”.

Mike Freelander announced the outcome to a room of the party faithful dressed in bright red who erupted in cheers. Dr Freelander said he was thrilled with the result.

“It is not just because I have won for the third time but also that we have a hope of a Labor government,” he said.

“It has been a frustrating six years in opposition but if we are in government then it will be fantastic.”

Dr Freelander said if Labor wins the election, funding for Appin Road, a Campbelltown child development unit, and better infrastructure will all be priorities.

“I will not rest. I know I cannot rest on my laurels,” he said.

Sharon and Mike Freelander after he claimed a victory for the seat of Macarthur in the 2022 federal election.

“I will be working harder than ever to deliver for the area of Macarthur which has been ignored by state and federal governments for far too long.

“If we don‘t get to government I will find that incredibly frustrating but if we are in opposition then I plan to be much more vocal about the things that need to get done.”

Dr Freelander thanked his wife, Sharon, his family, team and volunteers.

“They have all worked themselves to the bone,” he said. ”I am a lucky man to have a wife who has never stopped supporting me.”

Binod Paudel said the election is all “about people, for the people”, but he won’t be conceding defeat just yet.

“Whatever the people of Macarthur choose, I accept it happily,” he said.

“Dr Freelander has served the community for the last six years so people might still want him.

“But I am not giving up.”

In the seat of Macarthur, around 45,738 votes have been counted, and Dr Freelander is followed by Liberal candidate Binod Paudel with 28.3 per cent of the vote with the Greens’ Jayden Rivera at 8.22 per cent.

Mike Freelander with his party faithful after he claimed a victory for the seat of Macarthur in the 2022 federal election.

One Nation’s Adam Zhara is sitting at 8.3 per cent, UAP’s Rosa Sicari at 6.66 per cent and the Liberal Democrats’ at 2.07 per cent.

EARLIER

One Nation‘s candidate for Macarthur, Adam Zhara, said he was still hopeful that he might steal a shock win, but his head “wasn’t in the clouds”.

“I have had amazing volunteers that have put in a supreme effort despite the patchy weather,” he said.

“I want to win. All I can say is that based on the effort from me and my team we are hoping to win, but we haven’t got our heads in the clouds.

“Even reducing our margin and building the brand in Macarthur is victory enough.”

United Australia Party candidate Rosetta Sicari said she has thoroughly enjoyed her first experience in running in an election.

“As far as the ballot and the counting, I am not sure where that will go,” she said.

“If I was in the high numbers that would be nice, that would mean I have done a good job in the last six months.

Binod Paudel is running for the seat of Macarthur in the 2022 federal election for the Liberal Party. Picture: Supplied

“I just want to thank all my volunteers who put in so much effort to help me.”

Since the last federal election, Australians have battled raging bushfires, devastating floods, and a pandemic with forced lockdowns.

Labor’s Mike Freelander currently holds the seat of Macarthur and is up against five other candidates this election.

The other candidates include Jayden Rivera for The Greens, Binod Paudel for the Liberal Party, Rosa Sicari for the United Australia Party, Adam Zahra for One Nation and Scott Korman for Liberal Democrats.

Campbelltown resident Umesh Devkota said he was thinking of the economy when he cast his vote in favour of the Liberal candidate.

“In the pandemic, it has been troublesome and I think the Liberals have done quite well so that is why I wanted to support him,” he said.

Another resident, Melinda Bell, said the decision to vote was a simple one for her.

“My grandfather was a Labor supporter through and through and if it’s good enough for him then it’s good enough for me,” she said.

“I am down here at the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation in Airds where I voted this morning and I am also here as a volunteer handing out the pamphlets for the Labor Party.

“I have also got some music going to brighten the day as well.”

There was almost a disaster at one voting booth this morning when the sausage sizzle stall ran out of onions, but one Leumeah Public P & C volunteer saved the day with a fresh supply!

Tracey Oates is the president of the Leumeah Public P & C which was running a beloved democracy sausage sizzle at the school. Residents before and after casting their votes were lining up to get a snag.

Leumeah Public P & C volunteers running a sausage sizzle for the federal election day. Picture: Annie Lewis

It’s the first time since the federal election in 2019, despite a local council election, they have been able to run a stall.

“We have learnt our lesson from that one because we sold out by 10am so we have got a lot more stock this time,” Ms Oates said.

“It does feel a bit more normal to be back like this and it’s great to be able to do this for our community.

“We have had a lot of people here this morning, and some people haven’t even bought a sausage but they have donated to help us continue the work we do.”

When asked the most controversial question of whether it is tomato sauce or BBQ that sauce that belongs on a snag sandwich, Ms Oates had a definitive answer.

“Oh, it has to be tomato,” she said.

But it’s not just about who will win or democracy sausages at one new polling booth in the Macarthur region.

Darryl Wright and Uncle Ivan Wellington at the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation which is operating as a polling booth for the federal election.

It is a momentous day at Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation where it has opened as a polling booth for the first time to encourage more Indigenous people to vote as part of a unique pilot program by the AEC that could be rolled out across Australia.

Tharawal’s CEO Darryl Wright, now 70, said the country has come a long way but the voices of traditional owners of the land needed more representation.

The Dunghutti man said May 21 also marked the 60th anniversary of when the Commonwealth Electoral Act was amended to extend the right to enrol and vote to all Indigenous Australians.

“History is being made here today by becoming a polling booth in the Aboriginal community, and on a day that is so important,” Mr Wright said.

It might be a wet Election Day but Melinda is determined to bring the tunes “with an important message” and even got Dr Mike Freelander to join in #Ausvotes#Auspollpic.twitter.com/YCWOSa5NcR

— Annie Lewis (@LewisAnni) May 20, 2022

“We want Aboriginal people to register and vote because we want to have our voice heard and the only way to make change is to be there.”

Uncle Ivan Wellington, a 75-year-old Tharawal elder, said he never wanted to vote when he was growing up because he was angry after his family had been moved from their lands to a mission near Kiama.

But, that all changed in 1972 when he became involved in the “It’s Time” campaign that swept Labor’s Gough Whitlam into power.

“We need our young people to vote because that is how we will make change,” he said.

“The young people have those who have come before them to help guide them but we have a long way to go, but today is a special day.”

To read more about the Macarthur’s candidates priorities for the region, check out their candidate profiles, and follow statewide live coverage of the election day here.

Mike Freelander, the current Macarthur MP, said he was nervous and no one should take elections for granted, especially this one.

Dr Mike Freelander casts his vote for the 2022 federal election. He is the current Macarthur MP.

“It is an unknown in Macarthur with third parties being a problem and where their preferences are going to flow,” he said.

“The polling suggests Labor is going to do very well overall, I hope that is true but after the last election I won’t take that as gospel.”

Dr Freelander said cost of living and access to healthcare have been the two most significant issues raised by voters with him in recent weeks.

He acknowledged the concerns that some might have that his residential address is in Cunningham and not his own electorate.

“I lived in Picton when it was part of the Macarthur electorate and we might move here again but I spend the vast majority of time in the Macarthur area,” Dr Freelander said.

“I still run a clinic out of Campbelltown Hospital. I love this area.”

Binod Paudel, the Liberal Party candidate, said he hopes the rains hold off for as long as possible to make it an easy day for voters.

He said a lot has changed in the Macarthur region since the last election with the pandemic and increase in population.

“That makes it hard to say what is going to happen,” Mr Paudel said.

“This is my first time running in the federal election and I think we need some local who understands and serves Macarthur.”

Binod Paudel chats to voters at Minto Public School on election day, 2022.

Data from day one of The Daily Telegraph’s exit survey on the first day of pre-poll at the Campbelltown Civic Centre booth showed The Coalition running strong with 45 per cent of the vote ahead of Labor at 35 per cent.

While figures from the Australian Electoral Commission showed that two days out from the election, 23.8 per cent of residents in Macarthur had voted which was up from 19.9 per cent in 2019.

Carl Bester has been a resident in Campbelltown for 15 years and described himself as a “loyal” Labor voter when he decided to vote early.

Campbelltown resident, Carl Bester. Picture: Annie Lewis

“The Liberals always say ‘it’s not my job’,” he said. “They take credit when it goes well and when things are bad they don’t take responsibility or accountability. It’s as simple as that. I think we need a change.”

Mr Bester moved from South Africa to Australia in 2007 and said he appreciated the Labor Government’s efforts in the Global Financial Crisis.

“Labor made sure we didn’t go into a recession. They kept Australia out of it,” he said.

“That’s one of the big reasons I continue to vote for them. I have had enough of The Coalition now. Let’s give Labor a chance now.”

MORE TO COME.