Federal election 2022: Votes continue to be counted in Bennelong

Votes continue to go down to the wire in the red hot battle for Bennelong but Liberals have conceded they deserted key voters and could get ready to surrender to Labor. Read the latest.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s fractured relationship with China has cost the Liberal Party a win in key seats, including Bennelong, a party official has declared.

The member, who only spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Chinese community punished the Liberals at polling booths that were traditional blue pockets and had strong Asian populations in Parramatta, Bennelong and Reid, because of Mr Morrison’s tensions with China.

“His stance against the Chinese government with trade, his partnership with the UK and the US, and all the anti-Chinese rhetoric, contributed to Chinese voters leaving the Liberal Party in droves,’’ the Liberal said.

“What’s the cost of a Labor win when they now have to do deals to appease the independents and Teals?’’

The member cited losing the Chinese vote for the Liberals’ defeat in Parramatta and said the same reason could be pointed to the Liberals’ likely loss in Reid, where Chinese-Australian Sally Sitou leads Fiona Martin 55.49 to 44.51.

Bennelong candidate Jerome Laxale at West Ryde Public School on polling day. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Likewise in former Prime Minister John Howard’s old seat of Bennelong, where former Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale is narrowly leading Liberal Simon Kennedy 50.88 to 49.12 of the two-party preferred vote. Mr Laxale is ahead by a mere 1237 votes.

Both seats are home to significant Chinese communities.

Mr Laxale, who would replace retiring Liberal MP John Alexander if elected, concurs with the opinion about offending the Asian community.

“Locals were telling me that the Morrison Government, including (Defence Minister) Peter Dutton mismanaged the relationship with China and the Pacific and that had an impact on them personally,’’ he said.

“They’re Australian but they were being attacked for being Chinese.

“It’s unnecessary politics and Morrison and Dutton’s politics of this international relationship wasn’t in the national interest.’’

Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy speaks to voters yesterday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Mr Laxale said that for the first time there was a 13 per cent swing against the Liberals at the Eastwood Public School booth. The suburb is home to a massive Chinese and Korean community.

At Epping, Labor won every booth in the suburb, and made history by claiming the North Epping Public School polling station for the first time — an achievement Mr Laxale put down to his party’s climate change policies impressing environmentally-conscious voters.

Pre-poll votes continue to be counted.

Mr Kennedy was approached for comment.

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