NSW Election 2023: Parramatta, Penrith must-win seats as western Sydney heads to ballot box
As safe Liberal seats tumble across western Sydney, former Liberal Minister Stuart Ayres has told his political supporters – “I’m not going to sugar coat it … it’s been an ugly night for the Liberal Party”.
Parramatta
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Safe Liberal seats have fallen to Labor in a bloodbath election for the state government of the last 12 years.
Experts have called the seats of Parramatta, Penrith and Riverstone to be won by Labor, paving the way for Chris Minns to form a majority government.
Liberal’s Mark Taylor has held onto the electorate of Winston Hills, while Labor has retained the seats of Mr Druitt, and Blacktown.
‘Don’t want to sugar coat it’: Ayres shows face
Stuart Ayres has made an address to his supporters gathered at Panthers Leagues Club warning “there will be no result tonight”, with 11,000 votes from the two major pre-polling booths yet to be counted along with a further 3000 postal votes.
The incumbent Liberal MP admitted: “I’m not going to sugar coat it – it is a narrow path so over the next couple of days we need to let the electoral commission do their work”.
“As we’ve its been a remarkable fight. We’ve seen across the state it’s been an ugly night for the Liberal Party.”
He was joined by his partner, former Foreign Affairs Marise Payne, and thanked his campaign staff for putting up a “remarkable fight”.
He asked his supporters to keep recently ousted premier Dominic Perrottet in their thoughts before signing off with a jovial: “Now somebody get me a beer”.
‘A wonderful opportunity for Parramatta to flourish’: Labor claims Parramatta but loses its grip on Winston Hills
9.15pm Chanting Don-na, Don-na, Don-na to a throng of supporters, Donna Davis has delivered her victory speech at Rosehill Bowling Club.
Parramatta federal Labor MP Andrew Charlton, who claimed victory in May, introduced his cohort who said she wanted to deliver on grassroots issues.
“The voters of Parramatta have put their faith in Labor today and they’ve pressed go on a fresh start for Parramatta, with a fresh approach,’’ she said.
“They are wanting somebody to be their representative who has a track record of listening and being a strong advocate and representing their community.
“I hope that I can transfer what I have been doing at the local level into state government so that we can have a wonderful opportunity for Parramatta to really flourish.’’
Mr Charlton said having Labor in office at state and federal was “a real opportunity to make great changes in Parramatta now”.
He said Parramatta turning red at the federal poll was only “part” of the reason the same result prevailed for the state election.
“I think another part of it has been a lot of change in Parramatta over the last four years and I always say the future of Parramatta is the future of Australia,” she said.
Ms Davis has raced ahead with 47.44 per cent of the vote. Liberal Katie Mullens trails with 35.19 per cent.
Despite an early lead to Labor’s Sameer Pandey in Winston Hills, Mark Taylor will hold onto the seat with 47.72 per cent of the vote. Mr Pandey has fallen behind significantly with 39.03 per cent.
‘Rivo is back’: Labor celebrate surprise win in Riverstone
Labor’s Warren Kirby joined throngs of volunteers in celebrating success in the western Sydney seat of Riverstone, after a surprise upset saw the Liberal’s lose the once safe seat.
The Northwest Business Chamber vice president beat out Liberal’s Mohit Kumar, who was picked by outgoing long-time MP Kevin Conolly who held the seat for more than a decade.
“For the very first time, in a long time, ‘Rivo’ belongs with Labor,” Mr Kirby said.
“And, it‘s going to be for some time yet. It’s time we got about repairing out community and making it what all of us deserve.”
Mr Kirby was joined by his wife and family at Schofields Memorial Club.
He campaigned on urgent intervention in infrastructure shortfalls, including schools.
Throughout polling, voters said the area lacked basic infrastructure for new families.
Labor win projected for Penrith in bold claim
-8.50pm
Penrith is set to be represented by former Penrith mayor Karen McKeown, with Sky News calling the electorate for Labor.
Ms McKeown has a 3 per cent lead two party preferred.
The projected victory has been chalked down to the former mayor’s doorknocking efforts.
Two parties almost neck-to-neck, Ayres yet to arrive at party
– 8.10pm
Liberal supporters are slowly tricking into the Ron Mueller conference room at Panthers Leagues Club, with after a tense start the atmosphere is brightening as Stuart Ayres steadily catches up to his Labor opponent Karen McKeown.
With 2631 of the votes counted so far, Labor is ahead by about 200 votes as the competition remains stiff.
Mr Ayres is yet to make an appearance, as early projections tip Labor will claw the seat back.
With 2,631 of the votes counted so far, Labor is ahead by less than 200 votes as the competition remains stiff.
However the man of the hour himself, has yet to make an appearance at his own after-party as early projections tip Labor will claw the seat back.
‘Nerve wracking’: Labor celebrates early win as SkyNews calls ‘must win’ seat
– 7.40pm
Labor is celebrating an early win in the “must win” seat of Riverstone, with Sky News calling the western Sydney electorate for political newcomer Warren Kirby.
Mr Kirby led his Liberal rival and heir-apparent to long-time Liberal MP Kevin Connolly, Mohit Kumar, by more than 20 per cent on a two-party preferred vote as of 7.30pm.
Volunteer Noah Tikoft said there had been a strong surge toward the Labor Party at the polls, with traditional Liberal-held booths reporting a “50/50” split between the major parties.
“The fact we saw more support in those areas suggests strong support for Labor,” he said.
Despite the strong early showing, a final result for the state might be some time off.
Volunteer Chatarina Hanny Angelita Tejs said she was ready for the “most nerve wracking night ever”.
“We really, really want to celebrate a victory tonight,” she said.
Labor set to win back Parramatta, Riverstone electorate
7.15pm:
The western Sydney electorates of Parramatta and Riverstone will no longer be in Liberal hands, with Sky News calling the seats for Labor.
Labor candidate and Parrmatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis has claimed the lead in Parramatta with 50 per cent of formal votes, compared with 28.45 per cent to the Liberals’ Katie Mullens, 28.45 per cent to the Greens’ Ben Hammond and 3.45 per cent each to One Nation candidate Mritunjay Singh and the Sustainable Australia Party’s David Moll.
Labor’s lead prompted the faithful to erupt in a brief round of applause at Rosehill Bowling Club, where Mrs Davis is due to arrive shortly.
Retiring Parramatta MP Geoff Lee, who has held the seat since 2011, said it was a different time when he was elected with not much infrastructure.
“It is hard to transfer that personal following onto new candidates,’’ he told Sky News.
It’s a closer battle at Winston Hills where Sameer Pandey leads marginally with 44.19 per cent of the vote compared with 43.05 per cent to Mark Taylor.
‘Cautiously optimistic’ Too close to call in ‘must win’ Riverstone
5.45pm: Volunteers from both major parties said the vote in “must win” Riverstone was too close to call, amid claims of widespread voter “apathy”.
Labor volunteer Januk Surawera has been at The Ponds High School polling station since 8am, and said he had received “mixed reactions” from voters filing into the busy booth.
Nonetheless, he was “cautiously optimistic” about the result.
“I think we might get it if there is enough of a swing,” he said. “But, I feel like there is a good mix of Labor and Liberals, which is what we want.”
Mr Surawera said many large families had attended the polling station.
Sydney’s northwest has increasingly become a destination for families looking for affordable housing, despite claims from voters the area lacks infrastructure, like schools and parks.
Liberal volunteer Daniel Brent agreed with his Labor rival that voters seemed disinterested.
“I think the reaction has leant a bit more towards apathy,” he said. “They show up because they are expected to show up.
“Overall, I think it’s about 50-50.”
Mr Brent couldn’t give a “positive or negative” about his party’s chances of retaining power.
Booths across the state close at 6pm.
Labor hopeful ends day on the hustings at swinging booth
4.40pm: Parramatta Labor hopeful Donna Davis has completed the last leg of election day at the Rosehill Public School polling centre where the city’s Lord Mayor would not reveal if she planned to continue her council role if she claims tonight’s poll.
The council will meet for its regular fortnightly meeting on Monday, when Mrs Davis said the poll would not be officially declared.
“At this stage everyone knows there won’t be a final decision on Monday even if there is a significant swing either way tonight,’’ she said.
Mrs Davis started polling day at one of the crucial booths at Wentworth Point – a suburb crippled with poor infrastructure to keep up with its population, which is one of the most dense in the state.
“It’s important as a new part of the electorate that these voters feel confident that the new member will represent them and their needs,’’ Ms Davis said. “The biggest issue is development has gone ahead of amenity.’’
She said that included the failure for the Liberals to build a peninsula park and deliver reliable public transport.
The Dundas Valley resident has witnessed “positivity improving’’ as her campaign developed.
She is pitted against Liberal hopeful Katie Mullens following the retirement of incumbent Geoff Lee, who holds the seat by 6.5 per cent.
“The feeling has been good but anything over six per cent is still a significant hurdle to jump over,’’ she said.
She described Rosehill Public School as a swinging booth with a conservative base.
“It’s an interesting booth because you’ve got these people that are long term residents but you’ve also got a transient population living in units.’’
Rosehill’s Richard Bagnato, a 61-year-old safety manager for a mechanical and electric company, voted Labor.
“What’s important to me is knowing we can look after our most vulnerable people and that we have good facilities – hospitals, roads, schools and that we protect this,’’ he said.
Shibani Jadhav also got Mrs Davis’ vote.
“Interest rates and the cost of living, that’s what I’m concerned about,’’ the retail worker and office manager said. “I purchased an apartment in 2018 so it’s the interest rates and the prices of groceries.’’
The Rosehill resident would like to buy a house, which is “very difficult for people my age”.
The 30-year-old traditionally votes Labor.
“I think it’s a mindset that Labor is there for the working people and just the stage of my life I’m at, I think Labor will be more supportive,’’ she said.
However, 47-year-old truck driver Adrian Johns will cast his vote for the Liberals because it’s “just the way my parents voted”.
North Parramatta bus driver Scott Lucas named public transport as the issue with which he was most concerned.
“I’m sort of a rusted-on Liberal so I don’t usually change my vote,’’ he said. “I suppose they can improve infrastructure a little bit.’’
His Brazilian partner, Mariana Kazan, cannot vote because she is not an Australian citizen but would have backed Labor if she could.
“I’m Left all the way,’’ she said.
‘Propaganda’: Animal Justice Party hit back at claims they want to ban pets
– by Madeleine Damo (4pm)
Penrith candidate for the Animal Justice Party, Vanessa Blazi, has hit back at claims circulating about her party’s stance toward companion animals.
As she handed out flyers, Ms Blazi aired her frustrations toward an election day radio report earlier which claimed her party was planning to take companion animals away.
“There has been a lot of propaganda today surrounding our stance on companion animals. I’ve had a lot of people come up just to clarify. We absolutely endorse people owning companion animals and that’s what we encourage,” she said.
“Aside from that the response has been really positive, a lot of people didn’t even know we existed before today, and a few then came up to me after to say we’ve got their vote.
Education a top priority for Penrith pollers
– by Madeleine Damo (4pm)
Voters across the Penrith electorate have frequently mentioned to this publication that one of the biggest concerns education and the state of public schools.
Handing out flyers, Teachers Union representative Ray Stefakis called on locals to consider the state of the region’s schools when casting their vote.
“We need real change, every school has shortage of teachers and classes not taught. We need help,” she said.
South Penrith resident Denise also named education as her key concern.
“Education, law and order, and also inflation, I think that’s a big one,” she said.
‘Just a box to tick’: Spirits dampen as sky clouds over in key seat
– by Madeleine Damo (3pm)
As election days enters the final hours, voting numbers are dwindling at Jamison High School polling booth in the Penrith electorate.
Spirits seem to have dampened as the sky clouds over, with attitudes ranging from nonchalant to disinterested, as some pollers see their civic duty as “just another chore to do”.
“It’s just a box I’ve got to tick, I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” said one man.
First time voter 19-year-old Eliza from Kingswood said she had found the process stressful.
“It’s been stressful and I wish I didn’t have to do it,” she said.
Incumbent Liberal MP Stuart Ayres appeared to be calm and confident as he handed out flyers, conceding “it’s going to be a tight competition”.
“It’s going to be a tight competition and that’s been reflected in the pollers we’ve seen today, this is the biggest polling booth in the electorate and what we’ve seen has been fairly even.”
‘People have the right’: Pakistani historian jubilant after Riverstone vote
2pm: For Pakistani historian Muhammed Shahbaz, election watching is a storied pasttime.
The 79-year-old was visiting his son at Kellyville Ridge on Saturday when he decided to take a look inside the Blacktown Leisure Centre polling centre.
“It’s a very peaceful and enthusiastic process, which is encouraging to see,” Mr Shabaz said.
“Labor and the Liberals are next to each other trying to convince the voters.
“Back home in India and Pakistan, you would never see supporters together like this.”
For the native of Lahore, Saturday’s vote wasn’t his first taste of “respectful” democracy.
The former army colonel also attended Canadian elections, where he is not a citizen.
A keen student of history, Mr Shahbaz listed the peaceful handovers of power by Winston Churchill and changes of government in Canada as being examples of good democracy.
Mr Shahbaz was also intimately familiar with Australian democracy, with an in-depth knowledge of the Mabo decision and recognition of Aboriginal land rights in the 1960s.
Amid ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan, Mr Shahbaz plans to stay in Australia until September. In the meantime, he plans to write essays and letters on his time Australia.
Mr Shahbaz is one of many South Asian migrants and refugees who have settled in Sydney’s booming northwest, where one in five have heritage from the Indian subcontinent.
Penrith frontrunners make last minute pitches
1pm – Voting is under way in the ultra-marginal seat of Penrith to decide whether the Liberal’s will retain their throne or if the ‘Riff will welcome a red wave.
The candidates for the major parties, current Liberal MP Stuart Ayres and former Penrith mayor Karen McKeown, are on the ground making last minute pitches as the eleventh hour inches closer.
About 1100 votes separated Stuart Ayres and Labor’s challenge at the last election. Key issues for voters are Warragamba Dam, Penrith Stadium and health workers.
‘Stronger communities’: Liberal heir-apparent‘s last pitch to voters in ‘must win’ electorate
12pm – Liberal candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar has doubled down on allegations Labor will cancel western Sydney projects despite a rebuke from Parliamentary Budget Office, as the heir-apparent makes his final pitch to voters.
Mr Kumar called on voters lined up outside the Blacktown Leisure Centre at Stanhope Gardens to “stay the course”, following the resignation of long-time Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly.
The Blacktown-area police prosecutor warned voters that, “according to PBO costings”, Labor would potentially cancel projects, despite the office stating the party would not “cut” funding from WestInvest.
Speaking with this publication, Mr Kumar said increases to cost of living and infrastructure problems in Sydney’s booming northwest were high on the agenda for voters.
“The Liberals have a strong economic plan and we’ll keep NSW moving forward. If Labor comes in, it is all going to stall.” Mr Kumar said.
“We are trying to remind voters we are the ones that got them through Covid, and were able to sustain their small businesses.”
For schoolteacher Rashed, economic pressures were high on the agenda.
The Liberal's heir apparent in Riverstone, Mohit Kumar, has given his final pitch to voters outside the Blacktown Leisure Centre in Stanhope Gardens #NSWVotes2023 Latest upates here 👉 https://t.co/y0GtYfMpbOpic.twitter.com/kcE6NidGgE
— Nathan Schmidt (@Nate_R_Schmidty) March 25, 2023
“Cost of living and public service wages, because I’m a teacher – that’s what is important,” he said. “There has also been too much spending on infrastructure, but not around here. That, and tolls.”
Rashed did not want to give his full name because he was employed in a public school.
Nurse shortages, education matters and democracy sausages
9.45am: At Toongabbie Public School, voters have named public schools, nurse shortages and the sale of public assets as key issues.
Thousands of voters filed through the gates to cast their vote in the newly-formed seat of Winston Hills while others voted for the seat of Parramatta.
Incumbent Liberal MP Mark Taylor is challenging Labor hopeful and Parramatta Deputy Lord Mayor Sameer Pandey.
“I just hate Labor,’’ Margaret Nedham, 68, said. “I don’t know if I’ve voted anything else. It’s probably cultural, it probably comes from my family.’’
Toongabbie parents Jason and Nichole Murphy also backed the Liberals.
Mrs Murphy, a sales representative, and her bricklayer husband have liked the way the party invested in schools.
“Mark did a lot for Darcy Rd Public School (at Westmead),’’ Ms Murphy said.
They have also welcomed the Liberals’ upgrade of Pendle Hill High School, where their 14 and 17-year-old daughters attend.
However, a Westmead Hospital nurse, who did not wished to be named, is backing Labor after experiencing crippling staff shortages.
“Liberals aren’t doing anything about it and they haven’t done it for a long time, and it’s just getting worse,’’ she said. “They’re not listening to us – they keep saying it’s all fine and it’s not. It’s getting worse and we’re four or five nurses short every shift.’’
Mr Taylor was dispensing voting forms at Toongabbie Public School on Saturday morning.
Some voters asked if he was related to the Australian cricketer with the same name and others asked if his government would sell Sydney Water, to which he said no.
Since the seat was redistributed from Seven Hills in 2021, it had collected 9000 extra electors.
“This is a 50-50 booth,’’ Mr Taylor said. “It’s great to meet everyone; they’ve taken up the democracy sausage party.’’
No matter constituents’ political persuasions, one issue not in contention was the tucker at the well-catered for school sausage sizzle and cake stand where parents and students sold their treats to raise funds for the school band.
Mum Beth Smith ordered 40kg of sausages, 20kg of bacon and 25 dozen eggs, while 75 bread loaves and 20kg of onions were donated from Woolworths and Toongabbie business Bec’s Fruit and Veg respectively to feed the masses.
Robert Medved and Tim Dabinett were planning to cast their votes after their barbecue duties.
Mr Medved said he was concerned about the sale of public assets including electricity.
“It’s all profit based,’’ he said.
For Mr Dabinett, education was a key issue for his children who are yet to start high school.
“We’re concerned about local high schools,’’ he said. “We’re looking at moving to a better catchment or sending them to a private school.’’
‘Breaking point’: Labor lambasts infrastructure woes as voting begins
9am: Labor’s candidate for Riverstone Warren Kirby says Sydney’s booming northwest is at “breaking point” amid infrastructure shortfalls for new families, from schools to hospitals and playgrounds.
The Northwest Business Chamber vice president is hoping to beat out the Liberal’s heir-apparent, Mohit Kumar, following long-time Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly’s shock resignation last year.
Mr Kirby was hopeful the booming electorate was ready for change.
“People know something is wrong and that it needs to be fixed,” he said. “They understand the roads are broken, that the parks aren’t getting built.”
Mr Kirby said the long-promised Rouse Hill hospital and school capacity were high on voter’s agenda.
“Every single school in the region is overcapacity,” Mr Kirby said. “Here, in Riverstone High School, there is going to be 2,000 students in a school supposed to have 1000 People are asking: ‘Where are all the students going to go?’”
Young parents David and Kate voted at the Riverstone High School on Saturday morning with their two children young girls, aged five and eight.
Election day is underway in Sydney's booming northwest this morning, with Labor's Warren Kirby making his final pitch to unseat long-time Liberals in the "must-win" seat of Riverstone #NSWVotes2023pic.twitter.com/1nzf0bBmxQ
— Nathan Schmidt (@Nate_R_Schmidty) March 24, 2023
The couple, who moved into the area only last year, were aware of the infrastructure problems faced by residents before moving, but thought they “weren’t going to be much of a problem”.
“This is the only area with options we can actually afford,” David said.
“But, there needs to be a lot more work done compared to the city or other parts of western Sydney.”
In particular, David said he wanted to see long-promised parks built for his young children to play.
He also said his nearly three hour daily commute to the CBD could be cut down by an express train.
Father-of-two Chris moved into the Riverstone area three years ago, and believed neither Labor or the Liberals had offered a convincing solution to infrastructure problems.
“I don‘t really know who’s gonna fix the problems here, to be honest,” he said,
“There’s a lot of greenfield sites out here. We just want the infrastructure to support that.”
Voting alongside his three-year-old son, Chris said the area lacked amenities for children was a key issue.
Previous updates
Home to hundreds of thousands of voters, western Sydney will once again be a major battleground this state election.
The top three concerns across the state are cost of living, health care and housing affordability, an exclusive poll has found.
In Parramatta, North Parramatta lawyer Katie Mullens will fight to keep the electorate in Liberal control following the retirement of incumbent Geoff Lee, who kept the electorate in blue hands since 2011. It is held by a 6.5 per cent margin.
She is pitted against Labor Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis who enjoys a high profile on the council, on which she has served since 2017.
The battle for the seat, which stretches from Westmead to Clyde and Ermington, has produced a slew of Liberal promises. They include $5m for the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite community, $111m to build the Parramatta PCYC, a $56m Parramatta Park upgrade and a pledge to save the Roxy theatre – which Labor has matched.
At Penrith, former Liberal minister Stuart Ayres holds the electorate by a tiny notional 0.6 per cent and is in the battle of his political life against popular former mayor Karen McKeown, Labor’s candidate.
About 1100 votes separated Stuart Ayres and Labor’s challenge at the last election. Key issues for voters are Warragamba Dam, Penrith Stadium and health workers.
In the Blacktown region, the major parties focused squarely on the Riverstone electorate, with a number of key election commitments to Rouse Hill Hospital and road upgrades.
Many NSW voters have already made up their mind and cast their vote – the latest figures from the NSW Electoral Commission show, as of 9am on Friday, a record 1.2 million people had already voted at prepoll booths.
NewsLocal has done some of the legwork for you – talking to candidates across the state to learn a bit more about their stances, views and background. From the Tweed to Bega, from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to Dubbo: we’ve compiled the candidates standing in your local seat.
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