Marjorie O’Neill mourns father’s death as election results put her in line to win
Labor candidate for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill is mourning the death of her father as Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith conceded defeat to her in the seat.
Labor candidate for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill is mourning the death of her father as results from Saturday’s election put her in line to clinch victory in the marginal seat.
Ms O’Neill confirmed on Monday that her father Brian O’Neill died on Sunday night after suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Mr O’Neill was a former NSW Industrial Relations Commissioner and member of the Labor Party and union movement.
He had been campaigning for his daughter on the streets of Coogee in the lead up to the election.
Late on Monday afternoon Coogee state Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith conceded defeat.
“It is a bittersweet moment for me and my family today,” Ms O’Neill said.
“I have lost my dear father, who instilled in me the ideals of public service, of fighting for social justice and for the rights of working people ... I am so grateful that my father knew before he died that I would be elected.”
“It will be with his memory that I get up every morning and work to serve the people of Coogee, speaking up for them and holding this government to account.”
The latest results from the NSW Electoral Commission show Ms O’Neill has widened her lead to 1292 votes, or 51.7 per cent, after preferences. Mr Notley-Smith becomes the only Liberal member to concede a loss in the election.
“I want to warmly congratulate Marjorie O’Neill on her victory and wish her all the very best for the coming term,” Mr Notley-Smith said.
“It has been an incredible privilege to serve as the Member for Coogee and I’m proud to have delivered on the commitments I made to my constituents.”
He spoke proudly of the light rail, major upgrades to public schools and the redevelopment of Prince of Wales Hospital and thanked all of his “fabulous volunteers and supporters, my dear family and friends, and most of all, my partner and greatest supporter of all Paul McCormack”.
Ms O’Neill – a Waverley councillor and volunteer surf lifesaver at Clovelly Surf Club – will become the first woman to represent the seat of Coogee.
“My great grandmother left school at 12. My grandmother left school at 15. My mother was the first in her family to finish school,” she said.
“That I have been able to go to university, earn a PhD, and now have the privilege of representing this community shows you what progress looks like.
“I am humbled and inspired by the support I have found in this community, which has been home to my family for five generations and which has been so good to me. I thank all the local campaigners and supporters who worked so hard alongside me to listen to voters, and to connect with them on the issues they feel passionate about.”
Ms O’Neill said her top four priorities as the new Member for Coogee were action on climate change, overdevelopment, funding and staffing for schools and hospitals.
“We need to push hard on the Liberals and Nationals to put the interests of the community before developers … we have to give communities more of a say.”
Ms O’Neill said she would continue to serve on Waverley Council until September 2020.
Coogee is the only Liberal seat in NSW gained by Labor in the election.
The Coalition on Monday secured the 47th seat it needed to form a majority in the 93-seat NSW lower house, after winning Dubbo.
“I’m delighted to see my dear friend, Gladys Berejiklian, and all my colleagues returned to government and I congratulate them all on their dedication and success,” Mr Notley-Smith said.
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