Holsworthy seat still too close to call as Labor at risk of minority government

Despite Labor sweeping across southwest Sydney, one seat is still too close to call. Find out how close the count is in Holsworthy.

Mick Maroney and Tina Ayyad.

A southwest Sydney seat hangs in the balance while the dream of a majority government is not yet locked in for Premier-elect Chris Minns with six seats too close to call.

Despite widespread gains for Labor in Sydney’s west, the seat of Holsworthy is still up for grabs with Liberal Tina Ayyad leading by a few hundred votes against Labor candidate Mick Maroney.

Ms Ayyad is likely to come to parliament after she rolled former MP Melanie Gibbons in preselection.

Ms Gibbons had represented Holsworthy since 2015 and held it by 6.2 per cent, but went up against Gareth Ward in the seat of Kiama after losing preselection.

Ms Ayyad said she was confident, based on the numbers as they stand, that she would retain the seat for the Liberal Party.

“I think it will be close but I am feeling very confident,” she said.

“If you look across the state, in some areas there was a swing against the Libs and the Labor Party made up some ground, and I think overall if you look across the state I think my swing is insignificant.

“Richard Ammoun was the candidate for Liverpool and he actually got a swing towards the Libs, he didn’t win the seat, but he did wonderful, so if you look across the state I think we did quite well here in the southwest.”

Ms Ayyad thanked all her supporters and said if she won she looked forward to advocating for the region to the best of her ability.

“I wish all the new elected officials much luck and it is my hope they will govern with justice and do what is best for their electorate,” she said.

Tina Ayyad. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Maroney said it was an extremely tight race and he had not given up hope, but it was a “nerve-racking” wait.

He said the numbers indicated there was a likelihood they would lose, but he was not backing down just yet.

“It is up and down, we have counted most of the booths and there are still some preferences that haven’t been included in the count that may go our way,” he said.

“At this stage, my opponent is in the lead and probably sitting in a place where she could be lodged as a favourite given the postal votes are coming in which generally favour the incumbent.

“We are optimistic but we are also pragmatic given there is a lead going into the final half of the count.

“It may be favourable for the Liberals, but anything can happen. It is quite nerve-racking.”

Holsworthy Labor candidate Mick Maroney

Mick Maroney pictured with premier-elect Chris Minns at JB Metropolitan Distribution in Moorebank to announce their plan to end the secrecy around toll road contracts. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Maroney said there were a few factors that could have contributed to the election being such a tight race in Holsworthy.

He said the electorate covers parts of Liverpool and Sutherland councils which are very different areas based on their needs and cultures.

“We also had the sitting MP defeated at preselection, and I think there were a lot of people, particularly in the Shire, who had enjoyed her leadership so they may have been disaffected,” he said.

Mr Maroney said there had been “huge swings” to Labor in Menai, which could also be attributed to the fact that he is a local resident.

He said he was keen for the result to be finalised so he knew which of two directions life would take.