Canterbury-Bankstown Council elections: Labor off to a strong start as votes roll in

AS results start to trickle in, Labor has hit the ground running and have taken a clear lead in all five wards in Canterbury-Bankstown Council elections.

Voters make their way to the polling booth today.

• Council elections: when, where and who you can vote for today
• Big field of choice in Canterbury-Bankstown

LABOR has hit the ground running, taking the lead in all five wards in Canterbury-Bankstown Council elections.

First preference results began to trickle in this evening after polls closed at 6pm.

As of 8pm, Labor had secured 10 of 15 seats across the five wards — but this is a moving target, with first-preference votes being tallied until 10pm.

Currently Labor has received 58 per cent of votes in the Bankstown ward, 61 per cent in Bass Hill, and 57 per cent in Roselands.

The competition looks to be much stiffer in Canterbury ward with the Liberal party, headed by lead candidate Philip Madirazza, on 24 per cent, and hot on the heels of Labor’s efforts, headed by Clare Raffan, with 37 per cent.

In Revesby the Liberal Party were only 10 per cent behind Labor’s 39 per cent majority.

Canterbury-Bankstown had one of the largest number of pre-poll voters — meaning that a clear picture of the results will not likely be known until these early votes are counted.

It is anticipated that all counts will be completed and results declared by next Saturday.
More to come.