Election 2022: Labor’s claims victory in Gilmore, secures 77th seat

Labor’s Fiona Phillips has promised to drive more action on health and the housing crisis in Gilmore after clinching victory in the marginal south coast electorate following a shock late surge in votes, securing the party its 77th national seat.

Labor’s Fiona Phillips has promised to drive more action on health and the housing crisis in Gilmore after clinching victory in the marginal south coast electorate, securing the party its 77th national seat.

NSW Labor announced late on Tuesday that Ms Phillips had secured the hotly contested seat after a late surge in votes from decleration and absentee ballots saw the incumbent candidate overtake the Liberal’s Andrew Constance.

Mr Constance had maintained a lead of around 200 votes throughout the week after a more than 13 per cent swing to the Liberals, particularly in fire-damaged South Coast regions such as Batemans Bay, but failed to gain significant support in urban areas, including Nowra and Kiama.

While the Australian Electoral Commission has not officially called the vote, a Labor spokesperson said the party was confident Ms Phillips had secured the seat with a lead of more than 200 votes, and more than 1000 votes still to be counted.

Ms Phillips said her re-election represented an opportunity for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and national Labor Party to work together to deliver on local investment projects promised to the community, including in the areas of disaster preparedness and health.

“What we can achieve in government, and having me as a federal MP as part of that, it means the world,” she said.

“It means that we can get more action on things for our local area, whether it‘s health, whether it’s housing, your opportunity, there’s so many opportunities and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Ms Phillips said it had been a “harrowing” week amid the continued vote count.

“I‘ve just been really trying to keep busy and really putting my faith in my in my scrutineers,” she said.

“They’ve been doing the most amazing job, literally clawing back votes and helping me get over the line,” she said.

The shift came on Monday after the AEC began counting votes cast outside of the south coast electorate.

“Yesterday was the big day,” Ms Phillips said.

“We saw that turnaround and I knew we knew then that if that trend continued, that we‘d get there.”

Ms Phillips admitted she had faced stiff competition from Mr Constance, owing to his experience and popularity.

“Andrew has been a local member for 18 years and a minister, so it was very difficult to compete with that,” she said.

“I think the fact that the election has been so close is a testament also to the work that I have done over the last three years, and before that as well, and having those connections right across the community of Gilmore, the north to Tuross Head in the south.

“I think the close election result is a testament of a good campaign.”