NSW election 2019: Geoff Provest retains Tweed for Nationals in NSW State Election

The Nationals have fought off a tough challenge from Labor to retain the seat of Tweed in the NSW State Election. But the victory has huge implications for the future of the new Tweed Hospital

THE Nationals have retained the seat of Tweed in the NSW State Election and will push forward with construction on a controversial new hospital at Cudgen.

While less than two-thirds of the votes had been counted by Sunday morning, it’s clear Member for Tweed Geoff Provest will enter his fourth term in office, alongside a Liberal National government.

Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and his partner Kirstin Alexander celebrating him retaining the seat for the National Party.

He pipped Labor candidate Craig Elliot to the post after a campaign by both men largely focused on the location of the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital

Mr Provest snagged 54 per cent of the total vote after preferences, marking a 0.8 per cent swing towards the Nationals.

“We won, the hospital will be built, we’re not going to muck around now, we’re going to build this damn thing,” Mr Provest said last night.

Federal Richmond MP Justine Elliot with her husband, Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot. Pic: Rick Koenig

“All those anti-people, go away. It’s done, the people of the Tweed have spoken. We’re in, that’s it.”

So far, Mr Provest has attracted 47.1 per cent of first preferences (16,242) while former police officer Mr Elliot has drawn 32.2 per cent (11,100), according to statistics from the NSW Electoral Commission.

Greens candidate Bill Fenelon has managed to nab 13.5 per cent of first preferences (4642), while Sustainable Australia candidate Ronald McDonald got four per cent of first preferences (1363) and Animal Justice Party candidate Susie Hearder racked up 3.3 per cent (1126).

Tweed MP Geoff Provest. Picture: Rick Koenig

Mr Provest declared victory late Saturday night and Mr Elliot conceded defeat on Sunday morning.

He congratulated Mr Provest and extended his thanks to those who had supported and assisted him during a long year of campaigning.

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Artist's impression of new Tweed Valley Hospital.

The Federal seat of Richmond overlaps the State seat of Tweed and has been held by Mr Elliot’s wife Justine Elliot since 2004.

Some analysts predicted Labor would likely take Tweed back from the Nationals this election after conceding the seat in 2007, but it was evidently not to be.

A total of 36,185 votes had been counted for now and nearly one in 20 of those votes (4.73 per cent) will not make a difference as they were informal and not completed properly.