Scott Morrison hit the hustings with Simon Kennedy in Cook by-election

The new MP for the southern Sydney seat of Cook to replace former prime minister Scott Morrison has been decided.

The Liberal Party has easily retained Scott Morrison’s seat of Cook following Saturday’s by-election

Simon Kennedy scored about than 63 per cent of the primary vote for a win against a limited field, that did not include a Labor candidate.

The former prime minister turned out to help Mr Kennedy at voting on Saturday, publicly backing him on social media.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Liberal candidate for Morrisons seat of Cook, Simon Kennedy at Lilli Pilli school poling station this morning. Picture: X

But although Mr Morrison could vote for Mr Kennedy, the former McKinsey consultant couldn’t vote for himself after he only moved to the electorate after rolls closed, he was unable to vote for himself in accordance with Australian electoral rules.

That didn’t stop Mr Morrison from encouraging locals to get behind him.

“It’s by-election day in Cook,” he shared on X.

“Great to be with @simonkennedycook at Lilli Pilli this morning and wish him all the best.

“He’ll do a terrific job for us locally and as part of our Liberal team. I encourage to come out today to vote and support Simon.”

It’s by-election day in Cook. Great to be with @simonkennedycook at Lilli Pilli this morning and wish him all the best. He’ll do a terrific job for us locally and as part of our Liberal team. I encourage to come out today to vote and support Simon.. pic.twitter.com/GnRo9QwwvE

— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) April 12, 2024

Simon Kennedy moved into the Cook electorate after winning preselection earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

Simon Kennedy and wife Nila, son taj, 8 and daughter Kaia 6 arrive at Burraneer Bay school. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

It’s not Mr Kennedy’s first attempt to enter federal parliament. He stood in the seat of Bennelong on the other side of the city in 2022, losing a close battle with Labor’s Jerome Laxale.

The fact that Mr Kennedy could not vote for himself is not expected to change the outcome.

Cook is one of the safest Liberal seats in the country.

Mr Morrison retained the Sutherland Shire electorate with a 12.4 per cent margin in 2022 – although down from 19 per cent in 2019 – after he picked up almost two thirds of the two-party preferred vote.

Mr Kennedy won 70.85 per cent of the two-party preferred vote against the Greens candidate Martin Moore

The Labor Party decided not to stand a candidate in Saturday’s by-election, with the federal election due within the year.

Simon Earle, who stood for the seat in 2022, took to X on Friday to share his thoughts about that decision.

“I reckon we would’ve gone all right tomorrow,” he wrote on X.

Simon Earle former Labor candidate for Cook (right) with the current running Liberal Candidate Simon Kennedy. Picture: X

No “voting for myself” shots for Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy in the Cook by-election tomorrow. #cookvotespic.twitter.com/s1EwdzXW3i

— Isobel Roe (@isobelroe) April 12, 2024

Low voter turnout was expected because some locals are unhappy with the Liberal Party’s selection of Mr Kennedy, who did not live in the electorate when he beat out the local mayor and a popular advocate in preselection.

Pollster Kos Samaras said voter disenchantment and Labor’s decision not to run a candidate could create a “perfect storm” for the party to actually lose some of their margin.

Five other candidates were on the ballot, but only Mr Moore won more than 7000 votes.

Voter apathy for the by-election had concerned the Australian Electoral Commission.

Mr Moore and Mr Kennedy were the only candidates to beat the informal vote of 5859.

Volunteers and voters at Burraneer Public School on Saturday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Cook is considered one of the safest Liberal seats in the country. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Voter turnout for by-elections is traditionally lower than a full federal election, but the AEC said they were concerned by how few people had voted early in Cook and had put out “more communication for a single by-election than we’ve ever done”.

Polls open at 8am and closed at 6pm when counting started.

Originally published as Scott Morrison hit the hustings with Simon Kennedy in Cook by-election