Cameron once ate 18 democracy sausages in one day. Now he’s won an election

Cameron Last wasn’t holding his breath as the final votes were counted on Tuesday afternoon. The 20-year-old Liberal candidate for Ryde Council was in the lead for the remaining spot, but was closely followed by an independent who had struck a preference deal with Labor.

Last’s apprehension quickly turned to elation as, against the odds, he was confirmed as the final councillor in Ryde’s west ward. “The excitement that came over me when my name appeared on the screen as being elected was incredible,” he said. “It was the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Twenty-year-old Cameron Last was elected to Ryde Council on the Liberal Party ticket.Credit: Steven Siewert

Last is no stranger to the local political scene. He had 15 minutes of fame as “Sausage Boy” at the 2019 federal election, when the then 14-year-old embarked on a mission to taste the democracy sausages at 18 different polling booths across the seat of Bennelong.

Since then, the Denistone local has finished high school, commenced an urban planning degree at Macquarie University, and worked for two Liberal senators: former defence minister Marise Payne and now Maria Kovacic.

Election results were finalised this week when the NSW Electoral Commission pushed the button to compute preferences in mayoral and councillor races across the state.

While Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore retained her mayoralty and entered a sixth term, she has lost outright control of the council with four of the 10 seats, while Labor and the Greens each picked up a seat.

There was significant fallout from the Liberal Party’s failure to nominate candidates in time across about a dozen councils. In the affected Sydney councils the Liberals lost 28 councillors, with the worst-hit areas being the Northern Beaches, Penrith, Campbelltown and the Central Coast.

In the Northern Beaches Council, Liberal representation went from five to zero and the Greens picked up a third and fourth seat, Your Northern Beaches Independent Team picked up a seventh seat, and two more independents joined the council, including Liberal party member Mandeep Singh.

Labor now holds nine of 12 seats in the Blue Mountains, where the Liberals previously had three councillors and now have none. Labor also holds nine of 15 seats in Penrith, and the Liberals two.

Labor also fended off challenges from the Greens to retain an outright majority on Inner West Council, holding eight of 15 seats, including Darcy Byrne’s mayoralty.

Despite the debacle, the Liberals excelled in councils they did not contest in 2021, claiming four seats in Cumberland, five in Bayside, and six in both Blacktown and Parramatta.

In Byron Shire, where the independent sitting mayor was charged with domestic violence offences six weeks before the election, political parties have roared back on to council, taking six of the nine seats on offer.

Former mayor Michael Lyon, who was charged with common assault and intimidation after an incident at his home on August 1, lost his position to Greens candidate Sarah Ndiaye but managed to hold on to a seat on council. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which will be heard at Tweed Heads Local Court in March.

Last, the 20-year-old in Ryde, was among several successful Gen Z candidates including Bonnie Harvey, a 22-year-old University of Sydney student who became a Northern Beaches councillor.

Bonnie Harvey, 22, and Ethan Hrnjak, 21, were both elected to Northern Beaches Council.Credit: Louie Douvis

Harvey was at Manly Dam with fellow incoming Greens councillor Ethan Hrnjak, 21, when she learnt her fate on Tuesday morning. The pair finished the day trading stories with independent federal MP Sophie Scamps, who was speaking at an event at Newport Bowling Club.

Hrnjak, who lives in Frenchs Forest with his family, said he had been “hopeful” of success at this year’s poll, following losses in the last local, state and federal elections. He said the council was made “quite winnable” for himself and Harvey after the Liberal Party nomination bungle.

He will balance his responsibilities as a councillor with his law degree at Macquarie University, and expects to keep his part-time job at KFC’s head offices in Frenchs Forest for a “couple more months” before settling into public life.

“I look forward to advocating for young people, and finally giving [them] a bit of a voice on council.”

The newcomers may be young, but they have ideas. Last is interested in cost-of-living relief and ensuring council rates stay steady or decrease, and keeping Ryde Library open 24/7, saying his experience as an HSC student made clear the “importance of getting a late-night study space”.

Harvey hinted at revamping council’s social media presence to “close the gap” between council and residents, particularly younger people. “My biggest asset that I bring to council is the ability to get our residents more aware of what council can do for them … we’re all shareholders, and we all pay.”

The Fairfield and Liverpool elections were run by private firm Australian Election Company. Liverpool is still being counted.

with Penry Buckley

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