NSW election results 2023 as it happened: Interim Labor ministry sworn in; majority government in doubt as vote count continues across the state

And as we reach the end of the day, we’re saying goodbye.

There hasn’t been a lot of movement in our yet-to-be-called seats. Here’s where things stand:

• In Terrigal, Liberal Adam Crouch is 240 votes ahead of Labor’s Sam Boughton, with 71.2 per cent of votes counted
• In Miranda, Liberal Eleni Petinos is 525 votes ahead of Labor’s Simon Earle, with 56.57 per cent of votes counted
• In Goulburn, Liberal Wendy Tuckerman is 368 votes ahead of Labor’s Michael Pilbrow, with 75.63 per cent of votes counted
• In Holsworthy, Liberal Tina Ayyad is 526 votes ahead of Labor’s Mick Maroney, with 72.77 per cent of votes counted
• In Kiama, independent Gareth Ward is 615 votes ahead of Labor’s Katelin McInerney, with 76.69 per cent of votes counted

Angus Thomson will be with you bright and early tomorrow to guide you through all the counting action as Labor’s majority hangs in the balance. Who says democracy isn’t exciting?

The NSW Liberal Party has been accused of failing to protect one of its most ardent right-wing warriors from an independent threat on Sydney’s south-western fringe, focusing instead on heartland coastal seats.

Former government whip Nathaniel Smith was dislodged as the Wollondilly member in an upset loss that further stokes anger within the party’s conservative ranks following the disastrous election result.

Judy Hannan and Nathaniel SmithCredit: James Alcock, Kate Geraghty

Judy Hannan, who was courted by then-premier Gladys Berejiklian to run for the Liberal Party in the 2019 election, secured the Southern Highlands electorate on Tuesday, becoming the sole Climate 200-backed independent to emerge victorious in the state election.

Liberal sources not authorised to speak publicly said Smith had been left exposed by the party machine because it failed to warn him of internal polling showing he was at risk, and further claimed he was not provided sufficient resources or mail-outs.

“They didn’t take the independent threat in Wollondilly seriously. Instead, they spent too much time on northern Sydney,” said one party insider.

Full story here.

If you’re wondering whether we can pull up stumps on this whole counting thing this evening... No. Some counting centres are open until 7pm tonight (as they were last night), which means we might get a few small updates on the numbers between now and then.

We’ve updated this page with the five remaining seats that we’re yet to call.

But when it comes to knowing whether Labor will be able to form a majority government, maybe it’s better to think in weeks – not days.

In 1976, counters took two weeks to deliver a final winner in the seat of Hurstville. In the end, Labor’s candidate was ahead by just 44 (yes, 44) votes, delivering Neville Wran a crucial one-seat majority in parliament.

Neville Wran, pictured with his cabinet, won government by just one seat in 1976.Credit: Barry Gilmour

In breaking news, the Herald has just called Pittwater for the Liberals.

The northern beaches seat, held by retiring MP Rob Stokes, has recorded a hefty swing against the Liberals. But Liberal candidate Rory Amon appears to have retained the seat against independent Jacqui Scruby.

It gives the Liberals 31 seats and leaves five seats too close to call: Goulburn, Holsworthy, Kiama, Miranda and Terrigal.

At a press conference on his first day as premier earlier today, Chris Minns said it appears “harder for Labor” to win the very tight seat of Terrigal based on current data.

“These things are a bit of a rollercoaster,” he told reporters this afternoon. “The last briefing I got was that it would be harder for Labor [to win the seat].”

Liberal Adam Crouch is currently sitting on 50.3 per cent of the vote – 250 votes in front of Labor’s Sam Boughton. Just over 70 per cent of the vote has been counted.

Tanya Davies, the Member for Badgerys Creek and one of the few remaining Liberals in Sydney’s west, has put her hand up for the deputy leadership of the party.

In a statement on Facebook this afternoon, the MP – who suffered only a small swing against her – said the electorate “sent a clear message on election night that they want a Liberal Party that stands up for families, backs in our small businesses and governs with compassion”.

Member for Badgerys Creek, Tanya Davies, at the NSW Liberal Party campaign launch.Credit: Edwina Pickles

“Therefore I have decided that I can offer the leadership and representation that the people of western Sydney and NSW more broadly demand,” she said.

“I believe I can offer so much more to the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party and I will be seeking support from colleagues in the party over the coming days and weeks for the deputy leadership.

“I am honoured to put my name forward for the deputy leadership of the NSW Liberal Party and I look forward to working hard to earn the trust and confidence of my colleagues and the people of NSW.”

Davies is the first to signal her interest in the deputy leadership of the party. She was previously the member for Mulgoa, but the electorate was abolished and replaced with Badgerys Creek on Saturday.

Good afternoon, Anthony Segaert with you for the remainder of the day.

A little afternoon pick me up: how well do you know our state’s constitution?

NSW Governor Margaret Beazley encouraged the skeleton Labor ministry she swore in this morning to reacquaint themselves with the document, Sydney editor Michael Koziol reports. There were two parts she especially cared about: section two and section five.

Section two “acknowledges and honours the Aboriginal people as the State’s first people and nations” and recognises they “have a spiritual, social, cultural and economic relationship with their traditional lands and waters”.

Section five empowers the parliament “to make laws for the peace, welfare, and good government of New South Wales”.

You can read the whole document (if you want to...) here.

Incumbent Liberal MP Mark Coure says his campaign has been vindicated after he emerged the victor of a neck-and-neck battle in his seat of Oatley, which was one of Labor’s top targets.

Coure, who is the outgoing Liberal multicultural minister, said he has survived in the face of a targeted campaign by Chris Minns.

Mark Coure speaking earlier during the campaign.Credit: Anna Kucera

“Labor threw everything at this campaign. We had Anthony Albanese twice in the electorate, his partner [Jodie Haydon] twice. Labor’s campaign bus started in my electorate and Labor and the unions were everywhere,” he said.

“But hard work pays off. We attained, we bucked the trend and got an extremely good result.”

Staying with the premier’s comments made at Liverpool Hospital, Chris Minns said his camp are optimistic about clinching Kiama from independent Gareth Ward, who pleaded not guilty to historical sexual abuse allegations today in court.

Gareth Ward with his lawyer Robert Foster outside Nowra District Court today.Credit: Nine

The premier was asked if he would negotiate with Ward if he wins Kiama and if Labor would move to again suspend him from parliament.

“We’re not going to negotiate with him at all,” Minns said.

“I want to wait and see what the outcome of the ballot is. We’re still very hopeful and I think in the commanding position to win that seat. I think that will be good for the parliament.”

Newly sworn-in Premier Chris Minns, alongside Health Minister Ryan Park, has directed the health department to set up Labor’s promised Surgical Care Taskforce to tackle the 100,000-person waitlist for elective surgery.

Making the announcement at western Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital, Minns said 17,000 people on that list were waiting longer than clinically recommended.

“The list includes 4000 children,” Minns said. “Of course, it’s an urgent priority for this incoming government.”

The taskforce would identify policies and initiatives that speed up wait times, particularly for people who are waiting longer than clinically recommended.

Park said the taskforce would report back to him in three months’ time and wants language around non-urgent surgery to change.

Here’s what he said:

Everyone knows that COVID put a big dent into the ability for people to access surgery. And from now on, I’m going to start calling it planned surgery.

You’ll note that in opposition, I didn’t like the term elective surgery. It sounded like people had a choice.

This is surgery that they need to reduce the pain and suffering that they’ve experienced. It’s also surgery that can allow them to go back to work, that allow them to be an active member of the community.

It’s important to me and language is important. And I want to make sure that change, we all adopt.