Clover Moore claims victory, begins sixth term as lord mayor

Clover Moore has claimed victory, securing an unprecedented sixth term as lord mayor of Sydney while hitting out at a “weird” and “nasty” election campaign, and saying her rivals had nothing substantial to offer.

Moore had nine challengers in the lord mayoral race, including Labor, the Greens, the Liberals and independent Yvonne Weldon, but Moore was clearly ahead with about 37 per cent of first preferences.

Clover Moore celebrates another term as Sydney lord mayor at her election party at the ArtHouse Hotel on Saturday night.Credit: Janie Barrett

She said it was a more aggressive campaign than usual and she was underwhelmed by her opponents.

“I didn’t think any of the other candidates had anything to offer,” Moore said. “They said we need a change and fresh ideas. I listened very carefully to hear what the fresh ideas were and there weren’t any.

“There was a sense of real desperation about trying to get me out of Town Hall. That was expressed in the candidates’ forums, which I think were pretty nasty.

“No one really talked about fresh ideas or new policy, they were just attacking me. It was a pretty weird campaign, actually.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore at Surry Hills Library on Saturday. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Moore was winning 37 per cent of first preferences with about 35,000 votes counted, double the closest contender, Labor’s Zann Maxwell who was polling just under 18 per cent.

She said Chinatown and Oxford Street, affordable housing and action on climate change would be among her priorities.

The City of Sydney’s lord mayor is directly elected. In the race to control the other nine spots on the council, the Greens were polling well based on preliminary results. Moore has had a functioning majority on the council for the past 20 years through her Clover Moore Independent Team, but will need to negotiate if she loses a seat.

More than 5 million voters headed to the polls across NSW on a sunny Saturday, as squabbles over campaign signage were sweetened by democracy sausages and bake sales.

It was an unusual election day, with many voters receiving shorter ballot papers after the Liberal Party state executive failed to nominate more than 130 candidates in 16 councils, significantly reducing the number of candidates in many contests.

In Inner West Council, Greens and Labor corflutes were defaced with criticisms of each party’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne said he was disappointed that international politics had been brought into the local election.

In early counting on Saturday night, Labor led the Greens in four of the five Inner West wards.

Where the Liberal Party did nominate candidates was Parramatta, and it pulled off a huge return after abandoning the council at the 2021 election. By Saturday night it became clear the Liberals would install at least one candidate in each ward, splitting the council between Liberal and Labor. It led in three of five wards.

Mayor of Lane Cove Council Scott Bennison arrives at Lane Cove Civic Centre.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

An exhausted and scotch-drinking Liberal candidate Steven Issa said he was encouraged by the early results.

“There are a few results we are waiting on but it’s encouraging - we’ve gone from zero to six,” he said.

“I think the Liberals have a lot to offer Parramatta ... it’s what we were expecting.”

Although the Liberal Party failed to nominate any candidates for Northern Beaches Council, one slipped through: Liberal member Mandeep Singh, who submitted his own paperwork in error to become the party’s sole candidate in the council. He was leading the early count in Pittwater ward.

One-time Lane Cove Liberal Mayor Scott Bennison, who was not preselected by the party this year, was in a unique position, having side-stepped disaster to run as an independent.

He rode into the Lane Cove Civic Centre on his Harley-Davidson motorbike on Saturday afternoon, ready to campaign in the traditionally conservative area.

“Voters want a Liberal candidate,” Bennison said. “I’m concerned that there could be a high donkey vote tonight.”

Bennison led early counting in west ward.

The Liberals’ failure to nominate meant five councils and an additional nine individual wards’ ballots were uncontested. They included North Sydney’s St Leonards ward, where independent mayor Zoe Baker streaked ahead on Saturday night.

At Liverpool, there was confusion over which polling booths were open. On Facebook, the council listed four “polling booths no longer proceeding”, while also reporting long lines “at most polling booths due to demand”. Incumbent Liberal mayor Ned Mannoun led early counting.

with Megan Gorrey, Penry Buckley, Kayla Olaya, Cindy Yin, Alexandra Smith, Daniel Lo Surdo