Federal Election 2019: Scott Morrison, Bill Shorten face off in western Sydney

PM and Bill Shorten face off in western Sydney, where a string of close seats may decide the election.

Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison shake hands after last week’s leaders debate. Picture; AFP.

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten are facing off in western Sydney where a string of close seats could decide Saturday’s election.

The Prime Minister has started his day in Lindsay, which Newspoll, published in The Australian today, suggests could be won by the government.

The seat, which is centred around Penrith, was a surprise win for Labor at the last election which fell over the line by 1.11 per cent. But the controversial departure of its MP Emma Husar has opened the way for a Coalition gain.

The Liberals have chosen Melissa McIntosh who works at a local not-for-profit while Labor has opted for former NSW Labor minister Diane Beamer.

While Lindsay is looking prospective for the government — Newspoll gives it a four point lead over Labor in two party preferred terms — Labor is eyeing the Liberal-held seats of Banks (1.44 per cent) and Reid (4.69 per cent).

Reid, in Sydney’s west, had been Labor heartland until 2013 when Craig Laundy took the seat for the Liberals.

Laundy has decided to retire and Liberals have chosen child psychologist Fiona Martin as their candidate. The Labor candidate is Sam Crosby, the executive director of the Labor think tank the McKell Institute.

Banks, also in Sydney’s west, is held by Immigration Minister David Coleman who became the first Liberal to win the seat in 2013.

Labor has chosen former Finance Sector Union official Chris Gambian.

Bennelong, once held by John Howard, is also in Labor sights. It was retained by the Liberals’ MP and former tennis great John Alexander at the last federal election by 7.7 per cent. He held it again in a by-election in 2017 by 4.88 per cent when he was forced to resign and recontest over the citizenship affair.

Labor has chosen former Australian Medical Association president and neurosurgeon Brian Owler as its candidate for Bennelong.

Morrison needs to take Lindsay and hold all of these seats if he is to offset expected losses in Victoria on Saturday. A win in Banks or Reid and holding Lindsay would see Shorten on a path to The Lodge.

• Sid Maher will call each and every seat as part of The Australian’s live coverage of Federal Election 2019 on Saturday, May 18. You can follow Sid on Twitter and read his latest stories here.