Majority eludes NSW Labor as Kiama called for Gareth Ward

NSW Premier Chris Minns’ hopes of forming a majority have dissipated after the south coast seat of Kiama was called for Gareth Ward.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward. Picture: NCA Newswire / Monique Harmer

NSW Premier Chris Minns’ hopes of forming a majority have dissipated after the south coast seat of Kiama was called for independent Gareth Ward, one day after the former Liberal minister pleaded not guilty to historical allegations of sexual assault.

Even if Labor ends up triumphing in the inner-west seat of Ryde, the outcome of which remains unclear, Mr Ward’s re-election on Wednesday consigned Mr Minns’ first-term government into minority, forcing the party to negotiate with the expanded crossbench to pass legislation.

With almost three-quarters of the vote counted, a surge of postal and absentee ballots in favour of the Coalition helped former Liberal frontbencher Eleni Petinos repel the Labor Party’s assault in her seat of Miranda, in southern Sydney.

A similar scenario unfolded for the incumbent Liberal MPs in Terrigal and Goulburn.

The failure to reach the 47 seats necessary also creates a problem for Mr Minns in deciding who he will appoint as Speaker in the Legislative Assembly: choosing a Labor MP and depleting his numbers; or looking to the crossbench – if any are willing

With the NSW Electoral Commission not counting new votes for the second day since Saturday’s election, Mr Minns conceded the protracted waiting for results was getting tedious, alluding to the breakdown of parliament which would be important for both the Coalition and Labor.

“For many people, they’d be frustrated with the count, obviously, particularly if you’re in one of those seats that hasn’t been determined yet,” he said.

“You need to know who your local member of parliament is, and to not know what the composition of the Legislative Assembly is obviously important as well.”

Fighting historical sexual and indecent assault allegations, Mr Ward pleaded not guilty to the charges in Nowra District Court on Tuesday, almost a year after he was suspended from parliament after the allegations emerged.

Despite a 10 per cent swing to Labor candidate Katelin McInerney, Mr Ward extended his lead to beyond a thousand votes on Wednesday.

Mr Minns has ruled out dealing with Mr Ward.