No teal, One Nation wave at NSW election

Despite grand hopes for the teals and One Nation to steal seats from the major parties, it became clear early that it wasn’t going to happen.

Jacqui Scruby (independent candidate for Pittwater), Joeline Hackman (independent candidate for Manly) and Sarah Baker (environmental campaigner in Wakehurst) at Lizard Rock in Belrose. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Despite months of talk of the Climate 200 independents stealing seats from the Liberal Party, it became clear early on Saturday night there would be no “teal wave” washing over the NSW election.

Hopes of taking Lane Cove, Manly and North Shore were dampened around 9pm when the Coalition incumbents raced ahead to secure their electorates.

Still, it looked likely Pittwater candidate Jacqui Scruby may inch ahead of Liberal Rory Amon. But as the night waned on and supporters began to leave her election night party at the North Narrabeen SLSC, one could be overheard saying “it’s starting to look a bit s..t, isn’t it?” The seat is still on a knife's-edge between Ms Scruby and Mr Amon.

The teals ran in affluent electorates across the lower north shore, the northern beaches and the eastern suburbs, where several independents helped to sweep out Scott Morrison’s government at the federal election last May, including North Sydney’s Kylea Tink, Wentworth’s Allegra Spender and Mackellar’s Sophie Scamps.

Wollondilly’s Judy Hannan became the first teal candidate to win a seat, unseating Liberal incumbent Nathaniel Smith. She is predicted to win the seat with a margin of 6 per cent.

She joined Wakehurst independent Michael Regan – who is not affiliated with the teal movement - as the second independent to over throw a Liberal safe seat in the election. Mr Regan foiled Toby Williams’ plan to replace long-standing health minister Brad Hazzard in the lower house.

In Willoughby, non-teal independent Larissa Penn put up a fight against Gladys Berejiklian’s replacement, Tim James, however Liberals are confident he will secure the win.

As Simon Holmes-a-Court suffers a similar fate he saw at the Victorian election – where no teals were elected – the One Nation party, led by Mark Latham, may also be licking their wounds.

As of Sunday morning, the party appears to have only secured 1.8 per cent of the vote.

Mark Latham was determined to drag votes away from Matt Kean’s electorate of Hornsby at the tip of the north shore, however the former Treasurer retained his seat with an 8 per cent margin.

Still, former Labor MP turned One Nation upper house candidate Talia Mihailuk said the Liberal Party had lost its base out west chasing votes on the north shore and in the eastern suburbs.

“Matt Kean’s had huge swings against him,” she said. “He has cost his own party government.”

Campbelltown candidate Paul Zahra secured 11.6 per cent of the vote, up 11 per cent from last election.

New Parramatta candidate Mritunjay Singh won 5 per cent of the vote, but the seat went to Labor candidate Donna Davis who thwarted Liberal-incumbent Katie Mullen’s plans to retain the seat.