We put up a great fight: Kerryn Phelps concedes defeat to Dave Sharma in Wentworth

Kerryn Phelps has conceded, with Dave Sharma claiming Malcolm Turnbull’s former seat.

Dr. Kerryn Phelps concedes defeat to Liberal candidate Dave Sharma at Double Bay this morning. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

Independent MP for Wentworth Kerryn Phelps has conceded defeat after losing to Liberal challenger Dave Sharma.

Dr Phelps won the blue-ribbon Sydney seat last year against Mr Sharma in a shock after Malcolm Turnbull resigned. But on Saturday, Liberal voters returned to the government.

“There may well be a time in the future where the Australian public misses the constructive input of the crossbench in this last parliament because that constructive crossbench can actually hold government to account,” she told supporters in Sydney.

“I am proud of the Home Affairs Amendments bill … which came to be known as the Medevac Bill.

“Since that bill was passed our public hospitals have not been overrun and none of the other dire convictions about compassionate treatment for sick refugees have come to pass. What we do have is prompt medical care for people under Australia’s watch.

“My hope is that Scott Morrison’s newly elected government will continue to ensure that the remaining refugees and people seeking asylum receive the attention deserve promptly and without unnecessary legal delays and that a proper solution is found for these people so that they can live in freedom and safety.”

The Prime Minister has promised to repeal Dr Phelps’ medevacs legislation.

“We put up a great fight … none of us could have worked any harder than we did … we worked so hard to make sure we provided the people of Wentworth,” Ms Phelps said to media this morning.

Liberal Dave Sharma has won the seat previously held by Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Joel Carrett/AAP

With 75 per cent of votes counted, Mr Sharma leads in the ballots by almost 2000 votes, claiming 51.16 per cent of votes after preferences on Sunday evening, while Dr Phelps has 48.84 per cent.

Claiming the seat, Mr Sharma said the victory was culmination of a “long and continuous campaign” that kicked off straight after the by-election seven months ago.

“I want to acknowledge and thank Kerryn Phelps for fighting a tough campaign,” he said.

“I am honoured and humbled of the trust people of Wentworth have shown in me.”

Mr Sharma said he would not consider a position in the ministry and wanted to focus on his newly-won seat.

“The election in Wentworth is very much driven by national issues … people put their faith in Scott Morrison to protect the economy” he said.

Dr Phelps said it was more important now than ever to address the future of the ABC, establish a national anti -corruption commission and support the medevac bill.

“I operated in Canberra with conviction and integrity … I delivered on my promises and I congratulate Dave Sharma.”

Dr Phelps said it was “up to the political analysts to decide” how she lost the seat. She was captured hugging her loyal supporters and pooches at the Eastern Suburbs Park shortly before addressing the media.

Dr Phelps summed up her seven months in Canberra as an “enormous privilege”.

“The circumstances were different in the by-election … I mean we needed to win a 19 per cent swing,” she said.

“The broader national issues came into play and I think it was because people didn’t want a Labor government.”

Malcolm Turnbull congratulated incoming Liberal MP Dave Sharma for winning his old seat off independent Kerryn Phelps.

Congratulations @DaveSharma on winning Wentworth - the best part of the best country in the world! Good luck in the years ahead. And thank you @drkerrynphelps for the great courage and character you showed as our MP.

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) May 20, 2019

Mr Sharma acknowledged Mr Turnbull and said he was happy with the support Mr Turnbull gave him.

Asked why he didn’t win the seat in the by-election, Mr Sharma said: “It was a very different campaign seven months ago.”

“At then end of the day … my name was the one on the ballot paper.”

“There was a lot of anger and protests in the electorate about leadership instability … it was certainly a big factor in the by-election.”