Close ALP seats return to fold

NSW Labor found a ray of hope yesterday, with predictions former premier Nathan Rees would retain his western Sydney seat of Toongabbie.

NSW Labor found a ray of hope amid the storm clouds yesterday, with predictions former premier Nathan Rees would retain his western Sydney seat of Toongabbie and Noreen Hay would cling on to Wollongong.

Both lower house seats had been on a knife edge since Saturday's state election, but ABC election analyst Antony Green said the latest counts had tipped both seats Labor's way.

"I think they will probably give them away (to Labor) this evening," he told The Australian yesterday.

The Liberals scored one more yesterday by stealing the Labor-held seat of Swansea on the Central Coast, and remained ahead in the southern Sydney seats of Oatley and East Hills last night.

Labor continued to lead the count in the inner-western Sydney seat of Balmain, ahead of the Liberals, with the Greens trailing in third place.

Meanwhile, debate raged over whether Pauline Hanson would obtain a seat in the NSW upper house.

Mr Green derided his own computer system for putting Ms Hanson ahead.

"The only data to say Pauline Hanson is going to win that seat is (from) my prediction calculator, and I'm saying that prediction is not correct," he said. "I don't think she's going to win."

Mr Green said that even though Ms Hanson could be expected to gain below-the-line votes, which are still being counted, she would suffer on preferences because Greens and Labor voters were unlikely to direct theirs her way.

He said the Greens would pick up the extra seat, taking their total to five.

Labor upper house member Luke Foley said if Ms Hanson were elected, it would be the Greens' fault.

"Pauline Hanson is a very real chance of returning to public life as a member of the NSW parliament, thanks to the rotten and unprincipled decision of the Greens not to swap preferences with Labor," he said.