Sydney decides: Pittwater, Hornsby and Epping by-elections
Residents in Sydney voted today after being forced to the polls to vote in three by-elections prompted by the resignation of Liberal MPs.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Residents in three Sydney electorates have been forced to the polls on Saturday to vote in three by-elections prompted by the resignation of Liberal MPs.
A surprise election was needed on the northern beaches' in Pittwater after to replace MP Rory Amon who quit parliament in August after he was charged with a series of child sex offences.
Amon has vowed to defend the allegations.
Voters had to line up in Epping after former Coalition Premier Dominic Perrottet announced he was stepping down in the months after losing the March 2023 election to Labor’s Chris Minns.
And in Hornsby, a by-election was sparked after former NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean, quit to later take up the role of chairing the federal government’s Climate Change Authority.
The Liberals were expected to hold onto Epping and Hornby, but the contest in Pittwater, a former blue ribbon conservative seat, was on a knife edge.
Community “teal” independent Jacqui Scruby, who only lost by 600 votes to Amon at the March 2023 general election, is up against Liberal Georgia Ryburn, and was tipped, by pundits, to win.
PITTWATER
The surprise by-election has just three candidates to replace former Liberal MP Rory Amon.
A community “teal” independent, Jacqui Scruby, is tipped to grab the northern beaches’ seat from the Liberals after she came within 600 votes of victory at the state general election in March last year.
But the Liberals are counting on former Northern Beaches Deputy mayor, Georgia Ryburn, who lives just outside the electorate, to retain the seat that is usually regarded as a safe conservative win.
Liberal insiders are, however, concerned that Libertarian Party candidate, Doug Rennie, could grab vital conservative votes away from Ms Ryburn.
The Labor Party chose not to contest the by-election.
During the campaign the two major candidates clashed over who would be the most effective MP if elected to NSW parliament.
Ms Scruby argued she would be in a stronger bargaining position to win improved funding and infrastructure for the electorate because she would join an influential crossbench in a parliament with a minority Labor government.
But Ms Ryburn reckoned, that if elected, she would be part of a strong Opposition that had a track record of delivering for Pittwater.
And in what became dubbed the “battle of the locals" Ms Scruby focused on the fact that Ms Ryburn lived outside the seat, in Frenchs Forest.
Ms Ryburn, however, reminded voters that as deputy mayor, she had a strong link with Pittwater and that her family had lived on the northern beaches for four generations.
Ms Scruby, who predicted on Saturday that the result would be tight, said that the voters of Pittwater “understand the opportunity we have ahead of us . . . with an independent in a minority government, LIberals in opposition”.
“I’m the best person to get the job done, including (finishing the) Mona Vale Rd (upgrade).
“I think we saw at the last election (March 2023) that most people did vote for change.
“People are feeling disenfranchised and disappointed by the current state of the NSW Liberal Party.
“People here are ready for a different way of doing politics. . . . they want representation that’s not focused on party politics, but focused on people and communities.”
Ms Scruby also doubled down on the issue of Ms Ryburn living outside of Pittwater.
“As a community independent, I feel it’s really improtant to live in the ekectorate you reprsent.
“Manly isn’t Mona Vale, Frenchs Forest isn’t Duffys Forest.
“You need to be embedded in thre community”. ”
On Saturday Ms Ryburn, enlisted the help of her proud parents Meredith and Peter Downey, to urge locals to vote for their daughter.
Sporting stickers, “Georgia’s Mum” and “Georgia’s Dad”, they were handing out how-to-vote pamphlets at the Ted Blackwell Memorial Hall in Warriewood.
Mr Downey, the principal at Oxford Falls Grammar School, and who has worked at schools in Dee Why and Warriewood, said he knew about “every third person” lining up to vote.
“We are part of her support crew,” Mr Downey said. “We’ve been doing a lot of childcare to help support Georgia (who has two small children),” he said.
“The Ryburns and the Downeys have been packing down together to allow her to get out campaign. But she’s still home for dinner with the kids every night.”
Bruce Baird, a Liberal Party legend, and a former NSW and federal government minister — and not to mention father of former NSW Coalition Premier, Mike Baird — was helping urge voters to put a numner “1” on the ballot paper for Georgia Ryburn.
Community independent candidate Jacqui Scruby voted at the Ted Blackwood Memorial Hall at Warriewood, with her eenly interested daughters watching on.
EPPING
Voters are heading to polls booths across Epping to determine who will be their next state representative after the resignation of former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
Hundreds of residents flocked to booths across the district early on Saturday morning.
There are five candidates running for the traditionally safe Liberal seat including Liberal candidate and Pennant Hills resident Monica Tudehope who is tipped to take up the mantle from her predecesor.
Greens’ Duncan Voyage, Libertarian Party’s Rob Cribb and Independent candidates Dezhong Wang and YouTube sensation Edgar Lu aka ‘Sydney Daddy’ have also put their hand up to contest the seat.
There is no Labor candidate.
On Saturday, Ms Tudehope was out with a full entourage of Liberal supporters including Parramatta councillors Carla Kassab and Sreeni Pillamarri aas well as Liberal MP for Berowra Julian Leeser.
Ms Tudehope said while the district has traditionally been a Liberal stronghold she wasn’t taking their votes for granted.
“I’ve been talking to as many people as possible to get their support and earn their vote,” she said.
“Cost of living is the number one concern here, and then there a local issues like increased density and concerns about traffic.”
Ms Tudehope said investing in education would be another priority for her.
At Boronia Grove Community Centre, Libertarian Party candidate Mr Cribb said he was hoping to get a high number of primary votes.
“It’s unlikely that I will win, but the real purpose of a minor party running in an election like this is to send a message to the major parties that they’re losing their base,” he said
“And I think the Liberal party may start losing their base to parties like ours.
“This is to send the Liberal party a message that they need to reconfigure themselves and stop pitching so much to the undecided centre and to respect their base otherwise they’ll lose them.”
Meanwhile, fleets of volunteers dressed in Edgar Lu’s red shirts have stationed themselves at booths across the district.
Volunteer Samuel Huang, 50, said he drove from Ashfield to Epping Public School to help show support for his favourite YouTuber.
“I’m actually not from this area but I agree with a lot of (Edgar’s) opinions. He’s very popular on YouTube and I think a lot of the volunteers here today are fans of his videos,” Mr Huang said.
About one-third of Epping’s population hails from China, however Mr Huang said Mr Lu’s campaign of better funding for education had a “universal” appeal.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say that he’s popular just because he’s Chinese, everyone wants better education for their children.”
HORNSBY
The Hornsby by-election has nine candidates running in the election from the Liberal Party, the Greens, the Sustainable Australia Party, the Animal Justice Party, the Libertarian party, One Nation and three independents. The Labor Party chose not to enter the contest.
The electorate is deemed a safe Liberal seat, with candidate James Wallace tipped to take over from his predecessor, Liberal MP Matt Kean.
Mr Kean announced his resignation from State Parliament in June to pursue a career in the energy sector, which triggered the by election.
The candidates have previously spoken about some of the biggest issues facing voters, including cost of living and high-density housing, and how they intend to tackle them if elected.
By early afternoon on Saturday, polling booths across the electorate appeared quiet and empty with most voters having attended in the morning.
But grey skies looming overhead was not enough to deter some voters.
At the Arcadia Community Hall, in the electorate’s north, voter Greg Foulis said he voted for Liberal candidate James Wallace.
“I think Matt (Kean) was labelled as ‘middle of the road’ … particularly with progressive discussions around environmental issues, (such as) climate change and environmental issues, I think that’s the differentiation that Matt’s brought to Parliament, and I’d like to see that continue.”
Young voter Brooke Parker said she voted for One National Candidate Steve Busch after hearing he intended to do something about rising petrol prices.
“I’ve got a big car, and it’s a $1.94 here, but 30 minutes away I pay a $1.55,” she said.
At Berowra State School, Sharon Watts and Warren Gibson both voted for Liberal candidate James Wallace.
Ms Watts said there was no particular reason why she voted Liberal other than Mr Wallace came from a familiar party.
The grandmother said regardless of who was elected, she would really like to see more “family orientated” development in the area.
“The old side of Hornsby, (it) would be nice to see (more) cafes ... there’s not a lot around this area,” she said.
Mr Gibson said this part of Hornsby was missing out on major development projects seen in other parts of greater Sydney.
“There’s land opportunities (here) yet it’s all happening out west, but on this side of the bridge is just missing out ... literally getting forgotten about,” he said.
“Look at what’s happening out at Baulkham Hills and Kellyville, all out that way there’s restaurants, there’s people, there’s metros, there’s all this development ... we could do with some more development.”
At Hornsby North Public School, the rain did not deter some last minute voters.
One local, who asked not to be named, said she voted for the Greens because she felt they had the best environmental policy.
“I think that they also support public education, and although Matt Kean was a very good local member I think the Liberal Party is moving too far to the right and so I think that the Greens are the best protectors of the environment in Hornsby,” she said.
Gayan Rathnayaka and Nisa Nara both voted for James Wallace.
Mr Rahnayaka said this was because he aligned more with the Liberal Party on social issues.
He said housing and affordability were the biggest issues impacting residents, not just locally but across the country, and he hoped whoever was elected would help tackle this.
“Apart from that, things are more expensive because of the recession, so the Government should focus on helping the people.”
Originally published as Sydney decides: Pittwater, Hornsby and Epping by-elections
PM in a pickle over who should replace Linda Burney
Albo’s seat dilemma; stressed-out pollies visited by mediation guru; and did MPs miss a vote because they were stuck in a bathroom? It’s all here in this week’s Sauce.
Bella Nipotina wins the 2024 TAB Everest
Bella Nipotina has triumphed in the 2024 TAB Everest before a huge crowd at Royal Randwick. LATEST TIPS, RESULTS
Super-sonic! Best teenage talent in Australian rugby right now
So who are our future Wallabies? We’ve asked the experts and they’ve come up with a 50 plus list of game changers, speedsters, try sensations to watch out for - and they are all teenagers
Nedd’s $3m feet of endurance after epic challenge
After 12 days of ‘turmoil and torture’, it’s time for Aussie sparky-turned-ultra-long-distance runner Nedd Brockmann to rest — but the challenge has just begun for others.
Dangerous Next Gen Sevens players you need to know about
There are former elite netballers, touch footballers, the daughter of a gun and a teens with speed. New faces and rising stars you need to know about in the Next Gen Sevens series. SQUADS
Revealed: How Peter Dutton plans to unlock 500,000 houses
The Opposition has revealed a multibillion-dollar plan to create 500,000 new homes. Will it work? Read the details here and tell us what you think.