NSW by-elections 2022: Labor claims Bega; huge swing against Liberals in Willoughby
While there were swings against the Coalition in NSW by-elections, the PM was happy to highlight the positives. Read what happened at each electorate.
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Swings away from the Coalition in southern NSW state seat by-elections were merely a sign of the popularity of retiring high-profile local MPs, which “bodes well” for the federal government, Scott Morrison has claimed.
Despite the Liberals losing the state seat of Bega and the Nationals’ drop in support in Monaro, the Prime Minister has argued the Coalition’s fortunes in must-win federal seats in the same south coast region have not been damaged as the by-election results were skewed by retirements, including that of former minister Andrew Constance, who will run for the federal seat of Gilmore later this year.
Mr Morrison attributed the swings to the departure of “very successful members,” including former premier Gladys Berejiklian, Nationals leader John Barilaro and cabinet minister Mr Constance.
“You could expect in those seats, there was a very strong following for both of them (Ms Berejiklian and Mr Barilaro), and indeed for Andrew Constance as well,” he said.
“ (Mr Constance is) an outstanding local on the south coast of NSW and I’m very pleased that he’s seeking to join our team and is running for us in the seat of Gilmore, at the next federal election.
“I think that bodes quite well.”
Mr Morrison also said Liberal candidate for Strathfield Bridget Sakr had done an “outstanding job,” with the latest count showing a slight swing away from Labor.
“You normally get swings against governments in by elections,” Mr Morrison said.
The prime minister said he expected Ms Sakr would “build” on this success at future polls.
VOTERS’ MESSAGE TO DOM: ‘WE’RE NOT HAPPY’
Voters have fired NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet a warning shot, with big swings against the government, and Labor pulling off a historic victory in the previously safe Liberal seat of Bega.
While the final results of the four Saturday by-elections will not be known until next month because of the unprecedented number of pre-poll and postal votes, voters at the booths delivered the Coalition a devastating message — we’re not happy — while plunging the government further into minority.
Even in the ultra-safe seat of Willoughby, previously held by former premier Gladys Berejiklian, the Liberals on Saturday night were experiencing a swing of almost 18 per cent with just under 30 per cent of the vote counted.
And while the Nationals will retain former leader John Barilaro’s seat of Monaro, a swing to Labor has narrowed the Coalition’s margin.
Only in the Labor-held seat of Strathfield did Liberal candidate Bridget Sakr defy the anti-Coalition sentiment by cutting into Labor’s margin.
However it was not enough, with Labor candidate Jason Yat-sen Li declaring victory.
Describing the possible loss of Bega as “disappointing”, Mr Perrottet said the results defied the average swings against government in by-elections.
“Disappointing to look like losing Bega, but this is a strong result for the state government, defying the average swing against governments in by-elections and, against all odds, cutting into Labor’s lead in Strathfield,” he said.
And despite facing criticism over his handling of the Omicron wave, Mr Perrottet vowed to continue to stare down the virus and stay on the pathway to opening up.
“Going into lockdowns may be popular, but it is not right,” he told Liberal supporters in Strathfield.
“We need to keep businesses open. We need to keep people in work.”
With postal and pre-poll votes across the four seats accounting for 40 per cent of the total and a lower than normal turnout at the booths, the full extent of anger at the government will not be known until March 11 when the votes are finalised.
With the by-elections the first electoral test of Mr Perrottet’s leadership, party officials will be closely scrutinising the result in a bid to turn it around before voters again head to the polls at the March state election next year.
And with the state seat of Bega overlapping with the federal seats of Gilmore and Eden-Monaro — two electorates the Morrison government wants to secure at the upcoming federal election — Canberra Liberals will also be studying any federal implications.
A buoyed Labor leader Chris Minns last night said the message voters had sent to Mr Perrottet was clear.
“This was never about changing the government, and always about sending a message to Dominic Perrottet,” he said.
“Dominic Perrottet can’t treat another Covid wave the way he treated the last one.”
Former Bega MP Andrew Constance — who vacated the seat to vie for the neighbouring federal seat of Gilmore — claimed most locals were not that familiar with the new party leaders.
“People don’t know who the Premier is, or the opposition leader,” he said.
“We are a long way from Sydney. A lot of them don’t know who they are yet, even though Labor ran a nasty campaign against Dom.”
The loss of Bega to Labor — for the first time in history — has plunged the Perrottet government further into minority, with Kiama MP Gareth Ward and Drummoyne MP John Sidoti already on the crossbench, opening the door for Labor to bolster its numbers with the three Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers and also independents.
In a bid to ensure the smooth passage of legislation, Mr Perrottet has declared an open-door policy with the crossbench MPs, while also vowing to improve the working relationship with the Upper House MPs where the Coalition does not have a majority.
WILLOUGHBY
Hard-right Liberal Tim James will be former Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s successor in the blue ribbon seat of Willoughby.
Mr James had secured 43.4 per cent of the first preference vote on Saturday night, but faced an 18 per cent swing to independent candidate Larissa Penn.
Mr James said he had “big shoes to fill”, replacing Ms Berejiklian as the member for Willoughby.
He said he was grateful to the people of Willoughby, and also thanked his wife and two children — and mentioned they were expecting a new child in a couple of weeks.
“Always to aim for the stars, but to keep my feet on the ground — and I commit to doing that,” he said, paraphrasing US president Theodore Roosevelt.
When asked about the 18 per cent swing she gained at the polls on Saturday, Ms Penn said she “wasn’t all that surprised”.
“We’re a grassroots community campaign and so the swing is not that surprising for us, honestly,” Ms Penn said.
“Being a grassroots campaign means that we are part of the community, receiving feedback from residents and listening to their concerns.
“There is real anger in this community about not being listened to, especially regarding issues like tunnels and overdevelopment, but also with transparency,” she said
“All these big issues we’re in tune with, and the Liberal Party seems out of touch to have taken us for granted.”
Final results aren’t expected for several days.
STRATHFIELD
The Liberals’ chances to snatch the inner-city seat of Strathfield have gone up in smoke, as Labor edges close towards securing a further one per cent swing in support.
ALP candidate Jason Yat-Sen Li is expected to retain the seat of former opposition leader Jodi McKay for the Labor Party, with 55.7 per cent of the vote secured against the Liberal’s Bridget Sakr on Saturday.
On Saturday night, Opposition Leader Chris Minns said the party was confident it would retain the seat of Strathfield.
“There has been a lot of excitement about politics,” he said. “But nothing is more important right now than the work our frontline health workers are putting in.
“”Many people across NSW have sent the Premier a message on their behalf at the ballot box today. The Premier needs to listen to that message, the government needs to change direction.”
Mr Perrottet put on a brave face.
“Make no mistake, Labor today has gone backwards in Strathfield,” he said.
“Whether or not it is 12 weeks or 12 months time when we win the next election, Bridget Sakr will be the member for Strathfield.”
MONARO
Nichole Overall is expected to be the first woman to be elected as the member of the NSW seat of Monaro.
“That’s not why you want people to vote for you,” she said after the crowd roared. “And here I am sooking again, think what I’ll do in parliament.”
Mrs Overall said she hoped to be forging “her own path” like previous members for the electorate.
She thanked Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Deputy Premier Paul Toole and former deputy premier John Barilaro.
She was joined on stage by her husband, former Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council mayor Tim Overall.
“We are a team, you do get a pair of Overalls,” she said
“Part of the reason I’m standing here tonight is because of this great bloke encouraging me and supporting me and telling me he would be there behind me.
“I love you.”
Got a news tip? Email weekendtele@news.com.au
Originally published as NSW by-elections 2022: Labor claims Bega; huge swing against Liberals in Willoughby
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