The New South Wales Nationals are claiming an early victory in the Upper Hunter by-election, with deputy premier John Barilaro confident the party has secured enough votes to hold onto the seat.
At the Singleton Diggers club on Saturday night, Mr Barilaro said “the Nats are back” after more the 60 per cent of the vote count put new candidate Dave Layzell in a position to take the seat.
A by-election was sparked after the shock resignation of Nationals MP Michael Johnsen and the seat was crucial for the NSW government to retain, as it is ruling in minority following Liberal MP Gareth Ward’s move to the cross bench.
“Tonight’s a great victory for the party,” Mr Barilaro said. “The Nats are back.”
Mr Johnsen’s departure from state politics occurred following allegations he sexually assaulted a sex worker, a claim which he strenuously denies.
“It was the whole world versus David Layzell,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We shouldn‘t have been in the race [but] we led all the way, like a bloody good racehorse.”
The Nationals ran on a campaign of supporting local industry and jobs, particularly in the mining sector.
The Upper Hunter is a resource based seat with a heavy reliance on coal mining and energy production. It has been held by the Nationals for 93 years.
Labor suffered a massive swing against the party on Saturday, with its primary vote falling more than 8 per cent compared to the result in the 2019 election.
Opposition leader Jodi McKay said it was already an uphill battle to win the traditionally held Nationals seat, but Mr Layzell’s predicted victory was “no ringing endorsement of the government”.
“We always said it would be a miracle to win the seat of Upper Hunter,”she said.
Labor has garnered roughly 20 per cent of the primary vote with counting expected to resume on Sunday.
Ms Mckay said Labor would focus on attempting to secure the seat at the next election in 2023.
“We have to make this region know it is a Labor region in the future,” she said.
“We have two years to prove to the Upper Hunter that we are a party that deserves their support.”
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party saw its vote halve as a result of One Nation throwing its hat into the ring.
Thirteen candidates were thrown into the ring for the Upper Hunter seat, an area which houses about 56,000 voters.
Further contention among the Coalition was caused after former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull endorsed independent candidate Kirsty O‘Connell with a $3000 donation.
Her campaign was based on attacking the Nationals for “cuddling up” to the mining industry and “selling the health of the community.”
Mr Barilaro earlier in the week had called for Mr Turnbull to resign from the Liberal party following his decision not to endorse Mr Layzell.
Mr Turnbull later on Saturday night sent out a tweet congratulating Mr Layzell for his early win.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiqAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9uc3ctYWN0L3BvbGl0aWNzL25hdGlvbmFscy1jYW5kaWRhdGUtZGF2ZS1sYXl6ZWxsLWNsYWltcy12aWN0b3J5LWluLXVwcGVyLWh1bnRlci1ieWVsZWN0aW9uL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvZWM3ZjkxYzY3ZGUzYzczMzk0MGZlZTY0OTM5Mjc4M2HSAagBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAubmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvbnN3LWFjdC9wb2xpdGljcy9uYXRpb25hbHMtY2FuZGlkYXRlLWRhdmUtbGF5emVsbC1jbGFpbXMtdmljdG9yeS1pbi11cHBlci1odW50ZXItYnllbGVjdGlvbi9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2VjN2Y5MWM2N2RlM2M3MzM5NDBmZWU2NDkzOTI3ODNh?oc=5
2021-05-22 21:30:53Z
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