NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro claims Upper Hunter by-election win for Nationals as Labor concedes - ABC News

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has claimed a win for the Nationals in the Upper Hunter by-election.

Key points:

• Labor candidate Jeff Drayton has conceded defeat
• The Nationals have recorded a 4.2 per cent swing in favour 
• Postal votes will be counted from Monday morning

Voting tallies have been reported from 41 of 48 counting centres with Nationals candidate David Layzell ahead with 56.3 per cent of the votes.

Mr Barilaro acknowledged that while not all the votes had been counted in the seat the Nationals have held for 90 years, he was confident the party was "too far out in front" for Labor to catch up.

"Our data and polling show that we were always in the race, it's good to see that the data was right," Mr Barilaro said.

A confident John Barilaro has called yesterday's win a great result.(

ABC News

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"If you look at the trends of the day in all those booths, I can't see pre-poll changing, so yeah, I think we're too far in front … this is a win and we'll take the win."

Mr Barilaro could have more reasons to feel confident after the ABC's chief election analyst Antony Green reported a 4.2 per cent swing towards the Nationals.

The increase in preferences is significant. Normally, in a by-election there are swings against the government, a fact that did not escape Premier Glady's Berejiklian's notice yesterday when she urged people to vote for a "safe and secure government".

NSW Labor has had a disastrous election result with candidate Jeff Drayton this afternoon conceding defeat after the party recorded a 4.2 per cent swing against it and its primary vote dropped.

"David and I don't agree on many things but we both have the best interests of the Upper Hunter at heart," Mr Drayton said.

"We always faced an uphill battle to win … our result yesterday, particularly in Singleton, is a warning to Labor that we can’t take any community for granted.

"Working-class communities are hurting and they’re turning away from this government."

Focus has now turned to Labor leader Jodi McKay who has been under pressure from members who want her removed from the role.

Ms McKay last night admitted the result was a blow to the party's efforts in the region, but said sights were now set on the 2023 state election.

Labor's election loss has added to speculation over the leadership credentials of Jodi McKay (left).(

AAP Image: Darren Pateman

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"We have to make sure we do better," Ms McKay said.

"We have two years to prove to the Upper Hunter that we are a party that deserves their support."

Ms McKay said despite the results so far, this was "no ringing endorsement of the government".

There were 13 candidates contesting the seat vying for a total of more than 56,000 votes.

More than 40 per cent of the electorate pre-voted with postal votes to be counted from Monday morning.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA1LTIzL2pvaG4tYmFyaWxhcm8tY2xhaW1zLW5hdGlvbmFsLXdpbi1pbi11cHBlci1odW50ZXItYnktZWxlY3Rpb24vMTAwMTU4NjY00gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDE1ODY2NA?oc=5

2021-05-23 03:24:15Z
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