Voters turn out at polling booths in Batemans Bay. Photo: Kim Treasure.
Labor politicians on the South Coast look set to be comfortably returned following the trend across Australia.
With 60 per cent of the vote counted in Eden-Monaro, incumbent Kristy McBain is looking comfortable with a projected two-party preferred vote of almost 57 per cent over Liberal Jo van der Plaat on about 43 per cent.
At 9:20 pm, Ms McBain had recorded a swing of almost 3 per cent and picked up 15,688 votes, in front of Ms van der Plaat’s 11,916.
The Greens’ Emma Goward looks to have recorded a swing of about 2.45 per cent, but her first preference vote was just 4396.
Controversial independent Andrew Thaler had recorded only 1059 votes.
In Gilmore, one of the nation’s most closely contested seats, sitting MP Fiona Phillips (38.2 per cent) was ahead of the Liberal’s Andrew Constance (29.6 per cent) with 26.4 per cent counted.
Ms Phillips retained the seat at the 2022 election by just 373 votes over Mr Constance.
The independent Kate Dezarnaulds (8.4 per cent) was slightly behind the Greens’ Debbie Killian (8.9 per cent).
Ms Phillips said she had been humbled by the number of people who stopped her while she was visiting booths on Saturday to thank her for helping them or their loved one.
Voting at the Narooma Sports and Leisure Centre. Photo: Martin Oswin.
“This year, my team has knocked on nearly 22,000 doors and made more than 14,000 phone calls in an incredible effort right across Gilmore,” she said shortly after polls closed.
“It’s clear that local people want to see cost-of-living relief, and they want to see investment in local healthcare services.
“That’s what I’ll be proud to deliver under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government.”
