Last modified on Sat 22 May 2021 08.18 EDT
The Nationals’ David Layzell has taken an early lead in the Upper Hunter byelection in New South Wales, but it may be days before a winner is declared in the crucial vote.
Both major parties are sweating on the results, which could push the Gladys Berejiklian government further into minority, or increase the pressure on Jodi McKay’s position as Labor leader.
A few hours after voting closed at 6pm on Saturday, Layzell was polling about 30% of first preference votes, with Labor’s Jeff Drayton on about 20%.
Independent Kirsty O’Connell, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers’ Sue Gilroy, and One Nation’s Dale McNamara were all polling around 10%.
Treacherous Turnbull should do honourable thing and resign21/05/2021|9min
New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro has reiterated calls for Malcolm Turnbull to do the honourable thing and resign.
The Upper Hunter by-election scheduled for May 22 is a must-win for the NSW Coalition which will be plunged further into a minority government if it loses the tightly contested seat.
Mr Turnbull and his wife donated $6,000 total to fund Independent Kirsty O’Connell’s campaign in a move which was met with harsh criticism from Coalition colleagues.
“It seems he doesn’t want to be a member of the Liberal Party so do the honourable thing and resign – don’t wait for the party to sack you,” Mr Barilaro told Sky News.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has slammed former colleague Malcolm Turnbull describing the former prime minister as “the most bitter ghost of the lot”.
The former prime minister and his wife each donated $3,000 to independent candidate Kirsty O'Connell who ran in this weekend’s by-election.
“You’re actually out there Malcolm campaigning against the people who made you the prime minister of Australia. Can’t you see there’s something not quite right about that,” he said.
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Investment guru David Paradice will vote for independent Kirsty OâConnell in this Saturdayâs NSW state byelection in the Upper Hunter.
Ms OâConnell has already been endorsed by former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, a move which upset his former Coalition colleagues.
David Paradice in Scone, in NSWâs Upper Hunter, in 2020.Â
Roger Skinner
Mr Paradice said his vote for Ms OâConnell is motivated by his environmental concerns for the Upper Hunter and the future of coal in the seat.
âI like her enthusiasm and interest in doing the right thing,â Mr Paradice said.
âA lot of people Iâve grown up with, a lot of people in the Hunter Valley, know her. Thatâs good enough for me.â
After six long weeks of campaigning, the Nationals appear on track to retain the Upper Hunter seat they've held for 90 years in a crucial byelection that threatened the Berejiklian government's majority in NSW.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian joined the campaign trail in an eleventh hour bid to save the seat.
The Berejiklian government's majority became precarious after former Nationals MP Michael Johnsen quit parliament following serious sexual misconduct allegations.
The Labor Party pinned its hopes on former coal miner and union boss Jeff Drayton, but it wasn't enough.
Meanwhile, NSW Nationals Leader John Barilaro declared "the Nats are back", thanking former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in jest for his decision to back independent candidate Kirsty O'Connell.