The New South Wales Nationals are claiming an early win in the Upper Hunter by-election, while Labor’s primary vote has tanked by more than 8 per cent.
More Labor voters prefer the premier than Jodi McKay, while One Nation’s spirited campaign in the NSW seat doomed Shooters, Fishers and Farmers to electoral failure
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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%.
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.