“People are just so confused,I think even people who are volunteering are confused about it,and that’s not good for democracy,” she said. “I think systems should be really clear,so we understand what we’re voting for,and how we’re voting,and everyone has equal opportunity in terms of voting.”
On the northern beaches,the key electorate of Pittwater,where independent Jacqui Scruby took on Liberal Rory Amon in retiring MP Rob Stokes’ seat,also hangs in the balance.
Scruby,who spent Sunday watching her daughter play soccer,swimming at the beach with her family,and strolling the shopping strip in Avalon - admitted she didn’t mind the quiet after the election campaign “rollercoaster”.
“It’s really nice being in limbo because you don’t have the enormity of the job ahead,and you don’t have all the pressure of thinking,I have to go and find a job.”
Scruby said there was “palpable excitement” in the electorate,but she was realistic the result might not be known for days.
“On election day it very much felt,as the polling reflected,50-50. The knife-edge is still there.
“I would have loved a result last night but it’s going to be a long count.”
In Kiama,Liberal MP-turned-independent Gareth Ward,who faces sexual assault allegations and has pleaded not guilty,received 38.2 per cent of the primary vote with 40 per cent of votes counted. His opponent,Labor’s Katelin McInerney,is ahead on a two-party preferred basis with 51.9 per cent of votes.
McInerney said on Sunday:“It’s still too close to call,and we probably won’t know for a few days or weeks. But what we can see is the community wants change.”
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Psephologist Ben Raue,who runsThe Tally Room blog,said although Labor would form a majority government after the Liberals’ election drubbing,the swings were patchy.
Raue said the swings towards the ALP in crucial Sydney seats including Parramatta (13.4 per cent) and Camden (12.8 per cent) were significant. Yet Winston Hills recorded a 2.9 per cent swing to Labor. The Liberal candidate for Winston Hills,Mark Taylor,had won 52.1 per cent of votes on preferences on Saturday night,but with 57.1 per cent of votes counted,the seat also remained too close to call.
“Overall,the state clearly voted for Labor,there’s no doubt about that,and they clearly won a majority. It’s one of those elections where there’s no uniform swing,it’s a bit all over the place,” Raue said.
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