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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/13/orange-byelection-result-nationals-at-risk-of-losing-seat-to-shooters-party
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| Orange byelection result: Nationals lead Shooters party by 1000 votes Orange byelection result: Nationals lead Shooters party by 1000 votes | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The byelection for the New South Wales seat of Orange remains tight with only 1,000 votes between the leading candidates in a close race that could be decided by preferences after a massive primary swing against the incumbent National party. | The byelection for the New South Wales seat of Orange remains tight with only 1,000 votes between the leading candidates in a close race that could be decided by preferences after a massive primary swing against the incumbent National party. |
| The figures on the NSW electoral commission website on Sunday morning show the Nationals candidate, Scott Barrett, had won 29.5% of primary votes but Philip Donato from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) party, which has never held a lower house seat in the state, is not far behind. | The figures on the NSW electoral commission website on Sunday morning show the Nationals candidate, Scott Barrett, had won 29.5% of primary votes but Philip Donato from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) party, which has never held a lower house seat in the state, is not far behind. |
| Donato trails with 25% of the vote but may claim victory thanks to Labor preferences. | Donato trails with 25% of the vote but may claim victory thanks to Labor preferences. |
| Orange has been a safe Nationals seat since the end of World War II and was held on a 21.7% margin. | Orange has been a safe Nationals seat since the end of World War II and was held on a 21.7% margin. |
| The large swing against the Nationals comes after the premier, Mike Baird, backed down on his controversial greyhound racing ban last month after intense pressure from Coalition MPs. | The large swing against the Nationals comes after the premier, Mike Baird, backed down on his controversial greyhound racing ban last month after intense pressure from Coalition MPs. |
| With half the vote counted, the Nationals had recorded a 36% primary swing against it. | With half the vote counted, the Nationals had recorded a 36% primary swing against it. |
| The deputy premier, Troy Grant, who attracted heavy criticism for his support of the ban, vowed to stay on as NSW Nationals leader irrespective of the results on Saturday. | The deputy premier, Troy Grant, who attracted heavy criticism for his support of the ban, vowed to stay on as NSW Nationals leader irrespective of the results on Saturday. |
| The seat became vacant earlier this year when its MP, Andrew Gee, resigned to run for federal parliament. | The seat became vacant earlier this year when its MP, Andrew Gee, resigned to run for federal parliament. |
| In other byelections on Saturday, Labor candidate Sophie Cotsis appeared to have won the Canterbury byelection to replace the former Labor deputy leader Linda Burney, who made the switch to federal politics. | In other byelections on Saturday, Labor candidate Sophie Cotsis appeared to have won the Canterbury byelection to replace the former Labor deputy leader Linda Burney, who made the switch to federal politics. |
| She led the two-candidate preferred vote over the Christian Democratic party’s Branka Kouroushis 77.6% to 22.3%. | She led the two-candidate preferred vote over the Christian Democratic party’s Branka Kouroushis 77.6% to 22.3%. |
| Labor candidate Paul Scully also claimed victory in the seat of Wollongong, left vacant after long-time MP Noreen Hay quit earlier this year. | Labor candidate Paul Scully also claimed victory in the seat of Wollongong, left vacant after long-time MP Noreen Hay quit earlier this year. |
| The Turnbull government frontbencher Steven Ciobo said there was no doubt the swing away from the Nationals in the Orange byelection was due to Baird’s handling of the greyhound industry and council amalgamations. | The Turnbull government frontbencher Steven Ciobo said there was no doubt the swing away from the Nationals in the Orange byelection was due to Baird’s handling of the greyhound industry and council amalgamations. |
| Asked on ABC television whether the federal government’s handling of the controversial backpackers tax contributed to Saturday’s vote, Ciobo replied: “At the NSW level, no, I think this is a bigger issue than that. | Asked on ABC television whether the federal government’s handling of the controversial backpackers tax contributed to Saturday’s vote, Ciobo replied: “At the NSW level, no, I think this is a bigger issue than that. |
| “I think it is the issue of what specifically happened in relation to greyhounds, council amalgamations and those types of issues.” | “I think it is the issue of what specifically happened in relation to greyhounds, council amalgamations and those types of issues.” |
| The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said he was “not surprised” by the result of the Orange byelection. | The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said he was “not surprised” by the result of the Orange byelection. |
| “The message here is for [federal Nationals leader] Barnaby Joyce – as long as you’re the country branch office of Malcolm Turnbull’s harbourside Liberals, you are going to pay a price,” he said. | “The message here is for [federal Nationals leader] Barnaby Joyce – as long as you’re the country branch office of Malcolm Turnbull’s harbourside Liberals, you are going to pay a price,” he said. |