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| Labor claims win in Kiama byelection with Katelin McInerney to replace convicted rapist Gareth Ward | Labor claims win in Kiama byelection with Katelin McInerney to replace convicted rapist Gareth Ward |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Initial count has ALP candidate securing 60.6% of the two-party-preferred vote over Liberal Serena Copley in state seat | Initial count has ALP candidate securing 60.6% of the two-party-preferred vote over Liberal Serena Copley in state seat |
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| Labor has claimed victory in the New South Wales seat vacated by disgraced MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward. | Labor has claimed victory in the New South Wales seat vacated by disgraced MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward. |
| The Kiama byelection was held on Saturday to replace Ward, who was convicted of sexual and indecent assault in July. | The Kiama byelection was held on Saturday to replace Ward, who was convicted of sexual and indecent assault in July. |
| Labor had held the seat for three decades after its creation in 1981 until the then Liberal MP Ward claimed it in 2011. | Labor had held the seat for three decades after its creation in 1981 until the then Liberal MP Ward claimed it in 2011. |
| The ALP candidate Katelin McInerney’s victory was the first major electoral test for the Minns government. | The ALP candidate Katelin McInerney’s victory was the first major electoral test for the Minns government. |
| The premier, Chris Minns, said the result was humbling. | The premier, Chris Minns, said the result was humbling. |
| “My government views this result as an invitation to work even harder for the entire state,” he said on Saturday night. | “My government views this result as an invitation to work even harder for the entire state,” he said on Saturday night. |
| “I want to thank the people of Kiama for putting their trust in Labor. We do not take that trust for granted. Kiama now has that voice inside government and I know Katelin will be a fierce advocate for her community.” | “I want to thank the people of Kiama for putting their trust in Labor. We do not take that trust for granted. Kiama now has that voice inside government and I know Katelin will be a fierce advocate for her community.” |
| McInerney said: “I put my hand up to run in this election because I love this community. I grew here and I wanted to make sure that my son had the same access to world-class healthcare and a world-class public education … as I did when I was growing up here.” | |
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| There were 13 candidates vying for votes on Saturday. Election analyst Ben Raue called the win for Labor two hours after the polls closed. | There were 13 candidates vying for votes on Saturday. Election analyst Ben Raue called the win for Labor two hours after the polls closed. |
| It is unusual for a government to gain a seat in a byelection, but Raue said Labor had more incentive to work harder for the victory. The win puts Labor one vote closer to majority power. | It is unusual for a government to gain a seat in a byelection, but Raue said Labor had more incentive to work harder for the victory. The win puts Labor one vote closer to majority power. |
| The count on Saturday by 10pm had the ALP candidate securing 60.6% of the two-party-preferred vote over the Liberals’ Serena Copley on 39.4%. | The count on Saturday by 10pm had the ALP candidate securing 60.6% of the two-party-preferred vote over the Liberals’ Serena Copley on 39.4%. |
| The fate of the state opposition leader, Mark Speakman, could be tied to Saturday’s poor performance. | The fate of the state opposition leader, Mark Speakman, could be tied to Saturday’s poor performance. |
| Asked on Friday if his leadership would survive a loss, Speakman batted away the speculation. | Asked on Friday if his leadership would survive a loss, Speakman batted away the speculation. |
| “We are the underdogs,” he told reporters in Kiama ahead of the byelection. | “We are the underdogs,” he told reporters in Kiama ahead of the byelection. |
| “I will be the leader. I will continue to be the leader. It’s about the best representative for Kiama … It’s about electing someone who will take the toughest fight up to the government.” | “I will be the leader. I will continue to be the leader. It’s about the best representative for Kiama … It’s about electing someone who will take the toughest fight up to the government.” |
| But it had been suggested that if the Liberals had a two-party-preferred result in the low 40s, or worse, then Speakman would be in trouble. Even though who might mount a leadership challenge remained unclear. | But it had been suggested that if the Liberals had a two-party-preferred result in the low 40s, or worse, then Speakman would be in trouble. Even though who might mount a leadership challenge remained unclear. |
| McInerney had secured 37.5% of first-preference votes late on Saturday night, while Copley had just 26.2% of the primary vote, with 75% of the ballots counted. | McInerney had secured 37.5% of first-preference votes late on Saturday night, while Copley had just 26.2% of the primary vote, with 75% of the ballots counted. |
| Ward retained Kiama as an independent in 2023 despite having been charged with sex offences against two young men. He resigned in August on the morning parliament was going to expel him. He is due to face a sentencing hearing next week. | Ward retained Kiama as an independent in 2023 despite having been charged with sex offences against two young men. He resigned in August on the morning parliament was going to expel him. He is due to face a sentencing hearing next week. |
| Minns said Saturday’s byelection drew a line under the disgraced MP’s time in office. “Now it’s about turning the page,” the premier said. | Minns said Saturday’s byelection drew a line under the disgraced MP’s time in office. “Now it’s about turning the page,” the premier said. |