Victory at every booth and a big swing to Labor in Keira on Saturday came as a shock to incumbent Ryan Park.
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Hard work, determination and a community-focus were part of Mr Park’s self-described recipe for success after he had polled 54 per cent of the primary vote by late Sunday, ahead of his nearest rival Philip Clifford (Liberal, 27.36 per cent).
On a two-party preferred basis, Mr Park had received a 15.4 per cent swing towards him, while the figure was just shy of 18 per cent on primary votes.
‘‘I never thought that sort of swing would be possible in the space of one term,’’ Mr Park said.
‘‘To get that sort of swing, which I think is double the state average, is certainly something you can only be humbled by and shocked.
The Labor margin fell from 3.8 to 2.9 per cent after the most recent electoral boundary redistribution, which saw Keira gain Bulli, Thirroul, Austinmer and Coledale from Heathcote.
‘‘Traditionally the further north you go, the lower the Labor vote ... this [swing] has certainly gone against all that,’’ he said.
Labor won the primary vote every polling booth in the seat on election night, something Mr Park said was ‘‘unheard of’’.
‘‘To see those numbers come in last night [Saturday] you can only be humbled and for me it’s a sign people expect and respect someone who’s giving the job their all ... and that’s certainly all I’ve tried to focus on for four years,’’ he said.
Mr Park’s Liberal challenger Philip Clifford spoke more generally, saying he was pleased the Baird government had been re-elected.
Mr Clifford echoed Premier Mike Baird’s comment that voters had chosen ‘‘hope over fear’’ in relation to privatisation of the state’s electricity ‘‘poles and wires’’.
‘‘Unfortunately [in] our region because of old ways and scare campaigns in relation to the method of funding the infrastructure ... [voters] chose fear over hope,’’ Mr Clifford said.
‘‘The fact of the matter is we’re still stuck in the old model and as a life-time resident of the region it’s just disappointing we didn’t take the opportunity to have a Liberal member who would have the voice of government.’’