“We weren’t a small target, we went out with a lot of things on the table and people have backed us in on that.”
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The Labor Party’s national policy platform, rolled out under the mantra “100 Positive Policies”, has been welcomed with open arms by many voters in the Illawarra seat of Cunningham.
Incumbent Labor MP Sharon Bird romped home to victory on Saturday night, garnering more than 60 per cent of the vote on a two-candidate preferred basis to secure her fifth consecutive term.
The night was still young when the win was called – via an 8.20pm speech to a gathering of party faithful at the Figtree Bowling Club.
“In 2013, they [the Coalition] said we were out for a generation. Last year, when they changed leader they said we were in real trouble [and] we’d never be competitive,” Ms Bird told the crowd.
“We’re pushing them tonight [Saturday], pushing them all over the country.”
Ms Bird was encouraged by the “strong endorsement” she received from voters.
“It looks like we’ve probably won most of the booths [in Cunningham] – that’s a great sign for Labor in the long-term in this area,” she told the Mercury.
“As a strong Labor area that people have retained faith in us at this election.
“The platform that we put a lot of effort into [meant] we weren’t a small target, we went out with a lot of things on the table and people have backed us in on that.”
Having been through one by-election that “didn’t go so well”, the Labor MP said she doesn’t let the safe aspect of her seat cloud her judgment.
“Every election I’m very conscious that if you take an area for granted people will feel very upset about that,” she said.
“Tonight [Saturday] is a fantastic feeling, a really great feedback from the community of support and I will always appreciate that.”
Ms Bird’s Liberal Party challenger Michelle Blicavs was also “feeling good”, despite a shift away from the Coalition in Cunningham and across the country.
“The swing that we had wasn’t as high and I do put that down to the effort and hard work that we’ve put in and to our continuing changing demographic,” Mrs Blicavs said.
“I’m quite encouraged overall by the result.
“We will certainly be at it next time and we’ll continue to do all that we can to see this seat change and to ensure it gets the attention it deserves.”
RESULTS
Two candidate preferred
49/51 booths, 79.18% turnout
- Michelle Blicavs (Liberal) 30,858 (36.8%) Swing -1.94
- Sharon Bird (Labor) 53,075 (63.2%) Swing +1.94