Almost three weeks after the electors of Gilmore went to the polls, and 15 days after her Labor challenger conceded defeat, incumbent Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis claimed victory on Friday.
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The long-awaited claim was made via a media statement, titled “Thank for the support”, on July 22.
With every vote counted, Ms Sudmalis garnered 50.7 per cent of the two-candidate preferred (TCP) vote.
It was a win for the incumbent, but Labor candidate Fiona Phillips’ down-to-the-wire fight meant Ms Sudmalis returns for a second term with a battle wound of a 3 per cent swing against her.
In the statement, Ms Sudmalis said she was “humbled by the community again allowing me the privilege of representing Gilmore”.
“We always expected this election to be close,” she said.
“Whenever there is a large win by either side of politics, as there was when I was elected for the first time in 2013, the next election follows with a swing back to the Opposition.
“That was the case this year, however I was pleased to see the swing to Labor in Gilmore was lower than the national average, and substantially lower than the average shift in NSW.”
We always expected this election to be close.
- Liberal MP, Ann Sudmalis
Ms Sudmalis’ campaign wasn’t without controversy.
Earlier this week, it was revealed the Liberal MP reportedly told a party room meeting in Canberra that she had won a booth because one of her supporters had taken the Labor material and stashed it in a car boot.
The comment riled those in the Labor Party, including Mrs Phillips and the NSW Labor general secretary Kaila Murnain, who referred the matter to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and NSW Police.
The AEC considered a letter from the ALP and decided the allegations “did not raise any prima facie breach of ... the Commonwealth Electoral Act”.
On Wednesday last week, Ms Sudmalis said “at no stage have I ever tampered with another party’s election material, nor would I ever do so”.
FINAL NUMBERS
Two-party preferred vote
- Ann Sudmalis (Liberal): 52,336 (50.7%), Swing -3.05%
- Fiona Phillips (Labor): 50,833 (49.3%), +3.05%
Primary vote count
- Steve Ryan (CDP): 5160 (5%)
- Ann Sudmalis (Liberal): 46,713 (45.3%)
- Carmel McCallum (Greens): 10,820 (10.5%)
- Fiona Phillips (Labor): 40,476 (39.2%)
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
