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“The people of NSW did not leave ALP, we left them”

Kristina Keneally concedes defeat and announces step down as Labor leader

New NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell celebrates his win at the Parramatta Leagues Club in western Sydney.Keneally quits after Labor rout sweeps Barry O'Farrell to power.

BARRY O'Farrell has become the 42nd premier of NSW in the biggest landslide seen in modern Australian political history.
Kristina Keneally stepped down as leader after conceding defeat to the Coalition in an electoral rout which ends 16 years of Labor government and may leave the ALP with just 20 seats, down from 50.
With a 17 per cent swing and a surge in its primary vote even beyond its expectations, the Coalition is set to win about 70 lower house seats, Labor 20 and independents the remaining three.That sort of majority will carry the Coalition, which has governed in NSW for only seven of the past 35 years, through to the 2019 election at least.

The Nationals had a highly successful night, and are expected to pick up five seats for a total of 18.
Nationals beat sitting independents in three seats - Dubbo, Port Macquarie and Tamworth - and were likely to take Monaro from Labor's Steve Whan and, in an extraordinary result, Bathurst, with a swing of 37 per cent.

In a typically self-effacing victory speech, Mr O'Farrell stressed the achievements of his staff and parliamentary team, rather than his own efforts, and remained focused on practical issues of service delivery and infrastructure.
“We are determined to end the rorts, to restore confidence in the government in this state once again,” he added.
But his speech at the Parramatta leagues Club would have sent a shudder through the Gillard government as he pledged he would “take the fight up to Canberra” on the proposed carbon tax.
Early figures on the upper house also indicate Mr O'Farrell will have no problem passing his legislation.

Apart from Labor, the big losers tonight are the Greens, who look unlikely to win either Balmain or Marrickville, the two inner-western Sydney seats they were tipped to secure.
Mr O'Farrell paid tribute to Ms Keneally, whose decision to quit as Labor leader leaves the way open for former union leader John Robertson to take her place.

Conceding defeat, Ms Keneally said Labor could not hide from the truth.The people of NSW who entrusted us with power for 16 years did not leave us, we left them.
“The reality is that our lack of unity and discipline as a party and some individual members put the fututre of the NSW Labor Party at risk.”

Announcing she would move to the back bench, Ms Keneally said she took responsibility for Labor's devastating loss.
“I believe that the next stage of renewal for our party is best undertaken by a new leader, a new leader who can take up the next phase of our party's renewal, unencumbered,” she said.
“A new leader who will have my support, and, if it is any use, my counsel form the back bench.”
Ms Keneally - who was promoted to Labor leader after the dumping of premiers Morris Iemma and Nathan Rees - called on Labor to unite.

“The lesson we as a party must take from tonight's result is the importance of unity, the importance of putting the people that we serve and the principles we hold above all other motivations.”
The Coalition could also win as many as 14 of the 21 upper house seats on offer.
That would give Mr O'Farrell control of both houses and render Labor's claim that he would lack a proper mandate academic.
As some of the most solid Labor heartland seats fell like dominos, ALP campaign spokesperson Luke Foley said the result was looking “grimmer than grim” for Labor's representation.

“They have not been able to believe the evidence before their eyes,” he said.
In one of the most keenly-watched seats for its federal implications, independent Peter Besseling conceded defeat in Port Macquarie, with the Nationals' Leslie Williams seizing the seat in what appeared to be a backlash against federal independent Rob Oakeshott.
The decision of Mr Oakeshott, whose seat of Lyne surrounds Port Macquarie, to support Julia Gillard has produced intense anger among many of the mainly conservative constituents.
The Coalition's Mike Baird said the result in Port Macquarie was a “megaphone message” to Mr Oakeshott, a former National targeted by the Coalition.

Nationals candidate Kevin Anderson was also tipped to snatch the seat of Tamworth from independent Peter Draper.
The Greens' appeared to have failed in their push for Marrickville and Balmain, although the final results could take time to determine.

In Marrickville, Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt was marginally ahead of controversial Greens candidate Fiona Byrne, whose campaign had been dogged by revelations that she had switched tack and dissembled about her support for a boycott on Israel.
Ms Tebbutt said: “We have not yest won, but I am very hopeful” with Labor's primary vote on 40 per cent and Ms Byrne on 35 per cent.

Incoming Premier Barry O'Farrell has promised New South Wales voters a "limitless future" after leading the Coalition to an unprecedented landslide win in Saturday's state election.

Ousted premier Kristina Keneally has conceded defeat and says she will step down as Labor leader after the party suffered a "massacre" at the hands of vengeful voters.

Labor suffered a huge swing of around 17 per cent against it and lost dozens of formerly safe seats across its heartland as voters brought the axe crashing down on its 16-year rule.

Labor
Predicted 22
17
Coalition
Predicted 51
64

Latest Seat Results

68.6% counted. Last updated Sun Mar 27 6:23 AM
Time	Count %	Electorate	Held By	Margin	2PP %	Swing	Predict
01:48	71.1	Shellharbour	ALP	26.8	59.9	16.9% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
01:32	56.5	Vaucluse	LIB	17.9	74.0	8.0% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
01:28	58.8	Sydney	IND	16.6	56.6	10.0% from IND	IND RETAIN
01:15	61.7	Murray-Darling	NAT	10.1	76.9	16.8% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
01:11	65.3	North Shore	LIB	19.2	74.5	8.6% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
01:09	66.5	Burrinjuck	NAT	17.3	80.6	13.3% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
01:07	71.1	Macquarie Fields	ALP	11.1	52.0	9.1% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
00:57	69.7	Murrumbidgee	NAT	16.1	77.9	11.8% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:55	65.7	Kiama	ALP	12.0	56.7	18.7% to LIB	LIB GAIN
00:50	68.2	Lismore	NAT	10.0	69.4	9.4% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:48	68.5	Wyong	ALP	6.9	52.7	9.5% to LIB	LIB GAIN
00:47	66.2	Bega	LIB	5.1	67.9	12.9% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
00:45	67.0	Balmain	ALP	3.7	51.0	2.7% from ALP	ALP AHEAD
00:43	67.0	Wagga Wagga	LIB	13.0	59.3	3.7% from LIB	LIB RETAIN
00:39	72.5	Charlestown	ALP	14.6	60.2	24.8% to LIB	LIB GAIN
00:37	65.3	Ballina	NAT	14.5	65.1	0.6% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:33	72.0	Albury	LIB	19.0	76.3	7.3% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
00:33	64.7	Bathurst	ALP	13.0	73.3	36.3% to NAT	NAT GAIN
00:33	62.7	Granville	ALP	11.1	53.4	14.4% to LIB	LIB GAIN
00:31	71.4	Kogarah	ALP	17.7	52.5	15.2% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
00:26	72.1	Smithfield	ALP	15.5	54.5	19.9% to LIB	LIB GAIN
00:26	69.9	Mount Druitt	ALP	25.4	56.8	18.6% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
00:24	66.0	Orange	NAT	17.2	74.2	12.6% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:23	68.9	Keira	ALP	22.0	54.7	17.3% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
00:19	62.0	Upper Hunter	NAT	14.7	64.7	0.1% from NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:19	67.5	Port Stephens	LIB	0.1	61.8	11.7% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
00:19	68.6	Lake Macquarie	IND	0.1	64.7	14.5% to IND	IND RETAIN
00:16	68.3	Coffs Harbour	NAT	17.6	76.8	9.2% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:12	73.4	Wollondilly	ALP	3.3	65.0	18.3% to LIB	LIB GAIN
00:12	69.0	Clarence	NAT	11.6	72.8	11.3% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
00:12	72.1	Wallsend	ALP	15.8	56.5	9.3% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
00:05	66.5	Port Macquarie	IND	4.5	56.4	34.6% to NAT	NAT GAIN
00:00	67.5	Auburn	ALP	28.7	58.2	20.5% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
23:55	69.0	Londonderry	ALP	6.9	63.0	19.9% to LIB	LIB GAIN
23:52	69.7	Epping	LIB	8.0	75.1	17.1% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:49	71.8	Riverstone	ALP	10.1	69.8	29.9% to LIB	LIB GAIN
23:46	67.2	Maroubra	ALP	16.1	52.0	14.2% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
23:42	63.9	Heffron	ALP	23.7	57.8	15.8% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
23:41	71.6	Cessnock	ALP	12.4	54.7	7.7% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
23:38	71.6	Davidson	LIB	24.7	82.8	8.1% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:31	68.9	Pittwater	LIB	29.8	77.6	2.1% from LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:25	73.8	East Hills	ALP	14.1	50.0	14.1% to LIB	LIB AHEAD
23:25	69.1	Cronulla	LIB	17.5	75.8	8.3% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:24	59.8	Cabramatta	ALP	29.0	52.9	26.2% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
23:19	69.6	Manly	LIB	21.8	76.5	4.7% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:15	73.9	Campbelltown	ALP	18.5	52.0	20.5% to LIB	LIB GAIN
23:15	72.5	Swansea	ALP	10.8	50.8	11.6% to LIB	LIB AHEAD
23:14	73.0	Heathcote	ALP	8.8	63.6	22.3% to LIB	LIB GAIN
23:12	67.4	Willoughby	LIB	21.0	76.3	5.3% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:09	63.7	Barwon	NAT	18.9	80.9	12.0% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
23:07	72.2	Hawkesbury	LIB	19.3	84.9	15.6% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:05	69.6	Ku-ring-gai	LIB	29.0	80.2	1.2% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
23:01	73.0	Maitland	ALP	9.7	56.2	15.9% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:57	74.6	Camden	ALP	3.9	68.7	22.6% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:55	72.5	Miranda	ALP	0.8	71.1	21.8% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:55	71.5	Lane Cove	LIB	12.4	73.5	11.2% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:54	64.7	Myall Lakes	NAT	17.4	79.4	12.0% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
22:54	73.0	Penrith	LIB	16.5	66.0	25.2% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:53	64.6	Northern Tablelands	IND	30.2	69.8	10.4% from IND	IND RETAIN
22:53	58.0	South Coast	LIB	7.8	68.9	11.1% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:53	64.5	Monaro	ALP	6.3	51.0	7.3% to NAT	NAT AHEAD
22:53	73.2	Baulkham Hills	LIB	10.5	76.4	15.9% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:52	70.9	Bankstown	ALP	25.4	61.5	13.9% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
22:50	69.2	Lakemba	ALP	34.0	57.9	26.0% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
22:50	67.8	Terrigal	LIB	8.4	73.8	15.3% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:47	71.3	Canterbury	ALP	27.1	59.4	17.7% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
22:47	67.4	The Entrance	ALP	4.9	62.4	17.2% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:46	67.2	Marrickville	ALP	7.5	52.3	5.2% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
22:45	64.7	Dubbo	IND	0.9	63.6	14.5% to NAT	NAT GAIN
22:45	72.8	Mulgoa	ALP	11.1	62.4	23.5% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:44	68.2	Strathfield	ALP	15.1	54.6	19.7% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:42	73.4	Toongabbie	ALP	14.5	50.8	13.7% from ALP	ALP AHEAD
22:41	72.6	Ryde	LIB	13.0	76.0	36.1% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:40	66.3	Tamworth	IND	4.8	57.2	12.0% to NAT	NAT GAIN
22:39	69.8	Blacktown	ALP	22.4	54.3	18.1% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
22:38	63.1	Coogee	ALP	7.2	56.8	14.1% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:37	71.5	Drummoyne	ALP	7.6	66.3	23.9% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:33	70.3	Oxley	NAT	15.9	79.2	13.3% to NAT	NAT RETAIN
22:32	70.2	Oatley	ALP	14.4	50.5	14.9% to LIB	LIB AHEAD
22:32	72.4	Liverpool	ALP	26.9	65.3	11.7% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
22:32	72.1	Wakehurst	LIB	17.3	81.0	13.7% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:31	69.1	Wollongong	ALP	25.3	50.2	25.5% to IND	IND AHEAD
22:30	67.2	Goulburn	LIB	8.6	76.6	18.0% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:29	67.5	Parramatta	ALP	13.7	61.2	24.9% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:28	67.5	Blue Mountains	ALP	11.1	54.7	15.7% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:28	69.8	Castle Hill	LIB	19.1	80.7	11.7% to LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:27	70.4	Newcastle	ALP	1.2	51.3	2.5% to LIB	LIB AHEAD
22:24	71.6	Rockdale	ALP	10.3	52.6	12.8% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:24	74.8	Menai	ALP	2.7	74.8	27.5% to LIB	LIB GAIN
22:24	70.9	Hornsby	LIB	16.5	64.0	2.5% from LIB	LIB RETAIN
22:13	67.6	Fairfield	ALP	20.4	52.3	18.1% from ALP	ALP RETAIN
21:53	65.2	Gosford	ALP	4.9	61.6	16.5% to LIB	LIB GAIN
21:52	62.6	Tweed	NAT	3.0	71.2	18.2% to NAT	NAT RETAIN

David Borger

Liberal Tony Issa nudges ahead of Granville MP David Borger

LIBERAL candidate for Granville Tony Issa has nudged ahead of Labor MP David Borger as vote counting continues.Mr Issa had 2,635 votes (52 per cent) to Mr Borger’s 2,437 (48 per cent) on a two party preferred system with 37 per cent of the vote counted.Mr Issa is a former lord mayor of Parramatta but is up against a higher profile opponent in Roads Minister David Borger.

The Liberal Party has never held Granville. If Mr Issa can win the seat, it would be reflective of a crushing win by the Liberal Party in NSW which has claimed many seats in Labor’s traditional heartland of western Sydney.

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