Libs lose Warringah but could gain in NSW

The Wentworth contest remains close with independent Kerryn Phelps neck and neck with Dave Sharma, but overall the Liberals may end up with an extra NSW seat.

Tony Abbott concedes the seat of Warringah alongside wife Margie.

Tony Abbott will receive a pension in his life after politics. Source: AAP

The Morrison government lost Warringah and an ex-prime minister in NSW but elsewhere across the state, its numbers will likely remain relatively unchanged.

Former Liberal leader Tony Abbott lost Warringah to independent Zali Steggall, suffering a swing of about 20 per cent in the seat he held for 24 years.

"At least I didn't lose the seat as PM," Mr Abbott told Sky News on Saturday night.

Another high-profile contest in Sydney remains too close to call, with independent Kerryn Phelps neck and neck with Liberal candidate Dave Sharma in Wentworth.

Dr Phelps, the sitting MP who won the seat in an October by-election, had 51 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis late on Saturday while Mr Sharma had 49 per cent.

"In order to win the by-election I had to achieve a historic swing," Dr Phelps told AAP.

"To hold that would be a massive challenge."

Elsewhere, the Liberals lost Gilmore on the south coast, with candidate Warren Mundine failing to retain the seat previously held by Ann Sudmalis.

But they picked up Lindsay in Sydney's west after Labor's Emma Husar quit following allegations she mistreated staff.

The Liberal's Melissa McIntosh had 54 per cent of the two-party vote late on Saturday night with 62 per cent of the vote counted.

The government is also in with a chance of picking up Macquarie. Labor's sitting MP, Susan Templeman, is ahead 50.2 per cent to 49.8 per cent on a two-party preferred basis against Sarah Richards.

The Nationals performed better in the bush than expected after the hit they took in the NSW state election in March. They kept all of their seats.


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Published 19 May 2019 3:36am
Source: AAP


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