NSW Opposition Leader, Mr Luke Foley, joined with Gosford by-election winner, Ms Liesl Tesch, on April 9, to celebrate Labor’s victory and to emphasise the party’s commitment to regional NSW.
In a press conference at Ms Tesch’s victory party, Mr Foley said the 13 per cent swing to Labor as well as Ms Tesch’s 49.5 per cent of the primary vote, consisting of 22,931 votes translating to 62.5 per cent of the two party preferred vote, was the best result for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) for Gosford in 30 years, and was proof that Gosford was fed up with the Berejiklian Government’s neglect of regional communities when it came to infrastructure management and funding.
“The ALP is delighted by the result here in Gosford and the seat now has a fighter in golden girl Liesl Tesch,” Mr Foley said.
“Everything she has set her mind to she has achieved in life, and the ALP wholeheartedly welcomes Liesl to parliament,” Mr Foley said.
Ms Tesch said she felt fantastically supported by the community and that she would be fighting for Gosford in NSW Parliament for years to come.
“I will do all in my power to keep the Government accountable for the decisions they make that affect the lives of people on the Central Coast,” Ms Tesch said.
Ms Tesch won the primary vote in every polling booth in the electorate except four, Kulnura, Mangrove Mountain, Mount White and Peats Ridge.
Tesch’s heartland and home turf of the Woy Woy Peninsula proved her staunchest supporters, with four of her best poll results recorded around the Peninsula.
Liberal candidate, Ms Jilly Pilon, achieved 14,202 primary votes, an 11.9 per cent swing against the Coalition.
Greens candidate, Ms Abigail Boyd, secured 7.5 per cent of the primary vote, but that was against a 1.5 per cent swing against the party in the electorate.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate, Mr Larry Freeman, recorded 5.1 per cent of the primary vote, whilst the Animal Justice Party’s Ms Skyla Wagstaff, and the Christian Democratic Party’s, Mr Andrew Church, both polled under 2,000 primary votes.
The number of formal votes counted on the day was 46,279 representing 97.3 per cent of registered voters.
During the conference, Ms Tesch outlined the key issues identified by the people of her electorate during her time on the campaign trail, including feeling ripped off by the Council amalgamation and the removal of services throughout the electorate by the Liberal Government.
When questioned about the anti-government vote, Mr Foley said there was definitely a “mood for change” across the state but said the results in Gosford highlighted that sentiment stemmed from the current government’s direction.
“The voters didn’t go to the minors in Gosford, they went to Gosford’s golden girl who bolted home.
“The Premier needs to take responsibility for the brutal judgements that have been delivered against this government.
“This government is squandering millions on projects for Sydney, like the tunnel for the North Shore and the Eastern Suburbs Light Rail project and voters from the Central Coast, the South Coast and the Central West are delivering brutal judgements to this government because those regions are not getting their fair share.
“Labor will continue to campaign for regional NSW and will continue to be an ALP firmly planted in the mainstream dealing with peoples’ everyday concerns,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Foley listed the bread and butter policies of better jobs, health and education as the cornerstone of the ALP’s politicking.
Source:
Press conference,
Apr 9, 2017
Luke Foley, NSW Labor
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford
Website,
Apr 13, 2017
Gosford by-election results, NSW Electoral Commission
Dilon Luke, Journalist