With just over two months to go until the NSW State election on Saturday, March 25, the NSW Electoral Commission is asking voters to get ready by enrolling to vote or checking their enrolment is up to date.
Seats on the Central Coast will attract much interest as the Liberal Party attempts to retain the seat of Terrigal and wrestle back one or more of the four Labor-held seats in the region.
The seat of Terrigal was first contested in 2007 when it became the new name for the seat of Gosford and has been held by the Liberals ever since.
Incumbent Member Adam Crouch has held the seat since 2015, being re-elected in 2019 with a 3.3 per cent swing to the Liberals.
Labor has endorsed physiotherapist Sam Boughton to contest the seat.
The seat of Gosford (originally the seat of Peats) is traditionally closely fought.
Following a seat renaming in 2007, it was taken that year by Marie Andrews for Labor, with Liberal Chris Holstein being elected in 2011 following Andrews’ retirement.
Labor regained the seat in 2015, with Kathy Smith taking it by a narrow margin.
Smith resigned in early 2017 for health reasons (succumbing to cancer later that year).
Liesl Tesch took the seat once again for Labor at a by-election on April 8, 2017, and retained it at the 2019 election with a 7 per cent swing to Labor.
Former Gosford councillor Deanna Bocking will take on Tesch this year as the Liberal candidate.
The seat of The Entrance had been held by Labor since 1988, it was taken for one term by Chris Spence for the Liberals in 2011.
Sitting Labor Member David Mehan took the seat back in 2015 and retained it in 2019 with a 4.8 per cent swing to Labor.
Former Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken has been pre-selected as the Liberal candidate for the seat.
David Harris has held the seat of Wyong for Labor since 2015.
He had previously held the seat 2007-2011, when it was taken by Darren Webber for the Liberals.
Harris wrestled the seat back in 2015 and retained it in 2019 with a 2.7 per cent swing to Labor.
A Liberal candidate for the seat at this year’s election has not yet been announced.
Traditionally a Labor seat, Swansea has been held by Labor’s Yasmin Catley since 2015.
Candidates for the seat in the coming election have yet to be confirmed.
NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said with much of the state on a break, now was a great time to get election ready.
“Whether you need to enrol for the first time, update your details or just check where you are enrolled, it’s quick and easy to do online,” he said.
“Go to elections.nsw.gov.au and you’ll get all the information you need.”
Schmidt said more than 100,000 people in NSW would be eligible to vote, but are not on the electoral roll.
“It is compulsory to enrol to vote in NSW if you are eligible and 18 or over,” he said.
“With a state election coming up, we want as many people as possible enrolled correctly and ready to have their say.
“All you need to enrol is a driver’s licence, an Australian passport number, or have someone who is enrolled confirm your identity.”
Schmidt also encouraged anyone who had moved recently to check, and update if needed, their enrolment.
“Moving is a busy time, but it’s really important that once you move you put updating the electoral roll on your to-do list,” he said.
“Service NSW has put together a check list for NSW residents of who may need to be notified when you move house, including details of how to change your enrolment.
“It will make voting in your new area much easier and election day – Saturday, March 25 isn’t far away.”
Find more information about the 2023 NSW State election on the NSW Electoral Commission website.
Terry Collins