D-day has arrived the Upper Hunter, as voters head to the polls for a byelection that could steal the Berejiklian government’s majority or topple the opposition leader.
Polling stations in the Upper Hunter electorate opened at 8am on Saturday, with 13 would-be parliamentarians on the ballot.
Candidates and leaders are scurrying around the NSW electorate in a bid to shore up votes, with recent polling suggesting the race will come down a razor-thin margin between Nationals candidate David Layzell and Labor’s Jeff Drayton.
Opposition leader Jodi McKay was by Mr Drayton’s side as he voted at Muswellbrook with his family – including his daughter Ella who was able to cast a ballot for her father in her first election.
In a last-ditch appeal to voters, Mr Drayton said he would fix years of neglect suffered under the Nationals.
“I’m ready to go. Ready to go to Macquarie Street and fight for people of the Upper Hunter’s fair share,” he said.
“Now’s the time.”
Unsurprisingly, the Nationals are arguing “now’s not the time”.
Their campaign has hinged on the need for stable government, and while Mr Drayton is asking voters to give him a chance, the Nationals are asking for a second.
“In 18 months (at the 2023 election), if we haven’t done a good job by then, of course, send us a message,” Nationals leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro said on Friday.
The stakes are high for both parties.
It’s a must-win election for the Berejiklian government, which will lose its working majority unless the Nationals hold the seat.
However, by-elections have historically proved difficult for sitting governments to win, so the poll is also an important test for Ms McKay.
Her position has been under pressure and a failure to win could push her leadership to the brink.
But with such a crowded field, neither party is likely to win the seat outright.
Preferences from other candidate are tipped to decide the contest.
Sue Gilroy is running for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, while One Nation has chosen Dale McNamara. Both have touted coal mining credentials, as have Mr Drayton and Mr Layzell.
On the other end of the spectrum is independent and fifth-generation farmer Kirsty O’Connell, who has drawn the support of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, and Greens candidate Sue Abbott.
Both are running on a promise to transition the area away from reliance on coal.
The poll was sparked by Nationals MP Michael Johnsen’s resignation in March over sexual assault allegations and a sexting scandal.
Mr Johnsen denies the allegations and has not been charged.
-AAP
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