The centre-right Liberals are yet to concede defeat on Sydney’s northern beaches but admit it will be “extremely difficult” to defeat the teal independent.
Former political adviser Jacqui Scruby appears set to become the first “teal” to enter New South Wales (NSW) parliament after a 6 percent swing in the Pittwater by-election on Oct. 19.
It’s another blow to the state Liberal party after a council nominations debacle wiped out dozens of candidates in September’s local elections.
The likely loss of Pittwater leaves the party with no federal MPs, one state MP and one councillor in an area once the mainstay of conservatives such as Tony Abbott and Bronwyn Bishop.
With 62 percent of the vote counted on Saturday night, Scruby held a 55.4 to 44.6 lead over Liberal candidate Georgia Ryburn on a two-candidate preferred basis.
“The path to victory in Pittwater now looks extremely difficult, even though counting continues,” state Liberal leader Mark Speakman’s office said.
The Liberals hope early voting, where Scruby’s lead is less than 1 percent, and Liberal-leaning postal votes can shift dramatically for Ryburn, a former deputy local mayor.
But the leader acknowledged the harm of earlier scandals.
“The circumstances of the former member’s resignation, and the disappointment of failure to nominate candidates in the Northern Beaches Council elections, have clearly had their toll,” Speakman’s office said.
Saturday’s poll was sparked by the arrest of sitting member Rory Amon over child abuse allegations, which he denies.
Labor and the Greens did not run in the by-election, with the teal candidate appearing to pick up a majority of those votes.
Scruby, who has worked as an adviser for federal teal MPs Sophie Scamps and Zali Steggall, enjoyed strong support from the environment-focused political fundraiser Climate 200.
While the lobby group had previously backed two successful NSW campaigns, neither Wollondilly MP Judy Hannan nor incumbent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich ran under teal banners, making Scruby the first teal on Macquarie Street.
Liberals however had success in two other by-elections on Saturday.
Triggered by the retirements of former premier Dominic Perrottet and former treasurer Matt Kean, the races for Epping and Hornsby were easily won by Monica Tudehope and James Wallace.
Both won on first preferences, albeit without a Labor opponent.
