Liberals are too focused on themselves, says Constance, as Gilmore hangs in balance – Sydney Morning Herald

I just think its really, really close. It could go either way, she said. Im ecstatic to see the change in government. I know Gilmore is still in doubt, but an Albanese Labor government will bring in many of the policies that we need, particularly around affordable and social housing.

Local issues, including housing and healthcare, dominated the battle for Gilmore, and both candidates acknowledged that disaster mitigation was front of mind as the region recovered from the Black Summer bushfires and more recent floods.

Labor MP Fiona Phillips and party leader Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail in April.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

More than 80 per cent of the vote had been counted by 6pm on Tuesday, with Constance leading by about a hundred votes.

More than 1000 postal votes were being counted in Port Kembla on Tuesday, though both Constance and Phillips said they were not expecting a clear result until next Friday.

Constance led Phillips 51,060 to 50,780 on Tuesday afternoon in figures from the Australian Electoral Commission.

Constance said a viable future for the Liberal Party depended on its members and elected officials better reflecting the Australian community.

Were a progressive country and people want change, thats what the vote was about for everybody, he said.

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The partys future depends on its ability to uphold community values, and you cant lose sight of that. It would be very easy to pour petrol on an internal argument, but theres no point, because thats not why we exist.

Phillips won Gilmore in 2019 with 52.6 per cent of the vote after the sitting Liberal member, Ann Sudmalis, retired.

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Liberals are too focused on themselves, says Constance, as Gilmore hangs in balance - Sydney Morning Herald