Voters send message to Labor govt in NSW

NSW Labor has been sent a clear message by voters in today's by-elections, with
large swings against the government and a rout by the Liberal Party in the Sydney
seat of Ryde.
Early counting has Liberal candidate Victor Dominello well ahead of his Labor rival
Nicole Campbell in the north-western Sydney seat.
Former deputy premier John Watkins had held the seat for Labor with a 10 per cent
margin.
The Liberals have also enjoyed big swings in the south-western Sydney seats of
Lakemba and Cabramatta.
Counting so far suggests the Liberal candidate in Cabramatta, Dai Le, has secured a
23 per cent swing, although that won't be enough for her to wrest the seat from
Labor.
Former minister Reba Meagher held the seat with a 29 per cent margin.
Labor's Rob Furolo looks set to retain former premier Morris Iemma's vacated seat of
Lakemba.
But its status as the ALP's safest NSW seat is under threat.
Liberal Michael Hawatt has eroded the 34 per cent margin previously enjoyed by Labor.
In Port Macquarie, Independent candidate Peter Besseling is narrowly ahead of the
Nationals Leslie Williams in early counting.