Sunday, March 29: Returned Bega MP Andrew Constance has singled out a children's disability therapy centre as his most important commitment in the NSW Election campaign.
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The NSW Treasurer was unavailable on Saturday evening, due to television panel commitments in Sydney, but spoke to the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner on Sunday, March 29.
"I am passionate about our region and its people and to have their endorsement is humbling," Mr Constance said.
"The direction the government is taking for the region is exciting and I can’t be more proud in making sure we get terrific projects built."
He singled out his campaign pledge of $1.5 million to the Eurobodalla's Muddy Puddles group to help build an education and therapy centre for children with disabilities and their carers.
"It has been a serious vaccum in service support for children with disabilities and I could not be happier for those mums and dads of children who will require the therapies that will be offered."
Mr Constance said whether he continued as NSW Treasurer was Premier Mike Baird's decision.
"I hope to serve in that role, but it is a decision of the Premier," he said.
"I would imagine there would be a lot of attention on it in the next 24 to 48 hours."
Mr Constance echoed his major opponent, Labor's Leanne Atkinson (see below), in thanking other candidates and their teams.
"I want to thank my political opponents for the campaign and their campaign teams," he said.
"I single out my own team and the Liberals who have backed me every step of the way for the past 12 years."
However, Mr Constance lashed out at what he said was a "revolting" union campaign against himself, personally, and a "smear and fear" campaign against the lease of 49 per cent of the state's electricity infrastructure.
He blamed that campaign, partially, for an increase in Ms Atkinsons's primary vote to about 33 per cent, compared to about 22 per cent in 2011.
On Sunday, at midday, with 30,827 votes counted of 54, 510 enrolled voters, Ms Atkinson had 33.17 per cent of the primary vote, compared to Mr Constance's 52.88 per cent.
The Greens had a little over 10 per cent, compared to about 13 per cent in 2011.
The 2011 result was off the charts
- Andrew Constance
"The 2011 result was off the charts," Mr Constance said of Labor's result.
"It was a freakish election in terms of Labor’s primary vote.
"There has been a correction, absolutely, but the most disappointing element of the campaign was the way the unions targeted the electorate with a fear and smear campaign.
"It was viscious, it was personal against me.
"I featured in advertisments that were revolting.
"There are questions to be asked in the approach the unions took."
He criticised "the nurses ad about Americanising the health system and us wanting to sell of hospitals - it was talked about us wanting to privatise Bega Hospital".
"People saw through that, but it was a nasty, expensive advertising campaign, which also had an effect (on voters)."
Bega's mystery man Clyde Archard remained so on the day after the poll.
Mr Archard was listed on the electoral roll as living in Vincentia, outside the seat.
Despite scoring the number one spot on the ballot, Fairfax Media did not receive one press release from him during the campaign.
Like many No Land Tax candidates around the state, he remained uncontactable. However, with roughly 60 per cent of the vote counted on Sunday, he had received 715 votes, or 2.32 per cent of the primary vote in Bega.
Mr Constance said his team raised concerns regarding Mr Archard witih the NSW Electoral Commission last week, but the commision was satisfied the nomination was in order.
"(However) there does need to be an examination into the availability of candidates, should they nominate," Mr Constance said.
"The behaviour of the No Land Tax party in the election does need to be looked at, given complaints I have received.
"Their photos should be published and their mobile phones published so people can get in contact with them."
No Mr Constance said the bulk nomination of No Land Tax candidates in lower house seats was "about their upper house vote".
"It was about trying to increase the branding and awareness of the party to assist with their quota," he said.
If so, it was likely to fail.
"We won’t know the final numbers for the upper house until mid-April, but the trend for the upper house on Saturday night showed the Liberal Party was doing well," he said.
"We had 40 per cent of the vote, which meant if that continued we would receive a vote that would secure nine upper house MPs, which means in all likelihood the balance of power would lie with Fred Nile and the Christian Democrats.
I don’t think they (No Land Tax) will get a quota, based on that early trend.
"I would be very surprised."
9.30pm, Saturday, March 28: Labor concedes defeat in Bega.
Country Labor Candidate Leanne Atkinson has conceded defeat in Bega in the NSW Election, but has welcomed a swing towards her in the seat.
The Liberal Party's Andrew Constance has been returned amid a statewide Coalition victory, with an estimated 52 seats to Labor's 31.
In Bega, with roughly half the vote counted, Ms Atkinson gained one third of the first preference vote, compared to approximately 22 per cent in the previous 2011 campaign.
With 22,584 votes counted of 54,501 enrolled voters, Ms Atkinson had secured 7,475, or 33.10 per cent, compared to Mr Constance's 11,863, or 52.53 per cent of the first preference vote.
The Greens' Margaret Perger had polled 10.45 per cent, down about two percentage points on Harriet Swift's 2011 campaign.
Ms Atkinson has expressed disappointment at the failure of Green preferences to flow to her this time around, with most votes exhausting.
"That is disappointing," she said on Saturday night, after conceding defeat.
She was reluctant to predict the size of the swing towards her until postal votes and pre polling were determined.
"I am unclear of the swing, but it is true to say last time was a six-week campaign in a very different climate," Ms Atkinson said.
"This time I have spent months consulting with the community, hosting meetings and forums, and I have tried to gauge people's response to the issues and policies that Labor was flagging."
Ms Atkinson conceded she was exhausted, but said it was worth it to have shown commitment.
"I am exhausted. I have had to work throughout the campaign, I have a family and I have had to campaign quite seriously, because if I wanted people to vote for me, they needed to see a commitment from me," she said.
She would not confirm or deny another tilt at the seat in four years.
"Right now, I need to take stock, spend time with the family and get back into work," the community and regional development worker said.
"I am very grateful to all of my volunteers, for all they have done, for the things they have given up.
"For the time they have committed to me and for their faith in me, I am indebted.
"I thank all those people who believed in me enough to vote for me."
Ms Atkinson said the vibe on the hustings had been collegiate.
"I would like to thank all of the volunteers who assisted the other parties," she said.
"Today, I saw how hard they all work and, while we don't agree on all polices, we all believe that it is important that we contribute to our democracy."
8.48pm: Leanne Atkinson concedes defeat.
We're following the Bega count through the evening. Keep refreshing your browser!
Early analysis suggests a Coalition victory in NSW with 52 seats to Labour's 31. The count in Bega continues.
8.25pm. Andrew Constance hauling ahead, with now more than 52 per cent of first-preference votes and 22,584 votes counted.
Clyde Archard, No Land Tax, 550 2.44%
Margaret Perger, The Greens, 2,361 - 10.45%
Leanne Atkinson, ALP, 7,475 - 33.10%
Ursula Bennett, Christian Democratic Party, 335 - 1.48%
Andrew Constance, Liberal Party, 11,863 - 52.53%
8.12pm: With 17,284 votes counted in Bega, Andrew Constance remains the front runner, with just over half the first-preference vote. No two-party preferred split available yet for this seat. Results below in order candidates appear on the ballot paper. Counting continues.
Clyde Archard, No Land Tax, 432 - 2.50%
Margaret Perger, The Greens, 1,771 - 10.25%
Leanne Atkinson, ALP - 5,692 - 32.93%
Ursula Bennett, Christian Democratic Party, 279 - 1.61%
Andrew Constance, Liberal Party, 9,110 - 52.71%
7.42pm: Number crunch on
Andrew Constance has a whisker over half of the total first preference votes counted so far in the seat of Bega. The results are below, in the order the candidates appear on the ballot paper. And don't forget to scroll down to see our social media tracker of candidates.
Clyde Archard, No Land Tax, 294 votes or 2.47% of those counted.
Margaret Perger, The Greens, 1,296, or 10.89%.
Leanne Atkinson, ALP, 4,012 - 33.71%.
Ursula Bennett, Christian Democratic Party 202 - 1.70%
Andrew Constance, Liberal Party, 6,098 - 51.24%
TOTAL FORMAL VOTES 11,902 100.00%
Day of Reckoning - Saturday, March 28.
Voting has begun in the NSW seat of Bega.
The polls opened at 8am and close at 6pm.
Polling places in the Eurobodalla shire include: Batemans Bay Community Centre, Batemans Bay High School, Bodalla Public School, Broulee Public School, Durras Progress Hall, Long Beach Fire Brigade station, Malua Bay Community Centre, Moruya Public School, St Nicholas Anglican Church, Nelligen, Sunshine Bay Public School, Tomakin Community Centre and the Tuross Head Youth and Sports Centre.
Friday, March 27:
A NSW Labor Government will provide $80,000 to the Bega Women’s Resource Centre to allow them to open five days a week.
Labor’s funding boost will allow the Bega Women’s Resource Centre to open on Monday’s and Tuesdays, providing women in Bega with access to the centre throughout the week.
Currently the centre is only open between Wednesdays to Fridays, but only seven hours a day or 21 hours a week.
The Bega Women’s Resource Centre provides a range of services, including information, support and referral to other local services, including the South East NSW Women's Legal Outreach and the Far South Coast Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service.
Community Life will receive $300,0000 funding over three years to run its Batemans Bay homelessness facilities if NSW Labor wins tomorrow’s election, prompting an accusation from the Coaliton of 'cynical' politics. Read more here.
Thursday, March 26:
ONE of the hopefuls in Saturday’s NSW election is the Australian Motorist Party, which is campaigning for increased spending on roads and initiating driver education in schools.
Formed in 2007 by head candidate Denis Walford, the party is not to be confused with the similarly named Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party of which Senator Ricky Muir is the public face.
Joining Mr Walford on the campaign trail is Tathra resident and candidate for the Upper House Lindy Kyle, who became involved in the party about four months ago as she “believes so much” in the party’s policies.
Wednesday, March 25:
The Coalition has matched a Labor Party pledge to dump co-payments for specialised drugs used to treat cancers and chronic illnesses. Read more here.
Bega Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson says she will not rush to match a Coalition $15 million commitment to the Muddy Puddles disability group, but has agreed to meet. Read more here.
Labor has released a five-year plan it says will revive the Bega electorate's economy. Read more here.
The Greens have released a policy they say will help close the gap on Indigenous health and wellbeing. Read more here.
Statistical sniping is continuing in Bega on jobs, with the major parties trading more shots this week. Read more here.
Tuesday, March 24:
9.50am:
Labor candidate for Bega Leanne Atkinson has released her five-year plan to revive the Far South Coast economy.
Ms Atkinson says her plan draws on her own broad experience as a businesswoman, particularly specialising in consultancy work on regional development issues, as well as in local government.
You can read more about Ms Atkinson's plan here.
9.30am:
Bega Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson says she will fight to have the Durras Road/Princes Highway intersection at the South Durras turnoff improved if elected on March 28. Read the full article here
She cannot, however commit to matching sitting MP Andrew Constance's funding announcement of $1.5 million to disability support group Muddy Puddles. Ms Atkinson said she first needed to meet with the group to discuss their needs. More details here.
Meanwhile, Ms Atkinson and Mr Constance are continuing to trade blows over jobs figures.
Ms Atkinson cites Department of Employment figures which show that 49 per cent of the working age population in the Eurobodalla is on some form of benefits.
Mr Constance on Saturday moved to "debunk" the claim, by quoting Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for the capital region, which comprises the area surrounding the ACT, including Queanbeyan, and 12 other areas, as well as the Bega Valley and the Eurobodalla.
These figures show unemployment in the capital region at 4.6 per cent.
Monday, March 23:
10.30 am
Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson and Shadow Energy spokesman Adam Searle will hold a press conference in Batemans Bay this morning.
On the agenda are the Coalition's $110 million pledge for a new Batemans Bay bridge and the 'poles and wires' lease.
We'll also be asking if Ms Atkinson will commit to matching $1.5 million in promised funding for the planned Eurobodalla Muddy Puddles disability education and therapy centre.
The funding was announced this month by Bega MP and NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance.
Mr Constance has also promised to consider a safer left turn from the Princes Highway onto Durras Road, after a community group's call for help in last week's Bay Post/Moruya Examiner. We'll ask for Ms Atkinson's response.
Meanwhile, Mr Constance has promised to look into claims copper pipe was used in some Eurobodalla public works, instead of water pipe.
Friday, March 20: SEVERAL recent street polls in Bega on "the big issues" have highlighted changes to education are a hot issue for voters ahead of March 28
With talks of deregulation and the reduction in education funding at federal level having to be absorbed by the NSW State Government, the candidates were asked what their commitments are to the education of people within the electorate.
Sitting MP, the Liberal candidate Andrew Constance says the Baird government remains committed to Gonski reforms and will continue to pressure to Commonwealth to keep up its end.
Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson decries Liberal "obsession with private sector profits" and says cuts to TAFE make no sense.
The Greens are also focused on TAFE, opposing Smart and Skilled reforms and keeping the "essential" service provided by vocational education out of for-profit hands.
The Christian Democrats are all about parental choice in the educational needs of children. They oppose sex education in schools and oppose safe school programs.
The candidates' responses, in full, can be read here.
The name missing from the above - No Land Tax's Clyde Archard - remains a mystery man.
He has proven impossible to contact by Fairfax Regional Media and even his own party president admitted to not having contact details for him.
Research by the Bega District News has found reference to a Clyde Robert Archard - a WW2 prisoner of war who was killed in Borneo in 1945. Read the article here.
MEANWHILE, two local commercial fishermen are calling on all political parties contesting the upcoming state election to restore Aboriginal cultural fishing rights.
John Brierley and Andrew Nye say the introduction of marine park sanctuary zones, weekend bans on commercial fishing, and increasing bag limits on traditional catches, such as lobsters and abalone are sending the commercial fishing industry “downhill”.
While both houses of NSW Parliament passed amendments to the Fisheries Management Act in 2009 which acknowledged Aboriginal cultural fishing, the changes were not gazetted or formally recognised.
Mr Nye said traditional Aboriginal culture included commercial fishing, and it should be recognised as a cultural practice. Read the full article here.
We asked candidates for the seat of Bega to deliver a two to three minute video "pitch" direct to the voters. Here's what four of them had to say...
Still no word on what our candidates are doing but you can't silence social media, and there's been plenty of chat on Twitter and Facebook - hashtag your comments #begavotes to be part of the conversation.