The Turnbull government has retained its one-seat majority after John Alexander won back the Sydney seat of Bennelong, despite a swing against him following a bitterly fought campaign.
Mr Alexander’s victory against Labor’s star candidate, former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, will come as a relief to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
A loss would have left the government with 75 seats, in the 150-seat House of Representatives, forcing it to rely on the cross bench to get its legislation through.
The Turnbull government has retained its one-seat majority after John Alexander won back the Sydney seat of Bennelong
Mr Alexander won back the northwestern Sydney suburb despite a big swing against him
It would also have put Mr Turnbull’s leadership under pressure.
But with nearly 40,000 votes from 25 of 39 booths counted, Mr Alexander had won 55.3 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote of Ms Keneally’s 44.67 per cent.
The swing had been reduced to 4.39 per cent as more votes came in. He went into the by-election with a margin of 9.7 per cent.
‘There is no sign of a swing larger than that or significantly larger than that which could endanger the Liberal Party holding the seat and John Alexander will be re-elected,’ ABC election analyst Antony Green said.
A loss would have left the government with 75 seats, in the 150-seat House of Representatives
Mr Alexander won back his sear against Labor’s star candidate, former NSW premier Kristina Keneally (pictured)
Manager of government business Christopher Pyne said it was a win for Mr Alexander and win for Mr Turnbull who faced pressure on his leadership if the government had lost the by-election.
‘Malcolm Turnbull has ended the year on an incredible high,’ he told Sky News.
‘Bill Shorten starts next year facing a potential four by because he didn’t get his house in order.’
The by-election in the northwestern suburban electorate in Sydney was called after Mr Alexander resigned from parliament after he suspected he was a dual citizen.
The campaign for the crucial seat became a tight contest after Labor selected former premier Ms Keneally
The by-election in the northwestern suburban electorate in Sydney was called after Mr Alexander resigned from parliament after he suspected he was a dual citizen
It became a tight contest after Labor took up the fight for the seat by selecting former Ms Keneally, and throwing big names and resources into its campaign.
Mr Shorten and Mr Turnbull spent many days campaigning in the seat, alongside many other high-profile government and opposition figures.
Labor has said that if the swing against Mr Alexander was replicated across the country, the government would lose 23 seats.
‘You cannot translate a by-election result in Bennelong across the whole nation,’ Mr Pyne said.
Former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi’s new party, Australian Conservatives is running a candidate, who has attracted around 4.7 per cent of the primary vote.
Bill Shorten and Ms Keneally visited a primary school together during the campaign for the seat
It appears most of Joram Richa’s preferences have gone to Mr Alexander.
It was the second by-election the government had to contest over the dual citizenship fiasco.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce recorded a thumping win in his seat of New England earlier this month.
Up to four Labor MPs may find themselves facing by-elections with issues over their citizenship.