Phelps wins Wentworth
INDEPENDENT Jewish candidate Kerryn Phelps is headed for Canberra after achieving a convincing win in the Wentworth by-election.
KERRYN Phelps has become the first Jewish female to be elected to parliament after achieving a convincing win in the Wentworth by-election.
The ABC’s top election analyst Antony Green called the race in favour of the GP and City of Sydney Councillor just over an hour after polling booths closed.
She was leading with 54.8 per cent of the two-party preferred vote against Liberal candidate Dave Sharma at around 8pm on Saturday night.
Results indicate a swing of 22.6 per cent against the government, after former member and Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull held the seat with a 17 per cent margin.
The fall of Wentworth means Prime Minister Scott Morrison now heads a minority government and will need to rely on the cross-bench to pass legislation.
Phelps has previously said she will not block supply, however refused to rule out backing a no confidence motion when pressed by Sky News’ David Speers days before the election.
Her election means there are now six Jewish members in the House of Representatives – Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Julian Leeser (Liberal), Michael Danby, Mark Dreyfus and Michael Freelander (Labor) and Phelps.
More to come.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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