Maxine’s magic moments

Following months of grassroots campaigning, Labor’s Maxine McKew has declared herself victorious in Bennelong, ousting John Howard from the seat he held for the past 33 years.

Attending last weekend’s TWT Gladesville Christmas Festival, Ms McKew officially claimed the seat for Labor.

In doing so she became the first woman, and only the third person ever to preside as Bennelong MP.

During her victory speech, Ms McKew spoke of a groundswell of support for Labor, with every polling booth bar one recording swings toward her party.

“We have 51.25 per cent of the two party vote, so we are comfortably ahead.

“I can formally say that Bennelong is now a Labor seat,” Ms McKew said.

At the time of going to press, with 92.84 per cent of the vote counted, Ms McKew was holding 51.21 per cent of the two-party vote, as opposed to Mr Howard’s 48.79 per cent.

While the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) doesn’t expect the division to be officially declared until early next week, they don’t foresee much of a change to the final results.

With roughly 2000 postal votes still to be counted, the AEC expects primary votes to favour Mr Howard, with preferences tending towards Ms McKew.

At last count, Mr Howard had edged ahead on overall primary votes with 38,832, compared with Ms McKew’s 38,409 - bringing it down to preferences.

Greens candidate Lindsay Peters, whose party ran a ‘Vote 1 Greens then Maxine’ campaign, was ‘thrilled’ by the result and the possible role he played.

“There’s no doubt that Greens preferences assisted. But I don’t want to take anything away from Maxine.

“Its been an historical election ... a stunning thing,” he said.

As well as heaping praise on Ms McKew, Mr Peters was also keen to highlight the role of community groups such as GetUp and the Ryde Gladesville Climate Change Action Group.

Mr Peters was not the only one handing out praise, with Ms McKew also acknowledging the role Mr Howard had played in public office over the past 30 years.

Ms McKew was this week sworn in as a parliamentary secretary, and is looking forward to fulfilling her election promises to the people of Bennelong.

A defining time for Maxine McKew (above) as she announces her claim to victory after the close-run encounter with John Howard (below). TWT on-the-spot PHOTOS.

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