Upper Hunter is a marginal electorate, where the conflicting interests of agriculture, racing and mining intersect.
It was retained by Mr Johnsen in 2019 by just 2.6 per cent. But it’s a seat that’s been held by the Nationals or Country Party for 90 years.
Labor candidate Jeff Drayton was flanked by party leader Jodi McKay as he cast his vote in Muswellbrook today.
“There are so many issues in this electorate, but we have listened to what they’ve all told us and it is that they want their fair share,” Ms McKay told the media.
“They want their fair share of the mining royalties that this region generates. And they want to make sure that, as a party, Labor is protecting jobs and creating jobs.”
Coalition candidate Dave Layzell was joined at the polls by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s and Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
The Coalition is hoping Ms Berejiklian’s popularity among voters will help them to victory in the marginal seat.
She told reporters today a win in the by-election would “break the course of history”.
“I mean, the average swing against a government in a by-election in the last decade and a half has been 15 per cent against a government and we only hold this seat by 2-point-something per cent,” she said.
“I’m always someone who looks at the maths and the evidence and the maths and the evidence says an average swing against the government in a by-election.”
The Nationals Party has held the Upper Hunt seat since the 1930s.
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