Crouch retains Terrigal despite huge swing to Labor

Incumbent Liberal MP

Adam Crouch has narrowly retained the seat of Terrigal after surviving a swing to Labor candidate Sam Boughton of almost 12 per cent.

In one of the most closely fought battles of the March 25 State election, residents were kept on their edge of their seats as the vote count proceeded through the week.

Although political pundits originally predicted a Labor win on election night, the tide turned as the pre-poll and postal vote count continued.

A Liberal victory was announced on Saturday, April 1.

As of Sunday morning, April 2, with 83.17 per cent of the vote counted, Crouch was sitting on 51.5 per cent of the two-party preferred vote and Boughton on 48.5 per cent with a vote difference of just over 1,200 and an 11.65 per cent swing to Labor.

With all four of the other Central Coast seats having been retained by incumbent Labor MPs, Crouch will continue as the region’s sole Liberal MP.

He has been the Central Coast’s only Liberal State MP for the past eight years – the difference now being that he will also be the region’s only MP not a member of the governing Party.

Crouch said he had remained positive throughout a “roller coaster ride” of a week in hoping for a win at the polls.

“On election night, more than 13,000 pre-poll votes had not been counted,” he said.

“There was still an enormous number of votes out there and I was incredibly humbled to be returned to serve the residents of Terrigal for another four years.”

Crouch said he had received a phone call from Boughton on Saturday conceding defeat.

“It was the first time in three elections I had received a concession call and I think that’s worth noting,” he said.

“Sam Boughton ran a very good campaign.”

Crouch said the large statewide swing to Labor did not come as a complete surprise.

“A lot of people forget the huge landslide victory for the Liberals in 2011,” he said.

“When there are swings at a state level they tend to be very large.

“Sadly some of my colleagues have not retained their seats.

“It’s a reminder you can never take any vote for granted – and I didn’t.”

Crouch said with a minority Minns Labor Government now leading the state, his focus would be on securing delivery of regional funding promised to the Coast by the former government.

“One of the things that concerns me is that there have been no announcements in this election cycle about important regional funding received under the former government,” he said.

“The Coast received millions of dollars of regional grant funding (in the last term).

“The Seniors travel card alone brings $11.5M into the region and that’s just one program.

“The government has made no commitment to continue any of that funding – we need reinforcement of our regional funding.”

Crouch said upgrades of Central Coast Hwy and the Pacific Hwy through Wyong were just two projects he would champion through to completion.

“This investment into roads and key pieces of infrastructure has to continue – this vital infrastructure pipeline must be seen through,” he said.

“These funds have helped created an air of positivity in the region.”

Crouch said he had worked closely on several projects with Member for Wyong and newly announced Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris, whom he held “in the utmost regard”, and expected that to continue.

“I will be very happy to work with David Harris and the incoming government to ensure our region continues to get its fair share of regional funding,” he said.

“It’s not about being in Opposition – you have to work in a constructive way and there is a lot more to be done.

“Regardless who’s in government we all have to work together.”

Crouch said he looked forward to the delivery of a new artificial reef for the region this year, which he said would be an “economic bonanza”, and to the construction of a new TAFE in Mann St, Gosford.

He said with a conditional contract of sale having been signed by Central Coast Council and TAFE, the responsibility for seeing the project through would now rest with the new government.

Crouch said he would continue to push for the Central Coast to be the first region to remove shark nets.

“I’m very passionate about that and have made my position on it very clear,” he said.

“I look forward to working with the incoming Agriculture Minister; the Central Coast is perfectly positioned to trail a removal of the nets.”

Boughton said he was proud of the result his small team had achieved, with even Party insiders surprised at the huge swing to Labor in the traditionally Liberal seat.

“It was only possible because so many people devoted their time and effort into the campaign, and I want to sincerely thank everyone involved,” he said.

“‘The swing that we saw in Terrigal was due the community feeling ignored on important local issues, as well as the broader state-wide issues in healthcare, education, the environment, and privatisation.”