hunter WED 1 APR 2015
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MAVIS STAPLES Turn over for your entertainment guide
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
page 11 pa
Aitchison takes the reins Voters give Labor another chance in Maitland with 20 per cent swing AMELIA PARROTT
@amelia_parrott
T Easter church messages p.6-7 SPORT Undefeated Knights’ blistering start p.13
he seat of Maitland is back in Labor hands after just four years under the Liberals. Labor’s Jenny Aitchison secured a convincing win over her Liberal challenger Steve Thomson at Saturday’s state election, claiming 42.8 per cent of first preference votes and a 20 per cent swing towards the ALP, as vote counting continued on Monday morning. 9,054 residents gave Mr Thomson their number one vote, just 573 more than Independent candidate Philip Penfold received. The Greens’ John Brown took home 6.4 per cent of first preference votes. On her victory, Ms Aitchison said she would do her very best to put Maitland first. “As the Member for Maitland, my door will always be open to you, our community,� she said in a statement. “I will fight against privatisation of our electricity network, our new hospital, and the ripping up of our rail line as well as work to save Maitland Hospital and for proper infrastructure.� Clayton Barr was returned to power in the seat of Cessnock. Mr Barr took out 61.7 per cent of the first preference vote, with 20,123 voters putting a number one next to his name on the ballot paper. Nationals candidate Jessica Price-Purnell received 7,690 number one votes. The Greens’ Lindy Williams, No Land Tax’s
Member Elect for Maitland Jenny Aitchison celebrates her election win with supporters Domenic Lopreiato and the Christian Democrats’ Julie Johnson rounded out the field in Cessnock with, 2,765 votes, 1,077 votes and 962 votes, respectively. A re-elected Tim Crakanthorp in Newcastle said swings to Labor across all Hunter seats spoke
volumes and sent a clear message to Baird Liberal Government. “We will be calling on Mike Baird to listen to the people of the Hunter - the Hunter Region has spoken and they have overwhelmingly put Labor first.�
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