Bass Liberal MHA Sarah Courtney looks likely to return to Parliament after confident polling in the North, despite initial uncertainty about the strength of her public profile.
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With just the first results called at 6.30pm, Ms Courtney – predicted to be a slightly uncertain return compared to the stronger electoral record of Mr Gutwein and Mr Ferguson – said she had run a strong campaign and was optimistic about the results.
“I’m hopeful, we’ve run a strong campaign, a united campaign, and we’ve had a great team in Bass,” Ms Courtney said.
“It’s been a great campaign to be a part of.”
At the Liberals’ Northern headquarters a small collection of Liberal supporters watched the state election results on Saturday night, joined by Bass Liberal MHAs Peter Gutwein, Michael Ferguson and Sarah Courtney.
By 8pm, Ms Courtney had 1323 first-preference votes: in 2014 she was brought to government under preferences from her fellow Liberals Mr Ferguson and Mr Gutwein after accruing 3046 first-preference votes.
Bass Labor MHA Michelle O’Byrne was a more relaxed and comfortable candidate as she was swiftly returned to her seat.
An unexpected run of votes toward George Town mayor Bridget Archer suggested the Liberals might have had a third seat of contention in the initial count, but Ms Courtney quickly stretched a comfortable lead over first-time state candidate Ms Archer.
“One of the strengths of our team in Bass was the high calibre candidates that came forward, we’ve got both mayor Bridget Archer and Alderman Simon Wood,” Ms Courtney said.
“That says a lot for how many people in the community want to see a returned Hodgman majority government.”