Result ‘terrible’: Davey

Five of the six NSW Senate seats up for grabs have now been filled, and political experts are still predicting the final spot will go to Labor’s Emilija Beljic.

Confirmed to be re-elected are Tony Sheldon and Tim Ayres from Labor, Liberal Andrew Bragg and Mehreen Faruqi from the Greens. New to the Senate is Liberal Jessica Collins.

The result sees only one National member representing NSW in the Senate - Ross Cadell, who is one of six senators part-way through a six year term.

Ms Davey said the result is “terrible for regional Australia”.

“We saw, over the last three years, funds cut from regional programs like the Building Better Regions Fund and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure fund, and there is no quantifiable replacement,” she told the Pastoral Times.

“We saw $5.6 billion cut from the Water Grid Fund, an undisclosed sum of which was diverted to water buybacks which have been continuing unabated.

“With Labor only needing the Greens to get legislation through the Senate, there will be fewer checks and balances to weigh up productivity versus environmental ideology.

“It is highly unlikely that the preferences would flow enough to be able to win a third Senate spot for the Coalition parties, and as I am the name in third place, that means I will not be elected.”

Political experts suggest voters have shown the weakest support for the Coalition since the 1980s.

With the election yet to be declared, Labor was yesterday expected to win 93 seats in the House of Representatives - 16 more than last year.

The Coalition has lost 16 seats compared to last year, down to 42.

In the Senate, there has been a 5.7 per cent swing to Labor.

Of the Coalition parties, only the Nationals had a swing in their favour, of just .3 per cent.

“I think the Coalition have failed to clearly show people that they are listening and that they are representing them,” Ms Davey said.

“I am proud to have been a strong and consistent voice for the regions.

“Early on I was able to ensure amendments to legislation around the tax treatment of vacant land to ensure it would not impact farmers.

“I fought hard during COVID to get boarding school students home to their families across closed state boarders.

“And I am extremely proud of the work I have done to highlight regional arts and get adequate recognition and funding for regionally based arts organisations.

“And, of course, I consistently fought for sense and reason in the Basin Plan.

“Unfortunately, when Labor was elected in 2022, the Coalition’s buyback as a last option policy was reversed and buyback was further legislated by Labor, the Greens and independents like Helen Haines and David Pocock.”

While Ms Davey has not ruled out another tilt at politics in the future, she said she may explore other options for now.

“I will see what opportunities arise (open to offers), but, I will not put my life on hold for another political opportunity,” she said.

With Ms Davey unlikely to be elected, her Deniliquin Senate office will be closed.

She said the role her staff played in the community would be missed.

“My team have been outstanding,” she said.

“The number of people they have helped across a range of issues including Centrelink, immigration and NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is huge.

“They have gained a wide range of unique skills and are widely respected by political offices across the spectrum.

“I am incredibly proud of the reputation my office gained for being helpful and efficient.

“I would be glad to recommend any of them for a future role. I can’t thank them enough for the support they have given me and my colleagues.”