Up to 12 independent and Greens MPs are set to be sworn in to the NSW Parliament, with one returning MP hailing the crossbench as “historically large”.
The crossbench will have three Greens MPs and between eight and nine independent MPs from central Sydney through to seats in the state’s far west corners.
Voters in Wakehurst and Wollondilly elected new independents Michael Regan and Judy Hannan, while three defectors from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party held on in the state’s west with swings towards them.
Those MPs, Helen Dalton in Murray, Phil Donato in Orange and Roy Butler in Barwon will all comfortably retain their seats in the next Parliament.
The NSW Greens also retained their three lower house seats of Newtown, Ballina and Balmain.
“What’s very clear from this result, and the numbers are tightening day-by-day, is that it’s not winner takes all, this Parliament,” Greens MP Jenny Leong told reporters on Tuesday.
“What we’re looking at here is a historically large crossbench.
“We are looking forward to working constructively and collaboratively, and we have set out our clear agenda for what we expect from this next government and we will continue to be driving that.”
While nine crossbench MPs were elected at the last state election, that number increased to 11 after two Liberals, John Sidoti and Gareth Ward, were expelled from the party.
Mr Sidoti moved to the crossbench after the Independent Commission Against Corruption found he engaged in serious corrupt conduct last year.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Ward was dumped from the party and suspended from parliament last year after being charged with historical sexual and indecent assault offences.
He pleaded not guilty to five charges in Nowra District Court on Tuesday, as counting continued for the seat of Kiama, where he remains locked in a tight race with Labor candidate Katelin McInerney.
Premier Chris Minns said the party would not negotiate with Mr Ward, and was considering a possible suspension, pending the outcome of Kiama’s vote.
“I want to wait to see what the outcome of the ballot is,” Mr Minns said.
“We’re still very hopeful and in the commanding position to win that seat.”
Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich, along with Greg Piper and Joe McGirr, have promised confidence and supply to the government, as Labor’s hopes for a majority government remained in doubt.
Labor remains short of a 47-seat majority, with 45 seats in their column, and six still in doubt.
-AAP
