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"Bitter sweet" - Jamie Chaffey new member for Parkes

Western Plains App

Farren Hotham

04 May 2025, 4:40 AM

"Bitter sweet" - Jamie Chaffey new member for ParkesJamie Chaffey in Dubbo voting. IMAGE: Fb

The new Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey has celebrated with his supporters in Gunnedah thanking his large army of supporters on Saturday night 3 May.


But it was ‘bitter sweet’ with Chaffey admitting his excitement was soured by the Liberal National Party decimation across the country.


The final swing against the Coalition in Parkes looks to be going with the national trend.



"I will do everything to improve services in local health care, aged care and children’s care and a lot more needs to be done on our roads," the former Gunnedah mayor told his supporters.


So far Nats leader David Littleproud has retained his seat along with New England’s Barnaby Joyce.


More counting on Pre-Poll continues Monday with still a number of Parkes booths to be counted as well.


On the Two Party Preferred vote, which is based on the top two candidates considered to have a chance to win, there were swings to Labor’s first-time candidate Nathan Fell in the seat of Parkes.


"It almost feels like a win and showed people in this vast electorate were looking for options to not vote for the Nationals," Mr Fell said.


"I’m not going anywhere and hope to help people still.


‘’I am buoyed by some large swings to me and Labor in Lightning Ridge and Walgett, Forbes.’’



This was Greens candidate Trish Frail's second run at federal parliament.


She has received a small swing to her and has been thanking the region's supporters, but her leader is in danger of defeat in his seat of Melbourne.


One Nation party aspirant Mark Carter also received a 5.97 per cent swing to him and as of lunchtime today (Sunday 4 May) was running third in the overall vote tally with 13.69% of votes counted to date.


In Binnaway on two party preferred the Nats candidate received 323 -216 vote a swing of 3.98 per cent to him.


In Cobar, Fell did well getting a 7.43 per cent swing so far and recording minor swings following the national trend in Coonamble, Coonabarabran, Lake Cargellico, Mendooran , Trangie and Wilcannia.


Votes from 11 polling booths within the Parkes electorate are yet to be counted, along with pre-poll and postal votes, however there is little chance that these will topple the Nats from the seat.


Chaffey soon heads to Canberra but will still watch on pre- poll votes and results of other booths which will be counted on Monday.

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