Andrews wins third term

Marie Andrews has won a third term as Labor Member for Peats, despite a strong showing by independent candidate Cr Chris Holstein.

Figures on Sunday morning gave Ms Andrews 43.4 per cent of the vote, Liberal Cr Debra Wales 28.0 per cent, Cr Holstein 19.1 per cent and Green candidate Ms Vicki Brooke 4.7 per cent.

The four candidates accounted for more than 95 per cent of the vote.

Ms Andrews' primary vote was down 6.5 per cent compared to the 1999 election, where she received 49.9 per cent of the vote, and 8.9 per cent down on the 1995 election.

Cr Wales' primary vote was down 3.2 per cent on the 1999 election, where she received 31.3 per cent of the vote, and 10.6 per cent down on the 1995 election.

The Greens' vote increased by half to 4.7 per cent from 2.9 per cent in 1999, while the Democrats' vote slumped from 3.9 per cent in 1999 to 0.7 per cent.

On a two candidate preferred basis, Labor had 59.9 per cent of the vote and the Liberals 40.1 per cent.

In 1999, the corresponding figures were Labor 61.3 per cent and the Liberals 38.7 per cent.

As at 10.40am on Sunday, more than 75 per cent of the vote had been counted.

There were 33,921 votes counted out of 43,786, with 14,376 for Labor, 9287 for Liberal, 6320 for Holstein and 1558 for the Greens.

This represents 43.41% for Labor, 28.04% Liberal, 19.08% Holstein and 4.7% Greens.

In 1999, the first preference vote for Labor was 49.95%, Liberal 31.27%, Democrat 3.9% and Greens 2.92%.

The candidates' distribution of preferences on their "How to vote" cards handed out at polling booths reflected the optional preferential voting system.

Labor and the Greens both chose not to recommend a preference at all.

The Liberals recommended Holstein as second choice with no further recommendation.

Holstein recommended a second independent, the Democrats, and then either of the two major parties giving voters two choices for their fourth preference.

Democrats also gave two choices recommending Holstein as second, then other independents and minor parties followed by a choice of either of the two major parties at number 6.

Comments were sought from some of the major candidates but none were available as Peninsula News went to press on Sunday morning.

Votes were counted at each polling booth once the poll closed, accounting for all the voting papers issued.

The count was taken to two candidate preferred level on the night and the results were updated on the State Electoral Office website as soon as they became available.

On Sunday, all votes were officially counted at the district electoral office in Ettalong with all new figures again progressively posted to the website.

Cec Bucello, March 23