Hawke, Ruddock win Hills seats easily

Alex and Bec Hawke vote on Saturday.

Philip and Heather Ruddock vote on Saturday.

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The Liberal held seats of Mitchell and Berowra turned a deeper shade of blue on Saturday as sitting MPs Alex Hawke and Philip Ruddock both increased their margins.

The huge swings from away from the ALP in both seats did not flow straight to the Greens who did increase their margins but not as much as the ALP vote plunged.

At Annangrove Public School, where there was outrage over the BER funding for the school library, 90 per cent of the vote at the booth went to the Liberals.

Alex Hawke secured swing to the Liberals of nearly 8 per cent on a two party preferred basis (virtually double the national swing to the Liberals) capturing 67.57 per cent of the vote in Mitchell with Labor’s Nigel Gould on 32.43 per cent (down 7.92%).

He said voters were angry with Labor Party.

“There were a lot of things failed like the Green Loans Program.’‘

He said he was hopeful of the Liberals forming Government.

“I have a for commitment to improving infrastructure in our area.’‘

In Berowra Philip Ruddock secured 66.63 per cent of the two party preference vote (up 6.62 per cent); Labor’s Michael Stove was at 33.77 per cent (down 6.62 per cent).

ALP candidate for Mitchell Nigel Gould was at Castle Hill Public School when booths opened handing out how to vote cards.

His message to voters was: “Nigel Gould: Make Mitchell marginal’‘.

After Saturday’s result, the two-party buffer is now more than 30 per cent.

Boundary changes to the Federal seat of Mitchell meant that Glenhaven, Cherrybrook, and West Penant Hills moved into the Berowra electorate while it gained voters from Northmead who had been in the Federal seat of Parramatta.

Mr Ruddock said Berowra voters were angry over public transport issues with major roads including Pennant Hills Rd and New Line Rd not being fixed.

“The people of Berowra are of the strong view that proper management is what Australia needs.’‘

MITCHELL: Liberal: Alex Hawke; 46,120 (63.21%) Labor: Nigel Gould;  19,240 (26.37%) The Green: Colin Dawson 5,261 (7.21%) Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Brendon Prentice; 2,338 (3.20%). BEROWRA: Liberal: Philip Ruddock; 43,874 (60.20%) Labor: Michael Stove; 16,276 (22.33%) The Greens: Toni Wright-Turner 8,112 (11.13%)Christian Democratic Party: (Fred Nile Group) Steve Evans 1,954 (2.68%)I ndependent: Mick Gallagher; 1,989 (2.73%) Family First: Christian Ellis; 670 (0.92%)

Source: whereilive