Labor Wins Kiama By-Election, Strengthens NSW Minority Government

Labor candidate Katelin McInerney won the Kiama by-election, reclaiming the seat for Labor after it was vacated by disgraced MP Gareth Ward, who resigned following his conviction for sexual assault. This victory, achieved in a largely two-candidate race against Liberal Serena Copley, is significant as it is rare for a government to gain a seat in a by-election, marking the first such occurrence in New South Wales since 1996. Premier Chris Minns described the result as humbling and a call to work harder for the state, with Labor now just one seat short of a majority in the 93-seat lower house. The loss has increased pressure on Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, who acknowledged the difficulty of the contest given the circumstances surrounding Ward. McInerney emphasized her commitment to advocating for the Kiama community, while Copley vowed to continue engaging with voters despite the defeat. The by-election was triggered by Ward’s resignation ahead of an unprecedented expulsion vote in parliament, following his conviction on multiple sex offences dating back to 2013 and 2015.