ABC Newcastle: Hunter Votes

Hunter Votes is the place to catch up on all of your 2013 Federal Election news, views and ABC coverage. 1233 ABC Newcastle's election coverage in one place. On 1233 AM Newcastle, 95.9 FM Port Stephens and streaming online. Call: 1300 33 1233 Text: 0487 99 1233 abc.net.au/newcastle

[huntervotes-blog]

Three out of the five seats in our region have been decided.

In Newcastle, Sharon Claydon has declared victory for Labor. ABC Reporter Nancy Notzon was at hotel in Carrington where Ms Claydon's celebrations were held.

While in Paterson, Bob Baldwin has extended his margin for the Liberals.

The incumbent Liberal MP declared victory just before 8pm, taking 59% of the two party preferred vote and extending his margin from 5 to 9 per cent.

In Charlton Labor's Pat Conroy has effectively taken the seat with 59.6% of the vote, after more than 70% was counted. The Liberal candidate Kevin Baker has 40%.

In Shortland, Labor's Jill Hall has declared victory. The incumbent MP has 57% of the two party preferred vote with more than 80% of votes counted.

However, Ms Hall has lost some of the safe Labor seat's large margin ....with a drop from 12% to 7%.

She says while she's happy with the win locally it hasn't been a good night for the Labor Party.

In the Hunter electorate, Joel Fitzgibbon has declared victory - Mr Fitzgibbon has 54% of the vote while the national Michael Johnson has 45% with 83% counted.

The sitting member has held on to the seat despite an 8 per cent swing against him, dropping his margin to less than 5%.

Mr Fitzgibbon says he blames the swing on misinformation about a Labor proposal Singleton Detention Centre.

[huntervotes-blog]

Joel Fitzgibbon has retained Hunter, claiming himself the winner despite an 8% swing against him. Fitzgibbon has 54% of the vote while the Nationals party's Michael Johnsen for Hunter has 45% - with 83% of the vote counted. 

[huntervotes-blog]

In Charlton Labor's Pat Conroy has effectively taken the seat with 59.6% of the vote with more than 70% counted, the Liberal candidate Kevin Baker has 40%.  

Conroy won't announce his victory until a formal announcement by the Australian Electoral Commission.

[huntervotes-blog]

Sharon Claydon has declared herself the winner of Newcastle. With 56 per cent of the vote counted Ms Claydon has 59 per cent of the two party preferred vote, while the Liberal's Jaimie Abbott has 40 per cent.

Speaking to a room full of supporters at the Seven Seas Hotel in Newcastle Sharon Claydon is elated with the result.

[huntervotes-blog]

Labor's Jill Hall has declared herself the winner for the seat of Shortland. The incumbent MP has 57% of the two party preferred vote with more than 80% of votes counted.  

However, Ms Hall has lost her large margin of 12% ....with a swing against Labor in Shortland of more than 5%.

[huntervotes-blog]

Your 8.30pm #HunterVotes election update

[huntervotes-blog]

8.30 tally update

52 of 61 booths counted in Charlton. Pat Conroy with comfortable lead, 48.79%, ABCNews24 has declared the seat.

48 of 50 booths & 74.38% of the vote have been counted in Shortland. Jill Hall comfortably leading on 48.99%, John Church on 37.77% 

71 of 80 booths and 66.56% in Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon #ALP on 45.81% and Michael Johnsen on 33.81%.

With 51 of 57 booths and 63.13% of the vote counted, Sharon Claydon #ALP is on 45.67% and Jaimie Abbott #LIB on 32.68%.

Bob Baldwin has retained the seat of Paterson

[huntervotes-blog]

Hear Bob Baldwinmp talk about winning Paterson and get your quick 8pm update

[huntervotes-blog]

Bob Baldwin MP is the first local candidate to declare himself the winner of a seat. With 50.48% of the total vote counted, Mr Baldwin received 52.05% of the vote in Paterson.

[huntervotes-blog]

Your 7.30pm #HunterVotes live update.

[huntervotes-blog]

7.30pm tally update

ABC election computer predicts ALP to retain seats in Newcastle, Hunter, Shortland, Charlton and Libs in Paterson.

51 of 74 booths counted in #Paterson - 36.28%. Bob Baldwin still has a comfortable lead with 53.42%, #ALP on 29.69%

30 of 61 booths counted in #Charlton - 28.74%. #ALP Pat Conroy holding 47.85%, Kevin Baker on 27.62%

22 of 50 booths counted in Shortland, 27.08% of votes.Jill Hall looks to retain with 50.83% of vote. Libs on 35.75%

49 of 80 booths in Hunter, 33.50% of vote. Joel Fitzgibbon with 44.21%, Michael Johnsen on 35.70%

23 of 57 booths in Newcastle,  21.33% of vote. Sharon Claydon still ahead with 46.84%

[huntervotes-blog]

7.10pm tally update

39 of 74 booths and 24.89% total counted. Bob Baldwin sitting on a comfortable 54.34%, ALP closest at 28.79%

10 of 61 booths counted in Charlton. Pat Conroy has over 50.51%, with a -5.92% swing away from ALP. 

7 of 50 booths counted in Shortland. Jill Hall still holding the majority, but with a -6.10% swing away from her. 

30 of 80 booths counted in Hunter. -9.78 swing away from Joel Fitzgibbon, +3.84 toward Michael Johnsen

8 of 57 booths counted in Newcastle. -3.07 swing away from Sharon Claydon, Liberals optimistic they can break the 114 year drought.

[huntervotes-blog]

6.50pm tally update

1.87% counted in Paterson. Lib Bob Baldwin on 55.27% and ALP Bay Marhall on 27.60%.

1.29% counted in Charlton. ALP Pat Conroy on 40.10% and Lib Kevin Baker - who has pulled out of the race - is on 33.61%

3.01% of votes counted in Shortland. 57.80% to ALP Jill Hall, 31.30% to Lib John Church.

2.13% of votes counted in Newcastle. ALP Sharon Claydon on 45.87% & Lib Jaimie Abbott on 32.33%

1.5% of the Hunter vote counted. Nat Michael Johnsen has 44.98% of the votes so far, Joel Fitzgibbon on 31.82%

[huntervotes-blog]

Behind the scenes at 1233's #HunterVotes election headquarters. Nancy Notzon (left) will be out and about while Carly Cook, Kathleen Hyland (middle, right), and Hannah Thompson hold the fort.

[huntervotes-blog]

Different Votes: Week Two Wrap

Not only does it take different folks to rule the world, it takes different votes to make up a democracy.

1233’s Hunter Votes Field Reporter Beth McMullen has been speaking to the young, the old and those in between to get their take on the election.

Here are some of those unheard voices from our community in our series on "Different Votes". You can listen back to all of those conversations here:

An indigenous voice - Uncle Bill "Wirrigan" Smith

The election according to kids

Older voices who have seen it all before

The leaders of tomorrow - Uni student David McGeoch

Coal miners and the carbon tax - Matt Borghero and Josh Compson

[huntervotes-blog]

Behind the Scenes: Voting Early

Have you voted yet? According to the Australian Electoral Commission, more than 1.9 million Australians have already numbered the boxes.

If you have driven past pre-polling booths this week, you'll have noticed they always seem to look very busy.

Over the last three weeks on Breakfast we've gone inside the party machine, this week Hunter Votes Field Reporter Beth McMullen braved the crowds to get a look at the pre-polling machine.

Listen back here: 

http://bit.ly/1fD2nOb

[huntervotes-blog]

With the election coming up, the relationship between politics and religion has been widely debated. 

But who does your church want you to vote for?

Once upon a time, it was standard procedure for a priest or pastor to stand at the pulpit and direct the congregation to vote for God’s candidate.

While some of the suite of Christian political parties have direct religious connections and presumably can expect support to flow accordingly, things aren't quite so direct from the major religious leaders any more.

In fact, despite the fact that both the Prime Minister and Opposition leader are devoted Christians, issues like the treatment of asylum seekers are causing certain Churches great angst.

This led the Anglican Administrator Bishop of Newcastle Peter Stuart to write a speech on the matter and deliver it to the Convention for the Diocese of Newcastle.

This morning Aaron Kearney spoke to Peter to get his thoughts on the relationship between politics and religion. 

Listen back here.