7am SUNDAY
BANKS: Banks has been confirmed as a Liberal Party win.
David Coleman increased his lead to 52.8 per cent by the close of counting, and suffered only a one per cent swing against him.
BARTON: Linda Burney had a huge win. Labor gained 54.39 per cent of the vote at the close of counting. The swing to Labor was 4.19 per cent on top of its notional margin of 4.4 per cent
10.20pm
BANKS: It’s all over bar the shouting in Banks, with David Coleman hanging on.
While Chris Gambian has yet to concede, the ABC projects it as a Liberal win.
All booths have been counted, and only postal and absentee votes are outstanding.
The postals historically favour the Liberals, and they usually only lose the absentee votes by a narrow margin.
Labor would need to win 60 per cent of the remaining votes to win.
10pm
BANKS: With 51.2 per cent of the vote, David Coleman looks certain to retain Banks.
9.45pm
BARTON: Linda Burney has made history by winning Barton. She will be the first indigenous woman to sit in the House of Representatives.
COOK: Scott Morrison has retained Cook with a small swing against, and the Liberals have also easily retained the other shire seat of Hughes.
9.45pm
BANKS: The Liberals have edged further ahead in Banks, with 50.58 per cent of the vote.
9pm
BANKS : The Liberals continue to have a slender lead in Banks, with 50.5 per cent of the vote after a 2.3 per cent swing to Labor.
BARTON: Linda Burney has given her victory speech to cheering supporters saying, “we have smashed the Liberals”
Ms Burney said the electorate had flirted with Labor for three years, but there had now been a divorce, and it had returned to Labor.
“We will do great things in Barton,” she promised.
She highlighted the cultural diversity of the seat and said it showed the world what could be achieved.
8.30pm
BANKS and BARTON
Linda Burney has won Barton for Labor, while Banks remains extremely close.
In Banks, Liberal candidate David Coleman has 50.57 per cent of the vote, two party preferred, and Labor’s Chris Gambian has 49.43 per cent.
8.15pm
BANKS
Voting figures in Hurstville are expected to favour Liberal candidate David Coleman in the neck-and-neck struggle for Banks, judging by those for neighbouring seat of Barton.
While Labor achieved swings in most parts of Barton, booths where the large Chinese community vote were either flat or there was a small swing against Labor, the Leader has been told.
A Labor source said the large volume of pre-poll votes were likely to favour the Liberals.
Counting of pre-poll votes has started, but may not be finished tonight.
Mr Coleman has worked hard to gain the support of the Chinese community, with visits from ministers and government officials, particularly over the free trade deal between Australia and China.
7.55pm
BARTON
Linda Burney says she is “a little overwhelmed” and “incredibly proud” of her team of about 300 volunteers.
“We worked for eight weeks, 17 hours a day,” she said.
Ms Burney has done several “live cross” interviews, with supporters behind her.
7.45pm
BANKS
Banks is “super tight”, and there may not be a result tonight.
“It is extremely close,” Labor candidate Chris Gambian said,
“It will be surprising if we see a result tonight.
“It is still early days and some of the booths are not even in.
“At the moment our figures have us slightly ahead, but not enough for me to feel like I have won.
7.15pm
BARTON
Linda Burney appears to have won Barton.
She was greeted with cheers and calls of congratulations by supporters at what has turned out to be a victory party.
“I think we can say Barton is back in the hands of Labor,” she said.
6.15pm: The seat of Cook also covers part of St George at this election. We will keep you updated on this seat although the main coverage will be in our live blog on Sutherland Shire.
Here’s sitting member and Treasurer Scott Morrison, with his wife Jenny, casting their votes at Lilli Pilli Primary School.
6pm: Good evening and welcome to our election live blog for the seats of Barton and Banks.
We will be providing updates throughout the night from the locations where candidates have gathered with their supporters.
You can find coverage on the seat of Cook, which now stretches into St George, on our live blog on Sutherland Shire.
The polls closed at 6pm and campaign workers are making their way back to planned functions, where they will await the outcome.
BARTON:
The Labor Party went into this election with a 4.4 per cent margin following the electoral redistribution.
Labor candidate Linda Burney attracted the media when she voted today at the Rockdale Public School booth.
Ms Burney will be with her campaign team at Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL Club.
Liberal candidate Nick Varvaris and his supporters are having their function at Sunny Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Hurstville.
This is the location where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s granddaughter Isla stole the show during a visit to Hurstville on Thursday.
This is what the seat of Barton looks like under new boundaries.
BANKS
Banks is the Liberal Party’s most marginal seat in NSW, with Liberal David Coleman clinging to a 2.8 per cent margin.
Nervousness on both sides may explain why Liberal candidate David Coleman and Labor contender Chris Gambian have chosen to have private functions with their supporters.
This is what Banks looks like after the redistribution.
