The Nationals have retained the seat of Upper Hunter but it can longer be considered a safe seat thanks to a 22 per cent swing to Country Labor.
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Upper Hunter mayor Michael Johnsen will be the new member replacing the 27-year Nationals veteran George Souris who retired at the election.
The seat was held by a 23 per cent margin after 2011 election but that has now be reduced to less than 2 per cent on current votes counted.
Mr Johnsen gained 40 per cent of the votes with Country Labor’s Martin Rush on 30 and another 20 per cent recorded by independent Lee Watts.
Mr Rush said of his campaign “We can be proud that we achieved what is likely to be the largest swing to Labor in NSW (almost 22 per cent).”
“Thank you to our wonderful supporters. Communities like Singleton, Muswellbrook and Denman have returned to Labor.”
“As the likely margin narrowed, the Government and Opposition committed a combined total of more than $615 million to health, road, and other funding in the electorate. It has been a most worthwhile way to spend the last five months of my life -- and I thank all of you for that opportunity.
An exhausted Ms Watts said she was thrilled with her results saying she did it for the people of the electorate.
