Sunday updates:

Comfortable win now expected for Labor in Richmond—

With tallies updated overnight, the ALP’s Justine Elliot now looks set to easily retain the seat, possibly ending up with a bigger majority.

Elliot leads the primary count now with just over 30 percent, while the Greens Mandy Nolan and Nationals Kimberly Hone are both sitting on around 25 percent.

Insiders predict a similar outcome to 2022, with Hone ultimately taking the lead once minor parties are eliminated, possibly adding as much as 10 percent to her current tally.

Elliot will then overtake Hone when Nolan is eliminated in the final count. 

PICTURE: Justine Elliot casts her vote yesterday at Banora Point. Credit- Justine Elliot Facebook

Hogan offers thanks to Page electorate voters

Re-elected Page MP Kevin Hogan has issued a statement saying he “feels humbled” to be re-elected.

“I acknowledge the other candidates, who were a great and interesting group of people, all reflecting our wonderfully diverse community.

“I thank all my helpers and supporters, I literally couldn’t have done this without you. To my staff, who go above and beyond in helping people in our community, they are a great team, thank you.

“To my family, Karen, Bridget, Sean and Ruby, and Rosie, your love and support sustains me in this role. I love you and thank you.

“We have a world leading democracy, I wish the government well. There are many challenges we face but I am always optimistic about our future due the character of the Australian people.”

10pm: Labor still confident of retaining Richmond

ALP sources are quietly confident Justine Elliot will still retain Richmond, with numbers published by the AEC not including the major South Tweed booth, which traditionally strongly favours the ALP over the Greens.

Labor is also confident of taking the majority of National Party preferences if Kimberly Hone remains in third place and is eliminated first, however National sources say Hone is also expected to pull a large share of votes from the South Tweed booth.

9.30pm update prediction

9.30pm: Richmond too close to call

– path there for Greens victory

There is definitely an opportunity for the Greens to take the seat of Richmond with Mandy Nolan leading on first preferences, with almost half the votes counted.

It’s a strong result for Nolan, sitting comfortably in the lead with 33 percent of votes,  with Elliot on 27 percent and the Nationals Kimberly Hone well back on 19 percent.  

With the majority of votes still to be counted and pre-poll and postal votes normally favoring the two major parties, it looks like being a tight contest likely to play out over several days. 

Hone is expected to pick up a swag of preferences from minor candidates, however if she remains in third place and is eliminated ahead of Labor and the Greens, her preferences are expected to favour the ALP, seeing Elliot pull ahead and retain the seat.

Previously the Nationals have led on the primary vote count, with the Greens eliminated first and their preferences going to the ALP.  

Nolan set her sights on coming second in the primary vote race.  Based on the numbers tonight, she’s more than exceeded that ambition, possibly taking a winning lead.

At 9.30pm the AEC is no longer showing a two candidate projected outcome, meaning it is too close to call.

Hogan comfortably retains Page

The National’s Kevin Hogan has finished with the AEC predicting a two-party preferred majority of 60 percent and the ALP on 40 percent.

7.30pm: update – Elliot in front

More than 10,000 votes have now been counted in Richmond and the sitting MP Justine Elliot is looking comfortable with the AEC predicting a two-party majority for Elliot of 66 percent to 34 percent  for the Nationals Kimberly Hone.

At this stage Greens Mandy Nolan leads the count but has gone backwards slightly from the previous election.

Hogan set to hold Page 

Close to 20,000 votes have been counted in Page and the AEC is showing a projected two-party majority for the sitting Nationals MP of 66 percent with Labor sitting on 34.

7.15pm: Hogan looking comfortable in Page 

More than 8,500 votes have been counted in Page and the AEC is showing a projected two-party majority of 65.42 percent for sitting Nationals MP Kevin Hogan with Labor’s Wendy Backhous sitting on 34.58 percent. The Greens Party vote is up just over six percent.

7pm: First Richmond Results looking positive for Labor

The first booths results are in for Richmond showing a small swing to sitting MP Justine Elliot.

Just over 2000 votes have been counted with the ALP vote up just over 5 percent.

The Greens vote is down by nearly 2 percent and the Nationals up 0.6 percent.

While it’s a small total, it’s bigger than any opinion poll and if the trend continues, Justine Elliot would be comfortably re-elected for a seventh term.

Welcome to Election Day 2025

Ballina News Daily will be reporting live updates until we have a result for the seats of Richmond and Page.  Photos and news tips welcome: hello@BallinaNewsDaily.com.au

Sunshine and Solidarity at Ballina’s Scout Hall Booth

By mid-afternoon, the sun had broken through the clouds, and at the modest Scout Hall polling booth on Canal Road, tensions between party volunteers had well and truly thawed. 

With the early rush behind them, representatives from all major parties who may have been a little wary to begin with were now sharing stories, snacks and a sense of camaraderie.   After all, they were united by one thing: a commitment to supporting our democracy.

Among them was Doug Luke, impossible to miss in his eye-popping green suit and matching hat.

Doug had made the trip from Woodburn, just over the border in the neighbouring electorate of Page.  He sensed this could be Mandy Nolan’s moment -and he wanted in..

“I reckon Kevin Hogan’s probably got it sewn up in Page,” Doug explained with a grin. “So I thought I’d come here and be part of history.”

Robyn and David, volunteers for the Nationals and Greens respectively, agreed it had been a steady day at the Scout Hall, which was picking up overflow from the bustling Ballina Coast High booth nearby.

Still, not everyone was keen on taking the handouts. David noted that many younger voters showed up with screenshots of their preferences already queued on their phones.

“It’s clear most people have made up their minds before they leave home,” Robyn said.

Greens angered by church campaign intervention

Parents of students from Ballina’s Xavier Catholic College are among those sent letters by the NSW Catholic Church Schools Association warning them not to vote for the Greens.

The letter signed by the NSW Catholic Church Schools Association CEO Dallas McInerney says only the Coalition and Labor Parties are committed to supporting parental school choice and the future of Catholic schools.

9 News reports the letter has drawn fire from Greens Senator David Shoebridge as “disinformation” 

Mandy takes comfort from Patron Saint Bob

High profile Greens Party challenger for Richmond Mandy Nolan has revealed how she’s been buoyed by last minute support from the party’s founder Bob Brown.

“Yesterday Bob Brown called, just to check in on me.  I get a thrill seeing his name on my phone,” Nolan said in a Facebook post.

“So how am I going?  My heart is full.  No matter what happens, our mission for hope isn’t over.”

Meanwhile Page Nationals MP Kevin Hogan has also thanked his supporters and hinted the polls leaning towards a Labor win could be questionable.

“Lots of people voting are saying we need to beat this shocking Labor/Greens/Teal government,” Hogan said in a final campaign social message.

Page Labor candidate Wendy Backhous urged voters to “stay dry and happy knowing Labor offers a better future for all.”

Voters Queue Up – despite the rain

It’s a cool and wet start to the day here in Ballina.  Pundits used to say bad weather does not favour incumbents as voters resent having to go out in it. 

Whether the weather conjecture was ever true or not, its probably less of a factor in 2025, with record numbers having turned out to pre-poll vote.  

Of the 18 million Australians eligible to vote, the AEC says almost  2.4 million have already cast their ballots.

Polling Centres are open 8am to 6pm

Where to Vote in Ballina Shire

Richmond Electorate 

Richmond Room – Regatta Ave Ballina (caters for interstate voters as well)

Richmond Christian College, 7 Gallans Rd, Ballina

1st Ballina Scout Hall, 33 Canal Rd, Ballina

Southern Cross Public School, 2-40 Chickiba Dr, East Ballina

Ballina Coast High School, 57 Cherry St, Ballina

Xavier Catholic College, 2 Redford Dr, Skennars Head

Lennox Head Public School, Mackney La, Lennox Head

Teven-Tintenbar Public School, 28 Fredericks La, Tintenbar

Fernleigh Public School, 451 Fernleigh Rd, Fernleigh

Newrybar Community Hall, 15 Old Pacific Hwy, Newrybar

 NOTE: Ballina Coast High School and the Richmond Room cater for both Richmond and Page voters

Page Electorate

Alstonville High School, 19 Cawley Cl, Alstonville

Wollongbar Community Hall, 2 Hall Ct, Wollongbar

Rous Public School, 248 Rous Rd, Rous

Meerschaum Vale Hall, Cnr Marom Creek Rd & Wardell Rd, Meerschaum Vale

Wardell & District War Memorial Hall, 49 Richmond St, Wardell NSW 2477

Where can I find a Democracy Sausage Sizzle?

That traditional Aussie Election Day delicacy is not as common as you might think.  

Lennox Head Public School, Southern Cross Public School East Ballina and Newrybar Public School have fundraising barbeques happening today.

Know more? hello@ballinanewsdaily.com.au