Barwon voters off to polls

Barwon voters will head to the polls this Saturday to determine their next state member.

The race to become the next Member for Barwon has attracted wide interest with eight people submitting nominations for the March 25 poll.

Barwon could play a crucial role in determining the next NSW government, with political pundits expecting a knife-edge result after the close of voting on Saturday.

A Resolve poll for the Sydney Morning Herald had support for the Coalition and Labor split at 38 per cent each. A hung parliament remains a possible outcome on Saturday, however, the only poll that will matter is the vote on Saturday.

In Barwon, candidates in ballot order are Joshua Roberts-Garnsey (Australian Labor Party), Roy Butler (independent), Annette Turner (The Nationals), Paul Britton (Shooters, Farmers and Fishers), Thomas McBride (Public Education Party), Stuart Howe (independent), Pat Schultz (The Greens) and Ben Hartley (Legalise Cannabis Party).

Roy Butler, formerly of the Shooters, Farmers and Fishers, has represented Barwon in the Legislative Assembly since 2019.

This year he is contesting the state election as an independent.

Of the eight candidates, four are listed as enrolled in the electorate – Roy Butler (Mendooran), Annette Turner (White Cliffs), Joshua Roberts-Garnsey (Narrabri) and Stuart Howe (Condobolin).

Candidates enrolled outside of Barwon are Paul Britton (Terrey Hills – northern Sydney), Pat Schultz (Armidale), Thomas McBride (Woodbine – south-west Sydney) and Ben Hartley (Nimbin).

On election day, polling booths will be located at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre multi-purpose room, St Lawrence’s Anglican Hall (Narrabri West), Wee Waa Public School, Burren Junction Public School, Pilliga Public School, Bellata War Memorial Hall, Baan Baa Community Hall and Boggabri Public School.

Early voting will be available in Narrabri on Thursday and Friday, at the pre-poll facility at the aquatic centre.

Early voter turnout has already proved strong, with 12,867 people attending early voting centres in Barwon as of Wednesday morning.

Across the state, more than 638,000 people (11.56 per cent of voters) had already voted as of Wednesday morning.