ALYSSA Hayden says she is ready to get to work for the people of Darling Range following her victory in Saturday’s by-election.
Ms Hayden stormed to victory in the by-election as she reclaimed the Darling Range seat for the Liberal Party, winning just over 53 per cent of the vote to finish ahead of Labor’s Tania Lawrence, who received just under 47 per cent.
The former Member for the East Metropolitan Region said even though she was not yet sworn in, she was ready to get to work straight away.
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READ NOW“I’m a Member of Parliament as of Sunday and I would like to start work now,” she said.
“I’m wanting to have community barbecues around the electorate to thank people for voting and start the communication, I’m here to stay and want to keep communication open.
“I want to make sure Mark McGowan has learnt the people of Darling Range have voted on behalf of everyone in WA.”
Ms Hayden admitted she had a few nerves on the night, but was glad her victory had been all but confirmed by around 8pm on the night.
“My stomach flipped a few times when a couple came in not in my favour, but I was delighted we got an answer on the night,” she said.
“I wouldn’t handle a suspension, it was a great relief not just for me, but also the people of Darling Range.”
Her win came on the back of a nine per cent swing against Labor in the electorate, who had won the long-standing Liberal seat at last year’s state election.
Preliminary polls had tipped Labor to retain the seat, despite initial candidate Colleen Yates’ resignation following false claims she made on her Linkedin profile.
However, Ms Hayden emerged victorious as she received over 34 per cent of the initial votes, ahead of Ms Lawrence on just over 32 per cent.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation faired best out of the remaining parties, as candidate Ron Caddies claimed just under eight per cent of the vote.
Ms Hayden will take over the seat which had been vacated by the disgraced Barry Urban, who resigned before he could be sacked for lying during an investigation into claims he had made about his credentials.
Voter turnout in the by-election was recorded at just under 77 per cent.