LIBERAL member for Swan Steve Irons has retained his despite a 4.2 per cent swing to Labor.
At last count, Labor candidate Tammy Solonec gained 46.9 per cent of the vote but Mr Irons had 53.1 per cent.
However, Mr Irons said he was not disappointed with the swing to Labor.
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READ NOW“It didn’t surprise me, when you look at 2013 we had a big swing towards us which was unusual for Swan,” he said.
“It was probably more an anti Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard movement than it was pro Tony Abbott.”
Mr Irons said he believed the electorate boundary changes had had an influence on the initial Liberal high margin.
After new boundaries moved suburbs Langford to electorate Burt, Ferndale and Lynwood to Tangney and Beckenham to Hasluck, the Liberal margin was initially boosted from 6.5 per cent to about 7.3 per cent.
Following the election, the margin narrowed to 3.1 per cent.
“If in 2007 someone had told me I’d have a three per cent margin I would have though it’d be great,” Mr Irons said.
“Seven per cent was probably a bit abnormal for Swan.
“Overall it’s a difficult time for both opposition and the government; it looks as though it’ll be a very close result.”
Mr Irons has held the seat for Swan since 2007 and will continue for the next three years.