Voters in Kiama on the NSW South Coast are heading to the polls today to elect a new MP after former state parliamentarian Gareth Ward was convicted of sexual assault.
Predictions are pointing to a Labor landslide with candidate Katelin McInerney backed by Premier Chris Minns.
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
Liberal candidate Serena Copley and NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman at a polling booth the day before the Kiama by-election in NSW. 12 September 2025 Photo: Janie Barrett (Janie Barrett)
Prior to this, Labor was in the seat since its creation in 1981.
Thirteen candidates are on the ballot, including Liberal candidate Serena Copley and Greens candidate Tonia Gray.
Major parties and independent candidates were out on the campaign trail yesterday in a bid to secure last minute votes.
This included Copley who engaged with voters at the Pavillion in Kiama alongside opposition leader Mark Speakman.
Gray hit the trail with the party’s South Coast spokesperson Cate Faehrmann.
McInerney visited the local Bomaderry High School to give an update on a $41 million upgrade alongside Minns and acting education minister Courtney Houssos.
According to the NSW Electoral Commission, more than 21,000 residents have voted early at pre-polling booths and through postal voting as of 8.40am today.