LIVE BLOG: Western Sydney election night

Well, we've run out of results, and more importantly, pizza so we are calling it a night. In summary, the Liberal Party has held 8 Western Sydney seats (Hawkesbury, Riverstone, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Epping, Penrith, Mulgoa, Parramatta) and won the newly formed seat of Seven Hills. The Labor party has held two seats (Blacktown, Mt Druitt) and gained two seats (Granville and Londonderry) and looks likely to win the new seat of Prospect.

Thank you for spending your election night with us Western Sydney.

I'm Peter "Gough" Gladwell and I bid you adieu from Western Sydney election night blog HQ on behalf of Elisha "Beazley" Pearce, Kylie "JBish" Stevens, Andrew "Carney" Brown, Kevin "07" Nguyen, Steph "Gillard" Bates and Matt "Latham" Lawrence.

11.08 pm - McDermott goes home in the lead

Labor's Hugh McDermott is projected to win the newly named seat of Prospect... But not quite yet. The Sun caught Mr McDermott as he was leaving. "We're trending to win, everyone says we are, but we have to wait," he said. Mr McDermott said his opponent, Andrew Rohan, formerly the member for Smithfield, has not conceded defeat. "We have a very positive result, but the logistics are Rohan hasn't conceded." A spokesperson for Mr McDermott has said Mr Rohan is still yet to call him. Pictured are Hugh McDermott and his wife Bettina heading home after a not-quite-there victory.

11.01 pm - Fairfax Community Newspapers wins election blog battle

In the most eagerly anticipated result of the night, it can be revealed that our very own Western Sydney election night blog had the most election night posts hands down. We put up 95 posts between 6pm and 11pm. In second place was smh.com.au with 39, news.com.au with 16 and News Local with 11.

10.58 pm - New voice for Mt Druitt

Congrats to Edmond Edmond Atalla Labor for Mount Druitt who became the new Labor Mount Druitt MP following the retirement of Richard Amery. "Im credibly honoured by the support I got from the Mount Druitt community." He vowed to ensure the Baird Government delivers on its promises of a new police station and MRI machine for Mt Druitt.

10.49 pm - Mark Taylor in another successful partnership

It was a combined affair for Liberals as new Seven Hills MP Mark Taylor and Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott, celebrating their election wins together at Bella Vista. Mr Taylor, the first member of the newly created seat, said at times the campaign looked like it was going either way, but was very happy with the comfortable win. "It was absolutely a marginal seat, it was a 50-50 chance," he said. "Many of the residents here haven't had a Liberal member for 40 years." Seven Hills, which was touted as a marginal seat is now seen as a safe Liberal seat following tonight's results. While statewide there has been swings away from the Liberals, seats in the Hills have bucked the trend, which Mr Elliott said was about the need for infrastructure. "We've been rewarded with the north west rail link," Mr Elliott said. While the selling off of the poles and wires was seen as a deeply unpopular issue, Mr Elliott said there was a "net gain thanks to [Mike] Baird."

10.42 pm - Western Sydney overall recap

Just in case you have been out all night and need a political nightcap, here is how the situation stands in Western Sydney.

Liberal retain - 8 seats (Hawkesbury, Riverstone, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Epping, Penrith, Mulgoa, Parramatta) 

Labor retain - 2 seats (Blacktown, Mt Druitt)

Labor gain - 2 seats (Granville, Londonderry)

Liberal gain - 1 seat (Seven Hills, new seat)

In doubt/Labor leading - 1 seat (Prospect, new seat)

10.31 pm - Prospect still tight with ALP leading

While everyone else is calling Prospect as a Labor win, it still looks pretty tight to us. With 21 of the 31 booths counted Labor's Hugh McDermott has a 670 vote lead over the Liberal Party's Andrew Rohan. On first preferences with 25 of the 31 votes counted, McDermott is leading by 1085 first-preference votes. Regardless of the result, our hard-working Sun reporter is about to head to his third election after party of the night in the McDermott camp for speech/pictures/beer.

10.29 pm - Send more supplies

Seriously, this thing better be over soon, we are running out of supplies at Blog HQ.

10.24 - Re-Lee-ved MP speaks to Sun

Re-elected Parramatta MP Geoff Lee spoke with the Sun following his speech. "I think it's been a humbling experience to be re-elected for a 2nd term," he said. "We ran on a positive campaign and the opposition ran one based on fear." He said his electorate would experience a massive boom over the next four years. "I think Parramatta is the real winner here." With the growing infrastructure and the arrival of the projects like the Powerhouse Museum, the MP said he would have alot of work ahead of him.

(The guy in the beard is not our Sun reporter, not that there is anything wrong with beards...)

10.20 pm - Baird claims victory ... defends Abbott

Baird thanks his rival, Luke Foley, for his "gracious words" - but says the Coalition will win back the seats it has lost to Labor at the next election. "I also want to acknowledge the Prime Minister [Tony Abbott] and his support," Baird says, as he thanks members of his team. "He understood the need to put more funds into NSW." The "Abbott Effect" was the great unknown in this election campaign, and the unpopular PM was given a non-speaking role at the Liberals' campaign launch in the days before the election.

10.16 pm - Lee claws his way back

The re-elected Geoff Lee is at the Dundas sports club bantering and joking with his supporters. Mr Lee is making his speech next to a claw machine, so we assume that he's feeling really lucky and will later take his chances and snag himself an iPod. Of course the real reason is a faulty microphone, but even with the audio static, the Liberals are in good spirit. He thanked many of his supporters by name, and is sharing war stories from the campaign trail. "As I always say, I'm Geoff Lee from Parramatta, it's been an absolute pleasure to work with you," he said.

10.13 pm - Ayres takes over airwaves in Penrith

Penrith MP Stuart Ayres got a large cheer as his face appeared on the big screen for a victorious television live cross. He finished with "there's plenty of beer flowing here, I can guarantee that," and recieved another cheer. He told Fairfax Penrith was a hard working community and it was hard to win their respect. "We've rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We promised a few things and delivered on them and people have endorsed our work to give us another four years," he said.

10.07 pm - Will "Magic" Mike nickname stick?

One of our hard-working reporters at the election after parties has suggested "Magic" as a nickname for Mike Baird. Will it stick?

10.02 pm - Tudehope admits nerves in Epping win

Fresh from winning the seat of Epping for the Liberal Party, Damien Tudehope admitted he had a lot of nerves going Into his first ever campaign. "It went through its ups and downs and there was a fair bit of pressure," he said. Speaking at Beecroft after he claimed victory, Mr Tudehope said this election was about the team of newly re-elected premier Mike Baird. "We've done well primarily because of what he's done for the state. Most people in the electorate welcome the north west rail link." Despite winning Epping, there'll be no rest for Mr Tudehope, who will spend Sunday campaigning to keep the Ence Park swimming pool open at Epping.

9.56 pm - Foley officially concedes defeat

NSW Premier Mike Baird has taken the Coalition to a win in the state election, but its majority has taken a substantial hit. The government appears to have secured 52 seats to Labor's 33 in the next NSW Parliament, as counting in the state election stretches into its third hour. It came after Labor leader Luke Foley conceded defeat in a phone call telling the media that "right through the campaign, Mike Baird and I have both ensured that it was never personal." 

9.54 pm - Dominic Perrottet celebrates switch to Hawkesbury

9.48 pm - Robbo celebrates re-election in Blacktown

Blacktown MP John John Robertson has retained his seat. He has just thanked the community for putting their faith in him. "I'm very honoured and privileged to once again get the opportunity to represent Blacktown" Mr Robertson told the Sun. "A 10 per cent swing was recorded back to me, which gives me a vote of confidence. It's pleasing as we've put in a lot of hard work over the four years." He listed getting lifts for Doonside train station as a major priority, along with more staff for Blacktown Hospital, better transport and job opportunities.

9.43 pm - Another Red head Julia celebrates - this time in Granville

Julia Finn, is now all but the Labor member for Granville after taking the seat from Tony Issa in a 3.8 per cent victory. Finn celebrated her win at Granville Diggers. Ms Finn was pleased with the massive swing towards Labor this election, despite the Baird government securing majority. "The only ones we lost are the ones we never win anyway," she said. "There's been a big swing for us and for the Christian Democratic Party." The new MP was tired after a long day and said she was still trying to get her head around it all. "I'm going to be focusing on the little things first." She thanked her party and supporters, and had a welcoming message for those who don't support the Labor Party. "I'm your local representative, and my door is open anytime. I'm here for everyone."

9.39 pm -  In the red zone: Prue Car to be Londonderry MP

As Luke Foley announced his concession to the Coalition, Prue Car's party kicked into higher gear as it became clear she would be the new Londonderry MP. She said people in the communities of the electorate felt left behind and not represented. She said Baird would be the Premier in Macquarie Street she said: "the Londonderry voters dont agree with many of his policies such as privatisation of the electricity network, cuts to health and education cuts and I look forward to representing them in parliament."

9.38 pm - Final Hawkesbury after party update

Ht is all smiles in the Liberal Party Windsor RSL HQ. Children dance merrily as the young Libs gather around a television fixed on Labor's Luke Foley admitting defeat. Sure there's been a swing against, but the faithful are still crying hallelujah ... now Mr Perrottet ... about that $3 million in tourism spending you pledged if elected ... expect a call!

9.33 pm - Prospect poll update

While the seat of Prospect remains the closest of the Western Sydney seats, it still looks likely to go to Labor. Labor's Hugh McDermott has had a 4.7 per cent swing in his favour which looks enough to retain the seat. With two-party preferred counts done in 18 of the 31 booths, McDermott leads 7991 votes to the Liberals Andrew Rohan with 7268. In the more advanced raw first preference counts in 21 of the 31 booths, McDermott had 8629 votes to 7654. 

9.26 pm - Ray Williams as safe as houses in Castle Hill

Liberals Ray Williams has prided himself on taking out the "safest seat in the country" with more than 70% of the primary vote in the seat of Castle Hill. In his victory speech at the Dural Country Club, he also praised his fellow Liberal and former Castle Hill member Dominic Perrotet, who has now shifted to neighbouring Hawkesbury. Despite his change of electorate, Williams said there hasn't been a difference in campaigning or his approach once he is in parliament. "I represented the same suburbs in Hawkesbury as I do in Castle Hill." While there has been a slight swing against the Liberals, Mr Williams said the mandate for the poles and wires will bring a great deal of infrastructure to the Hills. "The new hospital at rouse hill is just what the doctor ordered," he said. "Our children can look back at a great legacy."

9.25 pm - Parties start partying

We've got reporters out at some of the key political after parties, so we'll let you know if anything interesting emerges.

9.04 pm - Western Sydney seat scoreboard

At this stage the likely Western Sydney scoreboard looks like this.

Liberal retain - 8 seats (Hawkesbury, Riverstone, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Epping, Penrith, Mulgoa, Parramatta) 

Labor retain - 2 seats (Blacktown, Mt Druitt)

Labor gain - 2 seats (Granville, Londonderry)

Liberal gain - 1 seat (Seven Hills, new seat)

In doubt/Labor leading - 1 seat (Prospect, new seat)

8.52 pm - Overall Western Sydney update

So far the election has gone fairly close to predicated in Western Sydney overall. The Liberals have polled well in their strong belt of Hills district seats, retaining Riverstone,  Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Epping and picking up the new seat of Seven Hills as expected. The seat of Hawkesbury has also stayed in Liberal Party hands, albeit with a 5.9 per cent swing to Labor in the most recent figures. The traditional Labor voters in the Blacktown region looked to have returned to the party, as it retained Blacktown with a 8.0% Labor swing and Mt Druitt with a 9.7% swing. This Labor swing has carried across to the neighbouring seat of Londonderry which looks to have emphatically returned to Labor hands with a 15.8% swing back to the ALP, resulting in the likely election of Labor's Prue Car. The Liberals look to have held on in neighbouring Penrith and Mulgoa however, blunting Labor's more optimistic hopes of getting its traditional territory back. Things are much tighter in Prospect and it still looks too close to call although Labor's Hugh McDermott looks favourite to win the new seat over sitting Liberal Smithfield MP Andrew Rohan. It looks like Parramatta's Liberal MP Geoff Lee has hung on in Parramatta thanks to some desperate heavy hitter campaigning from the Premier, with only a 0.8 per cent swing to Labor. The swing was much larger in neighbouring Granville however with Labor's Julia Finn looking like she might have taken the seat from sitting 

8.48 pm - Seven Hills polling update

The Liberals' Mark Taylor is looking more and more like he will win the seat of Seven Hills. Despite closer voting early, Taylor has pulled away from Labor rival Susai Benjamin to lead 10,212 votes to 7759. with 37% of the votes counted. The overall swin in the seat is only 0.1% to Labor at this stage, representing a sold personal performance by Taylor.

8.45 pm - Granville polling update

The news keeps getting worse for Liberal Granville MP Tony Issa, with his Labor rival Julia Finn holding a commanding lead. With 17 of the 36 votes counted, Finn has 5110 votes compared to Issa with 4015, representing a 9.8 per cent swing to Labor. While Issa is closer in raw first-preference votes, trailing 7358 to 8962, the polling computer is still predicting Granville as a Labor gain.

8.37 pm - Penrith polling update

Sitting Liberal MP Stuart Ayres is looking more and more like he will retain the seat of Penrith despite an 8.6 per cent first-preference swing against him. With 11 of the 26 voting booths counted, Ayres has 5348 first-preference votes compared to Labor's Emma Husar with 3833, giving him 45.7% of the overall vote. While all the other parties are prefencing against Ayres, the closer he gets to 50% on his own, the more chance he has of winning.

8.33 pm - NSW Election drinking game

If you're having an election night party, there's a drinking game to go with it.

8.29 pm - Prospect Polling update

The seat of Prospect is still on a knife-edge with only 18 votes separating the two candidates on a two-party preferred vasis. Andrew Rohan of the Liberals has 1680 first-preference votes compared to Labor's Hugh McDermott with 1995. Labor only has a 4.9% swing though so the seat will go down to the wire.

8.16 pm - Early calls for Coalition win

ABC election analyst Antony Green has called the election for Mike Baird and the Coalition.

8.18 pm - Parramatta count update

Sitting Parramatta Liberal MP Geoff Lee still has his nose in front and looks like retaining the seat. The raw first-preference count of 10 of the 30 booths has Lee with 51.6 per cent of the overall vote, enough to retain power. Labor's James Shaw has not been able to pull off the same 9.2 per cent swing as seen in the rest of the state. 

8.15 pm - Gazette leading the after-party party

Party party party ... from one shindig to another - it's the way we're rolling tonight.

Part of the crew is has hit the road for the residential red headquarters of Labor's Barry Calvert, while the others are following the blue- brick road to Windsor RSL, which tonight is home to Liberal Dominic Perrottet and his supporters.

Birdies are reporting that the blue booth presence was quite impressive ... to say the very least - so much for assumed seat safety!

8.14 pm - Who's going to retain government, a little more concrete

While just trying to count seats that are in a concrete position for either party it seems the Coalition will retain government easily.

ABC is giving the Coalition 46 definite seats so far and Labor 32. Greens on 2, and others on 2.

Plenty more seats are in the likely category and that means the Coalition government is definitely back overall. 

8.13 pm - Geoff Lee edges ahead in Parramatta

Liberal candidate for Parramatta Geoff Lee has his nose in front of Labor. If he takes out the seat tonight, he'll become the first Liberal to hold onto the seat in 60 years. 

8.11 pm - Granville polling update

The polling computer is pointing to a Labor gain in the seat of Granville. After counting in 10 of the 36 booths, Labor's Julia Finn is leading 1870 votes to sitting Liberal MP Tony Issa's 1405 votes on a two-party preferred basis. On more advanced raw first-preference counting, Finn looks to have an even more commanding lead with 5265 first-preference votes compared to Issa's 1405 votes. The Christian Democratic Party's Lara Taouk Sleiman is a distant third with 1174. 

8.10 pm - Granville polling update

The polling computer is pointing to a Labor gain in the seat of Granville. After counting in 10 of the 36 booths, Labor's Julia Finn is leading 1870 votes to sitting Liberal MP Tony Issa's 1405 votes on a two-party preferred basis. On more advanced raw first-preference counting, Finn looks to have an even more commanding lead with 5265 first-preference votes compared to Issa's 1405 votes. The Christian Democratic Party's Lara Taouk Sleiman is a distant third with 1174. 

8.09 pm - How's the swing set going?

Checking back in with the overall swing for a second - the Labor party has gained 9.2% after 24.5% of the count.

Coalition sits on 45% and Labor 34.7%.

Greens are on 10.5%, a 0.2% gain.

8.08 pm - Should we call the race off in the Hills yet?

Despite some swings back towards Labor in the Hills area three seats are very safe for the Liberal candidates right now.

In Baulkham Hills David Elliot is sitting on 68.8% while Labor's Ryan Tracey sits on 31.3% after preferences.

Damien Tudehope looks set to win Epping after just a 6.0% swing to Labor. He's up 72.2% to 27.3%.

Ray Williams' move from Hawkesbury to Castle Hill looks to be a safe one. He has 80.1% after preferences and Matt Richie of Labor is on 19.9%.

Should we call it a day on these ones? Probably.

8.07 pm - Hawkesbury polling update

As expected, the seat of Hawkesbury will stay in Liberal Party hands, with Dominic Perrottet well ahead with 8319 votes on a two-party basis, well ahead of Labor challenger Barry Calvert with 3726 after 26.3 per cent of the vote counted. It hasn't been all bad for Labor, however, with Labor getting a 9.4 per cent swing.

8.06 pm - Don't worry, food has arrived.

The pizza delivery has arrived in the western Sydney offices, providing the fuel for the rest of election night.

8.01 pm - Prue Car looking strong in Londonderry

Labor’s Prue Car is currently ahead on first preference count by some margin in Londonderry. She has 51.2% of the raw vote. Liberal’s Bernard Bratusa has 34.7%. There’s been 9 of 30 booths counted on first preference.

Prue Car, with a croaky voice, said she was happy with how her day at the polls went.

“My day was great. I met a lot of people that I’ve doorknocked and met at train stations over the last 18 months. There was a good positive feeling on the booths. It’s all done now and out of my control.”

When she was asked about her croaky voice she said: “I think 17 months of talking to people everyday has finally done my voice in.”

8pm - Epping polling update

Epping is looking like a safely retained seat for the Liberals, with their candidate Damien Tudehope leading 843-316 over Labor's David Havyatt. It is also looking good for the Liberals on the more advanced first-preference count of 10 of the 27 booths, with 4097 first-preference votes, well ahead of Labor's David Havyatt on 1621. The Greens candidate Emma Heyde has polled strongly with 1151 votes, to be a close third.

7.54 pm - The Sausage Challenge

Hills News reporter Kevin Nguyen was on the road today trying to find the best sausage sizzle in town. He was also out interviewing voters and politicians about their concerns, but let's not let that get in the way of the real story.

"I smell of barbecue sauce and regret," Mr Nguyen said at the end of his investigation.

7.53 pm - Londonderry polling update

The seat of Londonderry may change hands to Labor based on current results. While only 1 of the 30 booths have produced a two-party preferred result, an analysis of raw first-preference votes in the seat gives Labor's Prue Car a potentially winning lead of 1915 votes to 1287. This represents 51.1% of the overall votes so puts her in the box seat. Londonderry has been problematic for the Liberals ever since sitting Liberal MP Bart Bassett got caught up in the ICAC donations investigations.

7.51 pm - What can we learn from Ballina?

The seat of Ballina was held by the Nationals with a margin of 24.6% but is now predicted to be a Labor gain after preferences. 9 of 32 booths have been counted with preferences.

There's been a 27.1% swing to Labor there.

What does that mean for western Sydney? With a 10% swing state-wide so far when some electorates experience a 25% swing that means more marginal seats in western Sydney are not experiencing a uniform swing, despite being Labor seats for decades until 2011 in some cases.

Bottom line? We may be seeing a changing of the guard in western Sydney. It could be that a few Labor safe seats are now Liberal winners in the long term.

7.50 pm - Who's going to win government?

So far the ABC seat tracker has the Coalition retaining government with 51 seats.

But the Labor party is locked on on 32 at the moment, a much more reasonable opposition size looking likely.

7.49 pm - Back to ICAC?

With both state Liberal and Labor parties being tarnished by ICAC recently, is it only a matter of time before we do it all again?

7.48 pm - Penrith polling update

The seat of Penrith remains on a knife-edge, but Liberal MP Stuart Ayres has his nose in front 473-372 on first preferences. There has been a 10.2% swing against the Liberals though, suggesting it may go down to the wire. Ayres also leads 655-521 on raw first preferences over Husar but all other candidates in the seat have preferenced away from him. Independent Jackie Kelly does not look capable of causing an upset, trailing a distant third with 132 first preference votes.

7.47 pm - Checking in on Prospect

Prospect is a really close race after 3 of 31 preferenced booths have been counted.

Liberal MP Andrew Rohan is ahead by the seat of his pants, which is a bit of a shock. Though this could be accounted for by the fact that Mr Rohan is running in a newly named seat.

He is on 50.4% and Labor's Hugh McDermott is on 49.6%. 

The swing is moving almost by the minute there, back and forth.

7.46 pm - Women on the panel

Polling booth barbecues aren't the only sausage fests on election day. Channel 7 and 9 are getting criticism for their mostly male panel. ABC on the other hand have only one male on theirs.

7.43 pm - Seven Hills polling update

While his namesake may be readying himself for commentary in tomorrow's World Cup Cricket Final, Liberal Mark Taylor is holding on by the skin of his teeth in the newly drawn electorate of Seven Hills, leading 581-538 over Labor's Susai Benjamin. So far there has been a 6.9 swing back to Labor, meaning the seat may be on a knife-edge come later in the evening.

7.39 pm - Riverstone polling update

Things are going to plan for the Liberals in the seat of Riverstone, with Kevin Conolly holding a 920-337 lead over Labor's Ian Morrison after two-party preferred distribution in 2 of the 19 booths. The seat had been a Labor stronghold for many years but looks to be staying strong with sitting member Conolly and the Liberal Party.

7.36 pm - Gabrielle Upton election thoughts.

Coalition cabinet minister MP Gabrielle Upton sounds like she expects a swing back to Labor after a stronger than usual showing last election, but believes the plan proposed will be wel received by the electorate.

"Well we were coming off the back of a high water mark. But amongst my colleagues we had strongly signed up for this vision, this plain that Mike Baird has put forward... we are now the leading economic indicator across Australia, we are the economic powerhouse... that is good government; to take a plan to the electorate and let them have their say,'' she told ABC News.

7.35 pm - Hawkesbury after-party update

The Gazette crew are spending a bit of time at the after-party of Hawkesbury Independent candidate Kate Mackaness.

The spirited team are exchanging war stories from throughout the day at the polling booths.

Figures don't seem to matter ... it's all about the impact of having had a presence throughout the day.

The group's buoyant tone is certainly enhanced by their surrounds ... The exquisite Bank Bazaar on Windsor Street, Richmond, which is complete with fairy lights, a magnificent fountain and a rather friendly house cat named Agapantha.

Incidentally, BBQ snags have been replaced by party pies and quiche.

As predicted it is still looking good for Liberal candidate Dominic Perrottet who is leading Labor's Barry Calvert 2000-874, despite an 8.8% swing to Labor.

7.33 pm - State-wide numbers

After 6.9% of the vote has been counted the Coalition have a combined vote of 45.7%.

Labor have 35.6% and Greens have 10.9%. The Labor improvement is 9.9% so far.

If the swing is uniform that would see the Coalition lose around 18 seats.

However the swing isn't usually balanced across the state. In this case it looks like the Northern Rivers electorates are going to have bigger swings to Labor than perhaps the western Suburbs.

7.31 pm - Main parties the winners in Parramatta so far

On the first preference count both Liberal MP Geoff Lee and Labor's James Shaw have a swing in their direction. Shaw has 4.5% and Lee 2.4%.

This means that independents, the Greens and CDP aren't doing as well in this seat as they did last time. More voters are coming back to the major parties, fewer protest votes.

After preferences Geoff Lee is currently tipped to retain the seat.

7.29 pm - Granville count update

Labor's Julia Finn is still looking like toppling sitting member Tony Issa in Granville, leading 331-279 in the two-party preferred vote. This represents a 8.0% swing to the Labor Party, enough to take the seat back to Labor. This is based on the preference distribution of 5 of the 36 booths. In the more advanced raw first-preference counting it is a very close picture, with Issa having 1527 first preferences compared to Finn's 1774 after 10 of the 36 booths.

7.28 pm - Kevin Conolly confident

It's still early days but Liberal Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly is pleased about the results of the count so far.

''It's very encouraging and looks like it's all on track so far,'' he told Fairfax tonight.

''We may get a result in the next hour but it's hard to tell at the moment. Today went very smoothly. It was a good day in terms of weather and all of the party volunteers at the polling booths got on well.

7.27 pm - Barnaby Joyce the fortune teller

If federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce is correct, we can all pack up early and go home

7.23 pm - Parramatta count update

As expected, the seat of Parramatta is on a knife-edge with sitting member, Dr Geoff Lee of the Liberals leading 811-563 on a two-party preferred basis over Labor's James Shaw. So far there has only been a 3.5% swing away from Liberals, which should be enough for him to retain the seat on early flows.

7.21 pm - Mulgoa count update

In early counting, sitting Liberal Tanya Davies has comeback after her opponent Labor's Todd Carney held an early lead. Davies leads 1166 to 747 on a two-party preferred basis after distribution of preferences in 3 of 27 booths. In raw first-preference votes, Davies has a 1890-1000 lead with 8 of the booths counted. While the seat is an outside hope for Labor, it would have been hoping for a bigger swing at this stage, with a 3.6% going to Liberals, bucking the state trend.

7.20 pm - Ayres survives scare... for now.

After an early scare, Stuart Ayres has edged ahead in Penrith, with almost 46 per cent of the initially primary vote.

7.19 pm - Are long-time Labor voters coming back?

As we said earlier, if you are trying to find out whether people who historically have voted Labor but deserted the party last year are coming back, Blacktown and Mount Druitt are places to look.

Edmond Atalla is a first-time candidate for Labor in Mount Druitt, replacing the long serving Richard Amery. At an early count he has a +9% swing, stretching out the original 6% hold.

In Blacktown, John Robertson, who was opposition leader until December, has a lead of 13% over the Liberal challenger. He held that by 4% leading into the election.

7.17 pm - Fun at the voting booths? Absurd!

7.13 pm - Epping count update

In early counting in the seat of Epping, Liberal candidate Damien Tudehope is leading 88-42 over Labor challenger David Havyatt after the first two booths in Thornleigh and Dural booths.

7.11 pm - Penrith count update

Penrith Liberal MP Stuart Ayres has hit back at Labor opponent Emma Husar in the seat of Penrith after trailing in early counting. While the two-party count has not been posted yet from the Jamisontown Uniting Church, raw first-preference votes have Ayers leading 442-321. If preferences flow to Husar as expected, however, then it puts the current result neck-and-neck.

7.09 pm - A poem for Antony Green

While the commercial networks are battling it out over graphics, the ABC have the legend of Antony Green. Here's a limerick about him from Buzzfeed

7.06 pm -  Hawkesbury count update

In early counting in the seat of Hawkesbury, Dominic Perrottet is leading Labor's Barry Calvert 1309 to 664 on a two-party preferred basis. While Perrottet is expected to hold the safe seat for the Liberal Party, there has already been a swing of 12.1% in favour of Labor in early counting. 

7.04 pm - New election, new toys

As usual, TV coverage are pulling out all the stops and graphics. Channel 7 has a race to Harbour Bridge, while 9 has a giant boot to kick out candidates.

We can't to see what they do with 3D.

7.02 pm - Blacktown count update

Sitting Labor member John Robertson was surprisingly behind in the seat of Blacktown after early counting, trailing Liberal candidate Raman Bhalla 70-54. 

Robertson had sensationally stood aside as Labor leader after it emerged he had sent a letter supporting Lindt cafe killer Man Haron Monis in previous years.

7.00 pm - Smiling on the outside

6.57 pm - Penrith update

In the night's first eyebrow raising trend, the seat of Penrith looks on a knife-edge with Labor's Emma Husar leading Stuart Ayres 68-57 on a two-party preferred basis. Pre-election analysis had Ayres retaining the seat in the face of a strong swing to Husar via Jackie Kelly who only got 5.7% of the vote in the first booth, suggesting she may be out of the hunt to cause an update.

6.56 pm - Pre-polling will destroy democratic traditions

6.52 pm - Election fun fact

Today marked the first time pens were used at the ballot box instead of pencils. Over 60,000 were used around the state for the election

6.51 pm - Baulkham Hills count update

In early polling in the safe Liberal seat of Baulkahm Hills, David Elliott is leading 76-19 over Labor challenger Ryan Tracey. Results to come through so far are in the mortgage-belt booth of Beaumont Hills Public School.

6.50 pm - We wonder who Ray Williams voted for...

6.48 pm - What sort of roll has pre-poll and online voting played this year?

Penrith independent Jackie Kelly, after a long hot day, said the pre-poll and iVote option may have reduced the number of voters turning out today.

“I think a lot of people pre-polled. It seemed to me to be smaller numbers at the polling booth,” she said.

‘’It was supposed to be 4,200 where I was and I think a lot of people used iVote. I’m a bit worried the informal vote might be higher.’’

6.47 pm - Castle Hill count update

As expected, Liberal Party candidate Ray Williams has a strong lead in the seat of Castle Hill, leading Labor's Matt Ritchie 124-27 in early counting. Williams is the sitting member of Hawkesbury and changed to the seat of Castle Hill after a boundary redistribution.

6.46 pm - Todd Carney Tweets

6.44 pm - Geoff Lee at Parramatta Town Hall

6.43 pm - Parramatta today

6.41 pm - Mulgoa

The race in Mulgoa is underway, with early, early counts suggesting a close result.

Today Tanya was out and about in the electorate, including here at Blackwell Public School, St Clair.

6.40 pm - Granville count update

It's still early in Granville, but Julia Finn has started her swing over sitting Liberal member Tony Issa. So far the swing back to Labor in Granville is 6.3%, giving Finn a 83-75 two-party preferred lead over Issa - enough to win the seat if it continues

6.39 pm - Early swing count?

We have a winner in the ridiculously early swing count

Antony Green on the ABC said there is an 8% swing back to Labor after 0.1% of the state count.

He wins the "ridiculously early swing numbers" award for the night.

6.38 pm - Blacktown/St Marys region trends

If pre-poll betting is correct, Labor will regain the seat of Londonderry tonight with Prue Car tipped to be the new MP.

Mount Druitt will have a new MP, following the retiring of Richard Amery. His successor is tipped to be Labor Blacktown Councillor Edmond Atalla.

Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies is expected to retain her seat.

In the Blacktown area, former Opposition leader  and popular Blacktown MP John Robertson is likely to retain his seat, as is Liberal Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly.

Liberal Mark Taylor is the favourite to win the renamed seat of Seven Hills.

6.35 pm - Prospect count update

it is early days but Liberal Andrew Rohan has an early lead in the seat of Prospect. In the two-party preferred cout, Rohan is leading Labor's Hugh McDermott 41 votes to 32. Pre-election election odds had McDermott at $1.04 to win the seat - the same odds as Black Caviar. 

6.32 pm - Granville count

It's a cliffhanger in Granville with only 1 vote separating Labor's Julia Flinn and Liberal member Tony Issa. Of course only 91 votes have been counted but Issa is leading Finn 46-45 in early counting. Issa is under threat to lose the seat if the bookies are to be believed. 

6.31 pm - Seven's ReachTEL exit poll is in

Seven's ReachTEL exit poll of 2200 voters is showing the Liberal–National Coalition holding a 54-46 percent lead in a two-party preferred basis.

6.29 pm - The Greens on Election Day

6.27 pm - Preparations underway for the Liberal Party gathering

6.25 pm - Mike Baird and Luke Foley on Election Day

6.22 pm - Which Western Sydney seats are more safely held at this point?

Mulgoa is a Liberal party seat by 12.4%.

Parramatta is held by the Liberal party with a 12.5% margin.

Penrith is held by the Liberals by 16.1%.

In early counts these seats need to see a much narrower margin early on to leave a credible chance of changing hands.

Blacktown is held by 4.1% by previous Labor party leader John Robertson. Another interesting early test to see if voters in an electorate that is usually a Labor stronghold are moving back to the party in any great numbers.

6.20 pm - Exit Polls

6.15 pm - 47 is every party's favourite number

The magic number tonight is 47. That's the number of seats needed in the Legislative Assembly (lower house) that either party needs to win in order to form a majority government out of the 93 up for grabs.

In the Legislative Council (upper house), 21 of the 42 seats there are also up for grabs.

6.14 pm - Which western Sydney seats are close?

The last result was the worst Labor result in over 100 years. It’s likely there will be a swing back to a more “normal” election result.

Prospect has a 1.1% margin to the Liberal party.

Granville has a 3.6% margin for the Liberal party.

Londonderry has a 5.3% margin for the Liberal party.

Blue Mountains are held by Liberals with a 5.4% margin.

Seven hills are held by 8.8% to the Liberals as well.

Those seats may swing back to the Labor party if the regular polling of a 8-10% swing away from the last election result.

Mount Druitt is held by the ALP by 6.0%. An interesting gauge will be whether a normally Labor area comes back to the party today and makes it a wider margin.

6.10 pm

At Dong Sang Uniting Church at May Hills today, taken by Star reporter Kylie Stevens. Decisions, decisions.

6.06 pm

6.05 pm

6.00 pm - Polls have officially closed

The polls have officially closed. Stay tuned and let the fun begin!

5.41 pm - Polls closing soon

Welcome to the NSW 2015 election night results blog.

Stay here for rolling updates, pictures and interviews.

Join us here as we present the best coverage of your western Sydney electorates.

We'll give you the results as they come in, interviews with winners and losers and images from the ballot boxes and after parties in your neighbourhood.