Dr Kerryn Phelps AM MP
The Australian Electoral Commission has officially announced that Dr Kerryn Phelps has been elected to Parliament as the independent member for the Sydney seat of Wentworth.
Dr Kerryn Phelps faces the media for the first time as an MP
The seat became vacant following the departure of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ousted out by his Liberal colleagues following a spill. Turnbull stuck by his word in resigning from parliament and gave no open support to Dave Sharma who won the preselection to contest the seat on October 20.
Independent Dr Kerryn Phelps won the seat following a close contest winning with a margin of 1851 votes.
At a media conference this morning following the announcement, Dr Phelps, the first Jewish woman elected to the Australian parliament, said: “Climate change was a major issue in the Wentworth by-election. The Adani mine can be stopped and we can stop fiddling around with new coal mines.
Asked about the news on the day following the by-election showing the gap being narrowed, Dr Phelps answered: “We have had a few tense moments over the last couple of weeks.”
She said: “I would like to say how honoured I am that the people of Wentworth have elected me to represent me in the Australian parliament and I will do the job for them to the best of my ability.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Lesli Berger added his congratulations to Dr Phelps’ electoral victory. “As the representative body of the NSW Jewish community, I add our voice in warmly congratulating Dr Phelps on her historic win,” Berger said. “We look forward to working with her and we wish her well as the Member for Wentworth.”
Congratulation Dr Phelps AM MHR