Swing to Liberals but Clover still rules

9 Sep 2012, 7:45 pm   -   Source: AAP

Despite a slew of conservative wins in council polls across NSW, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore says voters have given progressive politics a thumbs-up.

Newly reinstated Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has described the latest round of local government elections as an endorsement of progressive politics, despite the Liberal Party celebrating a "massive swing" to the right and poor results for the Greens.

A jubilant Ms Moore received a standing ovation from a trio of dog walkers and plenty of interest from camera-wielding tourists on Sunday as she took a victory lap through Hyde Park in Sydney.

Ms Moore's ticket secured at least five seats on council, she told reporters, and a sixth seat could be delivered on Thursday when all the votes are counted and preferences distributed.

"I think there was a real disconnect between what was being said in some media and the feedback I was getting on the ground," she said.

"I'd spend a morning in the shopping centre and the feedback would be positive.

"So I was hoping that would be the outcome of the election and I'm really pleased that it is."

The 67-year-old was basking in the moment after a "hard" election.

"I just think it's incumbent upon people running for political office to be honest and truthful and talk about reality," she said.

"That wasn't my experience in this campaign. I'm glad it's over. We can get back to reality."

She said sustainability would be at the centre of her council to-do list over her four-year term - from low-carbon precincts, supporting creative start-ups, establishing six more childcare centres in the city and helping Sydney's homeless population.

"I think it's a real endorsement of progressive and stable government for the city," she said.

Labor MP Luke Foley acknowledged the Sydney council election was a "triumph" for Ms Moore.

"Credit where credit is due," he told reporters on Sunday.

However he said Labor had been encouraged by strong early showings from the 149 other councils around the state that went to the polls on Saturday.

"After the very poor result for state Labor last year we saw very meaningful signs of recovery yesterday - Labor winning popularly elected mayoral contests in councils as diverse as Canada Bay, Lake Macquarie and Lismore," he said.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said he was delighted with a "massive swing" to the Liberal Party in the local elections.

"(It ranged) from 20 per cent in Liverpool where we look as though we'll take mayoralty, 20 per cent in Parramatta," Mr O'Farrell told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

"(There were) massive swings against Labor and the Greens in traditional areas."

Greens MP and local government spokesman David Shoebridge said support for the party had "softened" across the state.

He said the party's progressive policies "had a pretty hard go in an election where the electorate was clearly moving to the right".

By Sunday the Greens were confident of success in the inner west Sydney seat of Leichhardt and "toe-to-toe" with Labor in nearby Marrickville, and were leading the mayoral race in Byron Bay.

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