Member for Farrer Sussan Ley fought off a spirited challenge by Albury mayor Kevin Mack to win a seventh term in federal parliament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She's set to start off her term on a list of short-term priorities such as ensuring southern Riverina irrigators receive a water allocation in coming months.
She will be joined in Albury on Monday by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and water minister Melinda Pavey for talks focusing on water in the southern basin, which has been the major issue in the election campaign.
"We can work closely together now and I think that is going to work well for irrigators," Ms Ley said.
"The short-term issue is how do we get an allocation for next water year which starts in July.
"The national spotlight on water and this region has really helped.
"I was dreading being a local member with a Labor government and we would have been having a different conversation with Mel Pavey this week.
As Ms Ley's strongest competitor, Mr Mack campaigned hard on water issues including key commitments of calling for a Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin water management and a pause to the plan.
On the voting to date, Mr Mack has 21 per cent of the primary vote and won the four polling booths in Deniliquin including the pre-poll centre, but his wins weren't by huge margins.
Meanwhile, in Leeton, Ms Ley won all of the voting booths by over 50 per cent - except Parkview Public School and Yanco which she won with 42.4 and 45.95 per cent respectively.
Voices for Farrer founder Chris Brooks, whose group financially supported Mr Mack's campaign, couldn't be contacted for comment.
Mr Mack congratulated Ms Ley on her victory.
"We definitely brought the spotlight to Farrer, and I am proud of what our small team has been able to achieve," he said.
"We gave it our best shot, but now I will concentrate on returning to my role as Albury mayor.
"I will continue to do all I can working with council to deliver on projects to make our great city of Albury an even better place to live and work."