Cunningham has long been a safe seat for Labor – other than a surprise win for the Greens' Michael Organ in a 2002 by-election – so 2025's result is no surprise here.
At publication time, the Australian Electoral Commission’s first preference count for Cunningham showed Labor’s Alison Byrnes leading on 46,619 votes, with Liberal Amanda Ivaneza on 24,088 and Jess Whittaker of the Greens on 21,151. Trailing these parties were Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (7712 votes), the Animal Justice Party (2689) and the Citizens Party (1433).
Despite a 2.75 percent swing to Labor's Alison Byrnes, the runners-up are determined to press on.
Liberal candidate ‘really enjoyed’ campaign
Speaking on the sunny Saturday morning of the 2025 Federal Election, the Liberal candidate for Cunningham, Amanda Ivaneza, described the atmosphere as “high energy” as hundreds of people queued to vote then enjoy a democracy sausage in aid of Bulli PCYC.
“It's been fantastic,” Ms Ivaneza said of her first foray into politics. “We’ve really enjoyed meeting the community and getting out and about and seeing everybody.
“I think it's good to have competition in the Illawarra, and to give the Illawarra choice, and show that we don’t want to be taken for granted any longer by the Labor government.”
Ms Ivaneza – an HR manager at Peabody Energy and former volunteer with Responsible Future Illawarra Chapter – said she initially hoped to run for Wollongong City Council in 2024’s local government elections but had to put that plan on hold after the NSW Liberal Party failed to file its nominations on time.
“I did initially wanted to do council, unfortunately with the blunder that happened with the Liberal Party, it pushed me into federal a little bit quicker than what I thought. That was a bit of a 10-year plan … but I'm here for the feds now.
“I've actually really enjoyed it.”
Ms Ivaneza said she would run again. “Absolutely. I’ll be back – I won't stop until we turn it blue.”
Greens candidate back at Council tomorrow
The Greens candidate for Cunningham, Jess Whittaker, will be heading straight back to her day jobs as a paramedic and a Ward 1 councillor, with a Wollongong City Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow night.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Ms Whittaker said that Peter Dutton’s unpopularity, driven by Trump-style hate and divisiveness, “destroyed his party nationally and was the main factor leading to Labor winning a majority”.
“The result in Cunningham as well as Whitlam and Gilmore should be seen as a referendum on renewable energy, particularly offshore wind farms,” Ms Whittaker said.
“This is a clear indication that the Illawarra supports renewable energy, Labor has a mandate to speed up the transition and continue pushing towards a renewable energy future. Pursuing a renewable energy future is integral to combating climate change – as is stopping new coal and gas projects."
Thanking her “tremendous” volunteers and supporters, Ms Whittaker said the Greens movement will continue to grow in the Illawarra.
“We have a strong voice on council in myself, Kit Docker and Deirdre Stuart, and we will continue advocating for a more ecologically sustainable and socially just city."
The Greens have been heartened by swings towards the party at Wollongong Public School's booth, Cringila and Berkeley.
“We could still end up with the most votes in Cunningham since Michael Organ and the Greens won the seat in 2002.”
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Alison Byrnes ‘straight back to work’ after Labor landslide in Cunningham
