Seatless independent backs neighbour as PM hits WA

Jack Gramenz and Tess IkonomouAAP
Camera IconKylea Tink says it has been one of the privileges of her life to represent North Sydney. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Independent Kylea Tink will leave federal parliament, throwing her support behind a neighbouring candidate who is hoping to improve on her earlier significant swing in a historically safe Liberal seat ahead of the next election.

The North Sydney MP's seat has been abolished and Ms Tink has decided not to contest elsewhere.

Instead she will support Nicolette Boele in neighbouring Bradfield, held by former coalition minister Paul Fletcher.

Ms Boele engineered a swing of more than 12 per cent away from the senior Liberal MP at the 2022 election but was unable to join other independents in Canberra.

The North Sydney seat has been redistributed by the electoral commission between Bradfield, Bennelong and Warringah in Sydney's well-heeled north shore.

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The three seats are held by Liberal, Labor and independent MPs.

"It has been one of the privileges of my life to represent my community of North Sydney and help drive the community-independent movement forward," Ms Tink said on Saturday.

She said she was proud to have driven progress during her time in parliament and will be voting for Ms Boele, who is deeply committed to advocating for Bradfield constituents.

Ms Boele praised the outgoing MP.

"She has achieved so much and shown how effective true community representation can be," Ms Boele said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues his blitz of WA in a bid to gain crucial support ahead of an election due by May, after the state's crucial role in Labor's 2022 victory.

He visited Perth on Friday as fresh polling showed Labor might not win outright and may need to form a minority government.

Liberal MP Ian Goodenough, who has held the WA electorate of Moore for 11 years, will recontest his seat at the next election as an independent, according to the West Australian newspaper.

Mr Goodenough lost a preselection contest for the electorate in Perth's northern suburbs to former army officer and Stirling MP Vince Connelly.

Recent polling found 14 seats too close to call, with the coalition taking out 64 to Labor's 59.

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