NSW Labor had claimed the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro, with another iconic bellwether, Lindsay on a knife-edge in western Sydney last night.
Former Labor minister Mike Kelly unseated Liberal MP Peter Hendy in Eden-Monaro, where council amalgamations had burnt as a major issue, and Mr Hendy was criticised for having a low profile as a local member. 
Mr Kelly said it was "an insult to take them for granted".
"There was a great deal of dissatisfaction with the performance of the member - it was palpable. He was the first member in history who had refused to participate in community debates."
Mr Kelly said the Liberal base had also punished Mr Hendy for his role in the coup against Tony Abbott by voting Labor.
"People were telling me they were voting Labor for the first time in their lives," he said.
Lindsay was too close to call. Labor leader Bill Shorten staged Labor's campaign launch there, and had bolstered the Medicare campaign by promising $88 million to the struggling Nepean Hospital.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made repeated visits to Lindsay by train, including on poll day, to support Liberal MP Fiona Scott.
The message was the Liberal Party supported small business, and long-distance commuters, and was promising to create jobs closer to home with a western Sydney cities deal.
Large sections of western Sydney appeared to be returning to Labor last night after a fierce battle that saw Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten spending their final two campaign days crossing its marginal electorates.
Labor's challenge was to return the heartland lost in 2013, while the Liberals wanted to continue the march.
Labor wrested Macarthur from the Liberals, returned in Barton and foiled an ambitious Liberal tilt at Gough Whitlam's seat of Werriwa. Labor was expected to retain Parramatta and Greenway.