The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 1

ft) fr I 'v Hi I i WE'RE LOH THE. WEB 1 iUi Sunday, March 28, 1999 $1.20 i a a at. v. j3 7 I WHY WE LOVE OUR TV SOAPS THE COURAGE OF RUTH CRACKNELL WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE DUMPED 3k rruinro)fo) rnFirpr Chikarovski crushed by big swing to Labor Liberal fagyj National fUg By FRANK WALKER State Political Editor PREMIER Bob Can-was swept back to power last night with an increased majority and a 4.9 per cent swing across the State. Mr Can appeared last night to be heading for a 13-seat majority, having won 53.7pc of the vote.

It was a crushing defeat for Liberal Leader Kerry Chikarovski. The swing in some safe Coalition seats on Sydney's north shore was as high as lOpc. The Coalition appeared to have lost more than 12 seats, handing Labor its biggest landslide win since Neville Wran's victory in 1978. Deputy leader Ron Phillips lost Miranda and Michael Photios failed to win the new seat of Ryde. They were the key plotters in the coup which toppled Number of seats for this election has been reduced from 99 to 93 Peter Collins in December.

Mr Collins said last night: "The result is worse than anyone predicted." Conceding defeat at 9.30pm, Mrs Chikarovski said she would continue as leader to try to explain her party's policies to voters. "There will be a strong Opposition," she said. WINNING GRINS: Bob Carr and his wife Helena arrive at Randwick Labor Club last night. Picture: JULIAN ANDREWS 6 NEWS EXTRA: P45 INVESTOR: P51 CROSSWORDS: P62 TRAVEL: P66 SPORT: BACK PAGE WEATHER: SHOWERS-CITY MAX 22 P78.