Liberal candidate Andrew Constance concedes defeat in Gilmore, reveals heart attackBy Romy GilbertABC IllawarraTopic:Liberal Party of Australia1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:05amAndrew Constance says he will not contest the seat again. (ABC Illawarra: Romy Gilbert)In short: Andrew Constance has conceded defeat in Gilmore, claiming Australians have made a statement about the energy transition. The former NSW transport minister campaigned against Labor's renewable rollout and supported the Coalition's nuclear plans, but says the Liberal Party needs to be "pro-environment". What's next?He will not contest the seat again, but hopes to continue contributing to public life in a corporate or NGO role.abc.net.au/news/andrew-constance-concedes-gilmore-federal-election/105254130Link copiedShareShare articleLiberal candidate Andrew Constance, who campaigned against Labor's renewable energy platform, has conceded defeat, admitting Australians have spoken on the energy transition and his party needs to be "pro-environment".The former NSW transport minister contested the NSW south coast seat a second time after narrowly losing to Fiona Phillips by just 373 votes in 2022.Election essentials:Federal election live updates: Follow the latest news in our blogLive results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continuesVoters explain what went wrong for the coalitionWith more than 80 per cent of the vote counted, the Labor incumbent has comfortably held the seat and extended her margin due to a more than 7 per cent drop in support for Mr Constance.On election night, Mr Constance said he would not concede his apparent loss to Ms Phillips until pre-poll had been counted.But today, Mr Constance admitted defeat and reflected on some of the missteps during the campaign."The things around workplace flexibility and working from home and telling the world we're going to sack 41,000 people … it all adds up," he said."To be honest, we probably looked a little mean."'A lot of work to do'Mr Constance, who identifies as a moderate-progressive, was a vocal critic of Labor's renewable energy rollout on the campaign trail.He sharply criticised plans to establish a domestic offshore wind industry and supported the Coalition's nuclear policy. In the wake of the Coalition's massive election defeat, he admitted that the "community has spoken on the energy transition" and said the party needed to work on its environment policies. "Everyone coming together is really important — be a Liberal first and foremost, be a progressive or conservative underneath that, but get the best out of each other," Mr Constance said."We're not an anti-environment party, we should be a pro-environment party."Andrew Constance addresses his supporters on election night. (ABC Illawarra: Kelly Fuller)Gilmore had one of the highest pre-poll numbers in the state, with 64,616 people opting to vote early out of the 129,095 registered voters, a total of more than 50 per cent.Read more about the federal election:ANALYSIS: The message to the Coalition is clear: This is not John Howard's AustraliaHow the Liberals lost the cities and Labor found a new heartlandHave Your Say: What was the issue, policy or event that decided your vote?Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenMr Constance said the party had failed to connect with young voters and women."The Liberal party is going to have to work hard to find its heart and soul again," he said."We have let the women of Australia down, quite frankly."We have a lot of work to do to re-engage the aspirations of young people, and women in particular."Andrew Constance says the Liberal Party must reconcile its progressive and conservative wings if it wants to move forward. (ABC Illawarra: Romy Gilbert)Mr Constance confirmed he would not seek to challenge Gilmore a third time and would instead be looking for a job in the corporate sector.'Scary' heart surgeryThe longtime state MP also revealed he had a significant health scare in August last year, suffering a heart attack and undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft.Gruen Nation — Stream nowPhoto shows An election sign of Wil Anderson in a neighbourhood with a dog urinating on it with Gruen Nation Election edition and iview.This election season politicians have tried to sell you the world. The team at Gruen isn't about to buy it. They've taken a big swing at the election, showing you how the democracy sausage is made, all the sizzle and none of the meat."It was scary, really scary," Mr Constance said."I had three blocked arteries, one at 99 per cent, one at 70 per cent, one at 40 per cent," he said.He said he said the operation took its toll over the lengthy campaign period."I felt incredibly fatigued for about three months before I had it [the heart attack]," he said."I am using today to say it clearly … there's too many people walking around with a silent killer in their body without knowing."Look after yourself, look after your health."LoadingLoading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:05am, updated 41m ago41 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:33amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesAndrew Hastie drops out of Liberal leadership raceLIVEPhoto shows Hastie gestures with one hand while speaking at a press conference in a parliament house courtyard.Albanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleRecord-breaking number of women to enter ParliamentTopic:VotingPhoto shows a composite image of three womenNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows A man in a shirt and hat.Related storiesDisrupter enters fray in battle for ultra-marginal NSW seatTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A woman in a pick top stands in front of a man wearing a blue suit with a map graphic behind them.Liberals endorse Andrew Constance to run again in marginal federal seatTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Andrew wears a black suit and tie and smiles outside with trees in the background.AEC rejects Andrew Constance's request for Gilmore recountTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Andrew ConstanceRelated topicsAustralian Federal ElectionsLiberal Party of AustraliaNowraShoalhaven HeadsWollongongWomenTop StoriesAndrew Hastie drops out of Liberal leadership raceTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Hastie gestures with one hand while speaking at a press conference in a parliament house courtyard.Albanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign Affairs'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsRecord-breaking number of women to enter ParliamentTopic:VotingNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentJust InCanberra families of teens killed in crash tell of 'never ending' painTopic:Courts16m ago16 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:58amPiastri a winner again, but 'poorly executed' Griddy proves he is humanTopic:Formula 132m ago32 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:42amMan jailed for 'bizarre' theft of car with woman and child insideTopic:Crime34m ago34 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:40am'Magic of friendship' on show at Bangtail Muster in Alice SpringsTopic:Carnivals and Festivals35m ago35 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:39amMore Just InBack to top