To Victor the spoils: Dominello takes Ryde

Lawyer Victor Dominello, 41, was way ahead of Labor's Nicole Campbell in John Watkins's old seat of Ryde, with a swing of more than 20per cent expected - in line with last week's Sun-Herald/Taverner poll.

Prior to yesterday's poll, Labor held the seat with a 10 per cent margin.

The Ryde results point to annihilation for Labor in 2011, with up to 40 of its 52 lower house seats lost if the swing were replicated statewide.

Less than two hours after the polls in the state's four byelections closed, a jubilant Liberal Party was claiming a swing of more than 25 per cent in Reba Meagher's old seat of Cabramatta, where political newcomer Dai Le sent shockwaves through the Labor Party.

Labor's Nick Lalich, the Fairfield mayor, was set to retain the seat for Labor, despite Ms Le's heroic efforts as a first-time candidate.

In Lakemba, Labor's Robert Furolo was buffetted by a 20 per cent swing, not enough to displace him but enough to terrify his party.

Lakemba was Labor's safest seat, held by retiring premier Morris Iemma with a 34 per cent margin.

Yesterday's byelections saw about 180,000 voters go to the polls to replace Mr Iemma, Mr Watkins, Ms Meagher and Robert Oakeshott, in Port Macquarie.

Labor was always going to face its toughest battle in Ryde where Ms Campbell, a 37-year-old scientist and public servant, put in a do-or-die effort.

"I am not going to have one regret about the way we campaigned - I am very proud," she said.

"The Liberals may have more money but they'll never match my heart and passion for the electorate. One thing's for sure - after the byelection I'll still be living in the electorate," she said, in a reference to Mr Dominello's recent move back to Ryde from McMahons Point.

Mr Watkins, the retiring deputy premier, left the seat with a 20 per cent margin but his enormous personal following accounted for much of that figure.

His departure coupled with the electorate's desire to punish Labor for financial mismanagement and problems with roads, transport and hospitals cost Labor the seat.

Earlier in the day Premier Nathan Rees implored voters to back Ms Campbell, saying she had "worked very well".

"I hope that people in Ryde give Nicole a fair go but I don't underestimate the anger over the previous administration," he said.

"I don't expect to have turned it around over six weeks."

Mr Dominello's mother, Josephine, promised him 40 votes from the family, but he didn't need them.

For Liberal leader Barry O'Farrell, Mr Dominello's win was one of the sweetest victories of all. Until yesterday, only 13 of the 88 byelections held in NSW since 1965 had meant a change in the party holding the seat.

Mr O'Farrell said: "The community has had enough from a government that pretends all is well and doesn't pay enough attention to the public.

"Mr Rees can't run from today's results, Mr Rees can't hide from today's results."

Editorial: Short-term MPs cost too much, Page 46