The party could get up to 15 councillors.
The Libertarian Party has won at least seven seats in New South Wales's local government elections, with another eight wins possible when counting resumes.
6 News projects the party will have victories the following races:
Camden, North Ward
Camden, South Ward
Canterbury-Bankstown, Bass Hill Ward
MidCoast (possibly 3 seats, 2 guaranteed)
Penrith, South Ward (possibly 2 seats, 1 guaranteed)
Upper Lachlan
Counting ended at 10pm last night and will not occur today (Sunday) but will resume next week.
Speaking live on 6 News, NSW Libertarian MLC John Ruddick says his party was the most optimistic in MidCoast Council. Results last night showed the Libertarians with a clear lead with about 30% of the vote, about 10% ahead of second-place.
"The [ratepayers] in that council area have had more than a 100% increase in their rates, and the people are very upset," he said.
Although the Libertarians have done well in areas where the Liberals aren't contesting because they missed the candidate nomination deadline, that's not the only factors.
In MidCoast, the Liberals had 13% of the vote in 2021, but the Libertarians are well exceeding that. The Liberals also don't endorse for Upper Lachlan, where the Libertarians are projected to gain a seat.
Ruddick says his party plans to contest all 128 LGAs at the next local elections in 2028.
"We are going to contest every frigging election that we possibly can," he told 6 News, including state and federal by-elections and "all the local council elections".
For more coverage of the 2024 New South Wales local elections, click here
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story included John Ruddick's claim that federal Nationals MP David Gillespie handed out how-to-vote cards for MidCoast Council yesterday. David Gillespie has told 6 News he has "not been in Midcoast Council area for over 10 days" and "had no involvement in the Libertarian campaign".
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