Legalise Cannabis and independents buoyed by NSW election result despite no teal wave

Legalise Cannabis has leapfrogged the Shooters Fishers Farmers and Animal Justice parties to give it its strongest chance yet at entering the New South Wales parliament, despite predictions of minor parties playing kingmaker roles failing to materialise.

But minor parties are projected to increase their share of the votes in the upper house and Legalise Cannabis and the Liberal Democrats could pick up their first seats, with votes still being counted.

Scruby was locked in a tight contest with Liberal candidate Amon.

Independent Willoughby challenger Larissa Penn also remained optimistic about picking up the blue ribbon seat from Liberal Tim James, after coming close at the 2022 by-election that followed the resignation of Gladys Beregyklian.

When counting paused on Saturday night, James was predicted to hold the seat with a 0.7% margin.

She said the optional preferential voting system had caused confusion and angst on the booths, echoing calls from other independents for the system to be revised.

The Greens enjoyed a slight swing towards them overall but suffered in Balmain, after the resignation of longtime member Jamie Parker.

Greens candidate Kobi Shetty is expected to retain the seat for the Greens on a tight margin.

The Greens look set to gain two seats in the upper house, with Cate Faerhmann returned alongside incoming member Amanda Cohn.

The One Nation vote remained steady in the upper house, where it is on track to gain a seat.