He will be a member of Mike Baird’s re-elected team with direct input to the Premier.

But a clear message has obviously been sent by the electorate to Mr Aplin.

His massive margin of 27 per cent at the previous election was reduced by half on Saturday on current figures.

There is no doubt many people voted for Labor candidate Ross Jackson for a variety of reasons.

Perhaps the biggest factor was a wish to make the seat more marginal in the bid to get more attention and financial windfalls.

Mr Jackson has been an Albury councillor since 2012 and is the city’s deputy mayor.

No doubt his standing in the community played a part in the improved showing by his party.

But he had just three months to prepare for the election and little opportunity to visit outlying communities to garner votes.

Already he has indicated his intention to stand at the next election provided he gets the nod.

Therein lies a problem for the Liberal Party because Mr Aplin is 62.

His latest win equals the record of his predecessor, the late Ian Glachan, with four victories.

No doubt this will be his last term serving the electorate.

The Liberal Party has ample time to consider a worthy replacement provided Mr Aplin serves his full term as he says he will.

The electorate will closely monitor commitments he made when campaigning such as the Riverina highway upgrade and funding for hospitals at Holbrook, Culcairn and Tumbarumba.

The Labor Party likewise has time on its side to build Mr Jackson’s profile, particularly outside his home city.

Mr Baird has been a breath fresh air since taking over as Premier.

Both parties deserve recognition for the way in which their campaigns were run without the venom of other more recent elections.

Some political pundits say this election has been recognition of policy over populism.

Mr Baird now has a mandate to proceed with the leasing of electricity poles and wires to private enterprise.

He says his 99-year lease will raise $20 billion for infrastructure projects around the state.

Even Labor Party elder Michael Egan, the state’s longest treasurer, agrees the government should allowed to proceed with power privatisation.