ðɛɹwˌɜː fˈɪɹz əvə vˈoʊɾɚ bˈæklæʃ ɪnðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks ᵻlˈɛkʃən dˈuː tə mək jˈuːən sˈaɪdɪŋ wɪð lˈeɪbɚ, ænd hiː wʌz pɹɪzˈɛntᵻd wɪð ɐ stɹˈɔŋ tʃˈælɪndʒ baɪ lˈɪbɚɹəl kˈændᵻdˌeɪt pˈiːɾɚ ɡˈændɑːlfi.
There were fears of a voter backlash in the 2006 election due to McEwen siding with Labor, and he was presented with a strong challenge by Liberal candidate Peter Gandolfi.