Labor’s Kristy McBain has actually won the Eden-Monaro by-election, the ABC’s chief elections analyst Antony Green states, in a tight contest that will likely see counting continue into next week.
Key points:
- The count was slowed by a great deal of pre-poll and postal votes
- That indicated the prospects didn’t know the latest results when they made speeches on the night
- But after midnight, Green called the seat for Labor
While Labor’s main vote dropped compared to in 2015’s federal election, Green said it would hold the seat after preference flows from a late dump of tallies.
Neither Ms McBain or Liberal opponent Fiona Kotvojs declared success on the night, however Green said the candidates did not understand the full picture when they resolved supporters about 11: 00 pm.
” When the 2 competitors spoke, preference counts for the Queanbeyan pre-poll centres had not reported,” he said.
” When choice counts were reported, things were favourable for Labor.”
He also stated Labor had carried out strongly in postal votes, which would be decisive in the tight contest.
” Labor’s existing lead of 1.2 percent should not be eliminated on the votes exceptional,” he stated.
The by-election was set off by the resignation of Labor MP Mike Kelly, and the seat