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‘We’ve called it for you’: Monique Ryan learns she’s won Kooyong I’ve just told Monique Ryan that The Age is calling Kooyong in her favour, not long after the ABC did the same.
Monique Ryan has retained Kooyong Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
She had been holding off speaking to the media on her result so far, waiting for the counting of pre-poll votes to begin. I’ve confirmed with her campaign manager that those votes are now being tallied.
Over the roar of the crowd, clinking glasses, and TVs blaring Anthony Albanese’s victory speech, I leaned in and said: “We’ve called it for you.”
She beamed.
“OK, I better go talk with the team,” she said, before slipping away into a back room at the Auburn Hotel.
A victory speech feels imminent, readers.
Latest posts 10.29pm
‘Are you going to Trades Hall?’ ‘Is the Pope Catholic?’ Tony Parr has been a Labor member and volunteer since Tony Abbott came to power in 2013.
He lives in Berwick and had been scrutineering for a booth in the suburb – an area of Melbourne that has typically leaned Liberal and was a key battleground for Bruce.
When we popped into Berwick early in the campaign, almost every single person I vox-popped on the streets was a die-hard Liberal supporter.
But a few weeks is a long time in politics, and Parr showed me the handwritten results from the booth he just came from – 773 for Julian Hill and 357 for Zahid Safi in the two-party preferred.
“I’m so happy about it,” Parr said. “It’s fantastic for Julian. If you see that man on the booth, he stands in the line for three days straight shaking every single person’s hand. It’s unique, he’s unique.”
Parr predicted this victory would spread around the country. “I’m sure of it,” he said. “Especially now we know Dutton is gone. It proves Labor policies work. We cater for the people and the people are represented by voting for Labor.”
Aftab Hussain and Abdullah Neshat appreciated the coverage in this blog about a Senate submission by Liberal candidate Safi that has been roundly criticised as denying persecution of a minority ethnic group.
Another volunteer with an Afghan background who did not share his name said he was at the Dandenong mosque when Safi was heckled early in the campaign. He made a hand movement showing his mind was blown. “That was the beginning of the end for Safi,” he said.
Aftab Hussain, Abdullah Neshat and Charlotte Grieve
Brothers and Labor volunteers Max and Tom Yakubowski embraced and grabbed their faces as they processed the size of the Labor victory sweeping across Bruce.
“A resounding victory for Julian Hill locally that highlights just how good a local member he really is. He’s smart, he’s kind, he’s compassionate, which are traits that I think are incredibly valuable for the local member of parliament,” Max said.
As for what the outcome says for the broader contest? “I think that it’s a resounding endorsement of the Albanese government. It’s a resounding endorsement of progressive politics in Australia, and I’m looking forward to seeing the new government hit the ground running,” he said.
I remarked that he sounded like a politician, and he laughed. “I’ve been spending too much time with them.”
His brother, Tom, shook his head in disbelief. “Well and truly, just in shock at this point, not just by the magnitude of the victory,” he said.
Another volunteer came over, and they embraced, smiling and laughing, celebrating the victory. “Are you going to Trades Hall?” Tom said. “Is the Pope Catholic?”
As for Hill’s daughter, Elanor Devitt, she said she was “so proud” of her dad. “The people of Bruce deserve him. I’m speechless.”
And her celebration plans?
“I’m going to bed,” she said, with a weary laugh and smile. “There’s no fun happening here.”
10.24pm
Tight cont
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