Liberals still considering legal challenge after Bradfield recount flipped seat from Gisele Kapterian to Teal Nicolette Boele
The Liberal Party is still considering a potential legal challenge over the ultra-tight result in the federal seat of Bradfield.
The possible appeal comes after a full recount reversed the initial outcome and handed the seat from Liberal Gisele Kapterian to Teal Nicolette Boele by 26 votes.
Shadow industrial relations minister Tim Wilson told Sky News Sunday Agenda the decision to refer the matter to the Court of Disputed Returns was up to Ms Kapterian.
'I've heard lots of different details about what has happened in that count,' Mr Wilson said.
'There was a different result after the first count than after the full recount, which, you know, is quite an unusual thing to occur.'
Mr Wilson, who himself faced a recount in his seat of Goldstein, noted that while his own recount confirmed the original result, Bradfield's did not.
'They're studying it very closely,' he said.
'It's a big decision—not just to go through that process in a legal context, but then depending on what the court decides, potentially also a by-election as well.'
The comments follow confirmation from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) that Ms Boele had won Bradfield by a razor-thin 26-vote margin.
The result flipped after the initial result declared Ms Kapterian was the winner by eight votes.
Ms Kapterian has so far refused to concede and confirmed on Friday she is taking legal advice.
'This recount has created a different result—while I was ahead at the conclusion of the original count, Ms Boele is now ahead,' she said in a statement on Friday.
'I will now carefully review the two counts.'
Senior Liberals are voicing support for Ms Kapterian but stopping short of confirming whether a court application will be filed.
Shadow finance minister James Paterson said the New South Wales Liberal Party was reviewing legal options.
'I really hope that we can find a way to have Gisele Kapterian in the Parliament,' Mr Paterson told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.
'She's exactly the type of person to make the Liberal Party better and the Parliament better.
'But it is up to the New South Wales division and ultimately, if we decide to make any application in the Court of Disputed Returns to that.'
If the result stands, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will be forced to find a new shadow assistant minister for technology and the digital economy.
The AEC has stood by the integrity of the recount, confirming that only two voters were marked off the roll twice—insufficient to affect the outcome.
Any application to the Court of Disputed Returns must be made within 40 days of the official result being declared.
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The Advertiser
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A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. 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The election would be Tasmania's fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn't have the numbers. The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election. "He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Winter said he didn't believe Mr Rockliff's commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would "say anything" to cling to power. 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A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. 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Sydney Morning Herald
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The Coalition says it's open to tax reform – but there's a catch
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