‘I am a fighter': Kapterian reveals why she is challenging the Bradfield result

Sydney Morning Herald

15-07-2025

Liberal candidate for Bradfield Gisele Kapterian says she is not seeking a byelection in the once blue ribbon northern Sydney seat but instead wants a judge to rule on some 800 ballots that she believes could swing the May election result in her favour.
Kapterian on Tuesday lodged a petition in the High Court, which sits as the Court of Disputed Returns, in a bid to have the Bradfield result overturned by a judge.
Teal candidate Nicolette Boele won Bradfield in a recount, with just 26 votes separating the pair.
Kapterian, who has a frontbench position on hold for her in Canberra, said she was expecting a 'short and sharp' hearing which would come at no cost to the taxpayers. Kapterian has indemnity from the Liberal Party in the event of a loss, but Boele is a respondent so will likely incur costs.
'The refs on the field have made a call, and we're going to the video umpire. That's all this is, it is a pure extension of the count,' Kapterian told the Herald in an exclusive interview.
'We're just hoping to make sure that we give a voice to as many of those voters in Bradfield as possible, just to make sure that the count actually reflects those voter intentions.
'I don't anticipate a byelection to be the result of this challenge, and we haven't asked for one.'
While Kapterian has not seen the ballots in question, she said between the initial count and the recount about 170 votes that were originally assessed as formal were ruled informal.
This was one of the key reasons prompting her to pursue a court challenge. Her legal team, Melbourne-based barristers Philip Crutchfield KC and Dean Luxton, will be provided with access to the ballots once they are lodged with the court.