Bombshell election result in tightest seat
A new member for the Melbourne seat of Goldstein has been crowned, four weeks after the federal election.
Independent candidate Zoe Daniel demanded a recount after losing the seat to Liberal moderate Tim Wilson by just 260 votes, saying several errors were made during the distribution of preferences.
The Australian Electoral Commission finalised the partial recount of 85,000 votes on Saturday confirming Mr Wilson had won with a margin of 175 votes. Liberal MP Tim Wilson is the new member for the Melbourne seat of Goldstein after the AEC finalised a partial recount of votes. NewsWire/ Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia
In a statement posted to social media, Mr Wilson said after 29 days of counting the Liberals had 14,697 more first preference votes than the former MP.
'I want to thank all Goldstein voters, but particularly the extraordinary effort some went to so their voice was heard,' he said.
'Now the recount is finished, the result is clear. It is time to get on with the job and take the voice and values of Goldstein to shape the future of Australia.' Independent MP Zoe Daniel has conceded defeat to newly appointed Liberal MP Tim Wilson.NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
Ms Daniel declared victory in the highly-contested seat on election night after early counting leaned heavily in her favour.
But a surge in postal votes over the following days swung the pendulum back into blue-ribbon territory, with the seat actually called for Mr Wilson on May 7.
Ms Daniel refused to concede the seat at the time and insisted on waiting for the full distribution of preferences and then demanded a recount, which was granted in part by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
She said it had been a long process to recount the 85,000 votes representing 75 per cent of votes cast.
'Goldstein is now one of the most marginal seats in the country, and with that comes embedded accountability,' she said.
'In that, we have done our job.
'In a world where trust in elections is being eroded in so many places, we should never take this for granted.'
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