4 days ago
PETER VAN ONSELEN: All of the hints Zoe Daniel could have escaped a humiliating loss to Tim Wilson were in her five minute concession video
Former teal independent MP Zoe Daniel has finally conceded defeat.
After celebrating her 'victory' on the night of the election - including with ecstatic dancing - before demanding a recount despite the win falling outside the margin that requires one, Daniel has eventually acknowledged that she lost.
The Liberal win in the electorate of Goldstein was the only seat anywhere in the country picked up by either of the Coalition parties.
The Nationals didn't win a single seat off Labor or regional independents. Beyond defeating Daniel in Goldstein the Liberals didn't defeat a single sitting Labor, Green or teal MP.
No other teals lost their seats.
On any estimate, Daniel's failure was an isolated incident. It speaks to both the failure of the one term MP and the success of the campaign returning MP Tim Wilson ran against her.
Far from being a blueprint for success, Daniel's loss was a sure sign that something wasn't right about her foray into parliamentary politics.
Not that you'd know it if all you heard about the Goldstein showdown was Daniel's five minute concession video posted to social media.
So far as ungracious defeats go, it was right up there.
Perhaps not analogous with Donald Trump's reaction to losing the 2020 US Presidential election - but not as far off as you might have expected given the scathing commentary Daniel delivered Trump's way soon afterwards, accusing him of struggling to accept the reality of his loss.
It took an unnecessary recount demanded by Daniel and weeks of denial to pass before the loser eventually reversed her election night victory dance and called Wilson to concede.
The concession video including everything from claims about supporting lower taxes (Daniel voted for cancelling the legislated stage three tax cuts and once argued for a higher GST) to complaints about dirty tricks on the campaign trail.
Daniel even delivered a statement directly to Vida Goldstein whom the seat is named after ('Vida, it's a mission') despite the pioneering feminist and suffragette passing away 76 years ago.
There were hints in the concession speech that Daniel might run again, but no guarantees.
If she does do so, she'll need to adopt a more conciliatory style to make a better fist of it.
Despite Daniel's strong advocacy for the Palestinian cause, her concession video also included claims that she worked hard for both Jewish and pro-Palestinian constituents.
During the course of the campaign, however, Jewish advocacy groups were critical of the stance Daniel took.
It is highly likely that the Jewish vote in Goldstein was of itself enough to flip the seat given the seat has one of the highest Jewish populations of any electorate.
While Daniel can be proud of winning the seat in 2022, there is little doubt that her ungracious failure to admit defeat before this weekend is a blight on her time in office.
Whether it also turns out to be a nail in the coffin of any future ambition to return to parliament remains to be seen.
