The election is far from over. The Liberal candidate may have claimed victory but the count continues. On Sunday September 7, the pre-polling numbers were posted on the AEC virtual tally room. Di Bell received 17.63% of the prepolling vote – a good result. This brought her tally to 16.74% of the vote counted. The Greens were at 21.85% and the Liberals at 40.54%. At 11.43%, Family First was clearly not the “third horse” in the race as had been so solidly promoted by much of the media. How could Christopher Pyne have been so wrong?
The media continued to report the statistics according to the two party preferred model, but Di Bell was quick to point out on 891 and 5AA and in other interviews, that there were three candidates in contention. Taken together, the Greens and Di held 38.59% of the vote and the Liberals 40.54% at the close of counting on Sunday. Preferences will be important and the candidates holding the primary votes that might be distributed have not preferenced the Liberal candidate.
Postal votes were counted today and once again Di did well, particularly as postal voted were cast before her campaign had begun and postal votes traditionally favour the sitting member (in this case party).
This is how it looked at the close of play on September 8.
Liberal 41.02%
Greens 21.49%
Di Bell 16.47%
The preferences are yet to be factored in for Di. To whom will the 11.42% of Family First preferences flow?
The count continues …
