Labor claims victory in Hindmarsh
Federal Labor has claimed victory in the Adelaide seat of Hindmarsh, with Steve Georganas on a 582-vote lead over sitting Liberal member Matt Williams.
Steve Georganas with supporters. Photo: SA Labor
SA Labor this morning posted a Twitter message of congratulations on Georganas’s “outstanding victory”.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who is in Hindmarsh today, also tweeted: “Well done Steve – sensational campaign! Looking forward to catching up today.”
SA Premier Jay Weatherill congratulated his “old friend”, adding, “The good people of Hindmarsh have a strong voice in Canberra”, while federal Opposition frontbencher Anthony Albanese heralded Georganas as “a tireless fighter for his community”.
Well done to my old friend @stevegeorganas on your fantastic victory. The good people of Hindmarsh have a strong voice in Canberra.
— Jay Weatherill (@JayWeatherill) July 13, 2016
The ABC reported, however, that Williams was not yet prepared to concede defeat, with postal votes going his way.
Georganas held the seat of Hindmarsh until 2013, when he lost by a slender margin of 1.89 per cent, after suffering an 8 per cent swing to Williams.
Congratulations to @stevegeorganas on your outstanding victory in Hindmarsh. #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/9MUO3rXUFq
— SA Labor (@alpsa) July 13, 2016
The national seat count is now at Coalition 76, Labor 68, Greens 1 and Independents 4.
The other seat going down to the wire is Herbert in Queensland, where at last count Labor challenger Cathy O’Toole was just 66 votes ahead of sitting LNP MP Ewen Jones.
With almost 13 of the 15 million votes allocated, AAP reports that the vote count so far is:
Labor 49.72pc
Coalition 50.28pc
Swing against the coalition 3.21pc
THE SEAT COUNT SO FAR:
Coalition 76
Labor 68
Greens 1
Independent 4
In doubt 1
HANGING IN THE BALANCE:
Herbert (LNP QLD): Labor’s Cathy O’Toole’s lead has dropped to 66 votes over sitting MP Ewen Jones. Postal votes are trending Jones’ way, keeping him in the race, although O’Toole is getting the benefit of absentee votes. Down to the wire.
BEST GUESS OUTCOME:
Coalition 76
Labor 69
Greens 1
Independents 4
SEATS LABOR PICKED UP FROM THE COALITION:
Bass, Braddon, Lyons (TAS); Burt, Cowan (WA), Eden-Monaro, Lindsay, Macarthur, Macquarie (NSW); Longman (QLD); Solomon (NT); Hindmarsh (SA)
SEATS COALITION WON FROM LABOR:
Chisholm (VIC).
COALITION LOSS TO NICK XENOPHON TEAM:
Mayo (SA)
LIKELY SENATE OUTCOME:
Coalition 30
Labor 27
Greens 9
Nick Xenophon Team 3
Independents 7
-with AAP
