Former teal independent MP Zoe Daniel has officially conceded defeat in Melbourne’s Goldstein seat following a partial recount that confirmed Liberal candidate Tim Wilson’s victory by a mere 175 votes. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) completed the recount, reviewing around 85,000 ballots, which accounted for about 75% of the votes cast.
In her statement, Daniel expressed gratitude to her supporters, who previously elected her over Wilson in the 2022 Federal Election. She highlighted the significance of the close contest, indicating that it reflects the community’s concern for its future. Daniel referred to Goldstein as one of the nation’s most marginal seats, which brings with it a sense of accountability.
Initially, the unofficial results showed a 260-vote lead for Wilson, prompting Daniel to request the recount. The AEC attributed the variance in vote counts to a data entry error and subsequent assessments of ballot formality due to candidate-appointed scrutineer challenges. AEC representatives described the recount as a transparent process, occurring in the presence of scrutineers.
Daniel also commended the AEC staff for their professionalism, emphasising the importance of maintaining trust in electoral integrity amidst global concerns about election credibility. She acknowledged her dedicated team of scrutineers, volunteers, and supporters, thanking them for their efforts in the electoral process.
Reflecting on the campaign, she stated, “You stood at polling places in challenging environments. You knocked on doors. You made calls.” Daniel believes that community-driven independent politics is flourishing and is optimistic about shaping the future of democracy.
Despite declaring victory on election night, initial forecasts favoured Daniel before late postal votes skewed the results towards Wilson. She had been under increasing pressure to concede the seat since Wilson’s announcement of his victory on May 7.
Meanwhile, in other electoral news, the NSW seat of Bradfield remains the only uncalled seat in Australia, with a recount expected due to a narrow vote split between the Liberal and Independent candidates; results from that recount may take up to two weeks to finalise.