Two Liberal candidates initially declared victorious in their respective electorates are now in a tight race as vote counts have significantly narrowed. Tim Wilson, who claimed victory over incumbent MP Zoe Daniel in Goldstein last week, is weighing his options for a possible run for Liberal leader while also being considered for a senior position in the shadow cabinet. Meanwhile, Gisele Kapterian in the Bradfield electorate was also reported as the winner a few days ago.
Recent updates from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) indicate that both candidates are facing challenges, particularly as more postal votes—including those from Australians overseas—have been added to the tally. In Goldstein, Wilson’s lead has dwindled to just 293 votes, dropping from an earlier margin of about 1,400. With 687 votes still to be counted, Daniel would need to secure over two-thirds of the remaining postal votes to surpass Wilson and reclaim her seat.
In Bradfield, the situation is even fiercer, with Kapterian leading by a mere 43 votes against her opponent Boele, and only 314 ballots left to count. Boele will require roughly 55 per cent of those remaining votes to take the lead.
A recount is a strong possibility for Bradfield, since the margin of victory is under 100 votes, which typically triggers a mandatory recount by the AEC. Candidates may also request recounts, although these requests are not always approved. For reference, a recount for the NSW South Coast seat of Gilmore, where Labor won by 373 votes, was denied previously.
Zoe Daniel, who initially celebrated her victory on election night, has not conceded defeat since Wilson’s declaration in Goldstein. Recently, she expressed hope that a fresh influx of international postal votes would favour her outcome in the next two days. The deadline for the AEC to accept these postal votes is imminent, further intensifying the situation.