The New South Wales Liberal Party is set to contest the narrow election outcome for the Bradfield seat, which has flipped from their control for the first time in 75 years. Initially, Gisele Kapterian of the Liberal Party was proclaimed the winner by a mere eight votes, marking the contest as one of the closest in Australia’s electoral history. However, following a recount, Nicolette Boele, an independent candidate, emerged victorious with a 26-vote lead.
In a statement shared on social media, Kapterian expressed that the decision to challenge the recount was made after thorough consideration of the various counts, emphasising that over 118,000 ballots were cast. She underlined the need to ensure that the voters’ intentions in Bradfield are accurately mirrored in the final tally.
Kapterian affirmed her confidence in Australia’s electoral system and the integrity of the recent counting process, viewing it as a reinforcement of confidence in the nation’s democratic framework. She highlighted that the upcoming challenge, likely to be filed with the Court of Disputed Returns, aims to ensure a trustworthy final result that reflects the genuine wishes of the electorate.
She requested a targeted review of certain ballots that remained contentious, focusing on issues like legibility in the voting numbers. While Boele has yet to respond to the challenge, the decision signifies a significant moment in the political landscape of Bradfield, as the Liberal Party seeks to clarify the outcome of such a closely contested election.