By Corey Everitt
Incumbent Russell Broadbent has captured 10 percent of the vote as an independent in the multi-candidate race that may not know a winner for days.
The AEC has not indicated a two party preferred count in the seat of Monash, where the first preferences returned four candidates with 10 percent or more of the vote.
Liberal Mary Aldred leads with a 32 percent of first preferences and Labor’s Tully Fletcher sits on 20 percent. They each suffered a five percent swing against them, with votes going to independents and minor parties.
Climate 200-backed Deb Leonard has seen almost an 7 percent swing toward them to achieve a competitive 17 percent of first preferences.
Incumbent Broadbent ran as an independent after leaving the Liberal Party when Aldred was preselected over him.
His bid to tackle “unfinished business” has achieved 10 percent of the vote, which may prove pivotal in pushing his former party over the line to retake Monash and block Labor and the “Teal”.
A lengthy preference count will follow, the ABC so far has Aldred ahead in their two party preferred with a 4.8 percent margin.
Unfortunately for the progressive side’s chances, the Greens suffered this election with candidate Terence Steele seeing a drop in first preferences to below five percent, from a former 10 percent hold in 2022.
One Nations’ Kuljeet Kaur Robinson retained the party’s vote at about 7 percent. Trumpet of Patriots and Family First sit on 2.4 and 1.7 of the vote, respectively. These votes will likely help Aldred further.
Posting to facebook, Leonard thanked her volunteers and supports for the result that will likely take days to be definitive.
“We showed that Monash will not be taken for granted anymore,” she said.
“I am so proud, humbled, grateful and inspired to be a part of this movement and to have had the honour of working alongside so many incredible members of our community.”
