Federal Election 2022: Seats still in play, what happens next

A number of key seats remain in doubt, which could decide whether Labor gains a majority government or not. Here’s what’s at stake.

Courtney Gold

2 min read

May 22, 2022 - 9:27PM

News Corp Australia Network

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Federal Election

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When Anthony Albanese made his final pitch to voters on Saturday afternoon, he told Australians he wanted to change politics for good.

But perhaps it is more apt to say the vote count suggests the political landscape has already changed.

You only have to look at the seats that are still too close to call to see the seismic rejection of the status quo.

There’s Bennelong in Sydney, the seat of former prime minister John Howard. It is looking likely Jerome Lazale will pick up the seat after the Liberals 6.9 per cent margin collapsed.

In Melbourne, Labor remains in the lead to oust outgoing assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar in the outer suburb electorate of Deakin. He’s lost more than 7 per cent of his primary vote.

Menzies, the seat named after the Liberal Party founder, could also fall after a 7 per cent swing to Labor. It may take weeks before the final result is known, and it’s likely there will only be a couple of hundred votes in it.

Many brushed off the threat of the Greens in inner city Brisbane seats. They’ve now captured Ryan, and are in the lead in Brisbane and Griffith. It’s also likely the party could pick up an additional Senate seat in Queensland and South Australia.

The Greens also remain in the hunt in the Melbourne port seat of Macnamara.

Bucking the national trend is Bridget Archer in the Tasmanian seat of Bass. Known for its record as being an ejector seat, only one sitting MP since 1993 has been re-elected.

Peter Dutton is facing a battle for the seat of Dickson. Picture: Zak Simmonds

While there is still less than 1000 votes in it, Ms Archer’s decision to defy the Morrison government and vote against the religious discrimination bill and to call for debate on a federal ICAC has paid off.

In Gilmore, on NSW’s south coast, popular former transport minister Andrew Constance is still in it. It could be one of a few held seats Labor loses.

And then there’s Sturt, where Labor is currently ahead. The traditionally Liberal Adelaide seat once held by Christopher Pyne could turn red for the first time in its history.

In hindsight, it’s no surprise this is the seat where Julia Guilard made her return to the political fray to campaign for Mr Albanese.

But it is also interesting to cast an eye over the seats that didn’t fall. The so-called “coal” seats like Hunter, which did not experience a swing as expected towards the Coalition but to Labor.

Michael Sukkar lost more than 7 per cent of his primary vote in Lalor.

Labor insiders remain confident they can reach a majority of 76 seats. Even so, it is set to oversee a government that one third of Australians voted for.

A number of key seats remain in doubt on Sunday, which could decide whether Labor gain a majority government or not.