Teal edges ahead of Liberal in Bradfield

Teal candidate Nicolette Boele has edged in front of Liberal contender Giselle Kapterian in the battle for the northern Sydney electorate of Bradfield by a mere 40 votes, with a recount likely.

Independent candidate for Bradfield Nicolette Boele at Killara High School in her electorate.

Teal candidate Nicolette Boele has edged in front of Liberal contender Giselle Kapterian in the battle for the northern Sydney electorate of Bradfield by a mere 40 votes, likely triggering a recount.

Despite trailing the count for days in the ultra-marginal seat, Ms Boele regained a late lead of 40 votes on Monday according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Residents of the north shore suburb are unlikely to see a final result for weeks, with a full recount expected for the seat due to tight margin.

Independent candidate for Bradfield Nicolette Boele on the hustings at Killara High School in her electorate. Boele is photographed with her daughter Saskia Geraghty.

Yet the AEC has yet to announce the win for Ms Boele, with further preferences needing to be distributed. It is expected that process will be finished by the end of the week, at which point an automatic recount is likely to be triggered if the difference between the two leading candidates is less than 100 votes. Bradfield is one of the last remaining seats to be called after the May 3 federal election

Liberal candidate for Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian, talking to voters in Chatswood.

As of 4pm on Monday, Ms Boele held 56,233 two-candidate preferred votes compared to Ms Kapterian’s 56,193.

Liberals were hopeful for a win earlier in the week, after Ms Kapterian took the lead for over a week as postal votes were counted.

Ms Boele held off on declaring victory on election night, with her camp maintaining the results were too close to call.

The seat was previously held on a 2.5 per cent margin but has become an even tighter contest after sitting Liberal MP Paul Fletcher announced his retirement in December last year.