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Australia Votes: Labor retains Canberra, Bean, Fenner

The crowd at the Labor Party event at the Canberra Labor club in Belconnen has erupted in cheers with the party retaining the seats of Canberra, Bean and Fenner.

Julia KanapathippillaiReporter, Canberra Star
6 min read
May 21, 2022 - 10:09PM
Canberra Star
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The crowd at the Labor Party event at the Canberra Labor club in Belconnen has erupted in cheers with the party retaining the seats of Canberra, Bean and Fenner.

The Labor Party is also expected to retain its ACT Senate seat.

Across the ACT and NSW border, the battle in Eden-Monaro remains fierce but Labor Incumbent Kristy Mcbain remains ahead by over 9 per cent in the two party preferred count.

More to come

Election day has finally arrived in the Nation’s Capital
Election day has finally arrived in the Nation’s Capital

How ACT and Eden-Monaro voted

Earlier today: Labor leads across ACT and Eden Monaro

Labor is very likely to retain the ACT seats of Bean and Fenner.

In Bean Labor incumbent David Smith is winning against Liberal Candidate Jane Hiatt with a margin of 11.36 per cent.

In Fenner, Labor incumbent Andrew Leigh leads Liberal hopeful Nathan Kuster with a margin of 14.81 per cent.

The state of play is more complicated in the divisions of Canberra and Eden-Monaro.

Alicia payne currently holds 44.65 per cent of the vote, Greens hopeful Tim Hollo holds 27.76 per cent of the vote and Liberal Candidate Slade Minson has 19.15 per cent of the vote.

Across the border in Eden-Monaro Kristy Mcbain leads Liberal candidate Jerry Nockles with a margin of 9.08

James Holgate: small parties could be the difference between winning and loosing.

Voters and volunteers braved brisk morning weather to cast their votes in Queanbeyan.

At the Queanbeyan Masonic Hall, Sustainable Australia Party candidate James Holgate was handing out fliers.

Mr Holgate said people voting for small parties such as the Sustainable Australia Party could give a ‘very strong message“

‘In a marginal seat it could be the difference between winning and loosing, “ Mr Holgate said.

Kristy McBain: “Today’s the day to change the government

Labor volunteers could not contain their excitement when Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain arrived to vote.

Ms McBain, the former Bega Valley Shire mayor who was elected during the 2020 Eden-Monaro By-election said she was hopeful that she would retain her seat.

“Everyone is well and truly done with this campaign and today‘s the day to hopefully change the government,” she said.

Zed Seselja: “We’ll be fighting for every last vote”

At the Gordon Primary School polling place in Canberra’s far south ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja and independent senate hopeful David Pocock were out and about speaking with voters.

Mr Seselja said the election race would be tight due to the influx of Climate 200 backed independents.

“We’re aware it’s a pretty tight battle for this senate race so we’ll be fighting for every last vote,” he said.

Mr Seselja said he was “hopeful” that he would retain his senate seat but said he was not going to make any predictions on the outcome.

“We know that it's tight,” he said.

“When you spend, god knows, $1.5m to $2m on the independent race you’re going to swing some votes, that’s what we’ve seen (from) the Climate 200 backed green independents.

“Don’t risk a Labor-Greens-Independent alliance.

“We've delivered a strong economy, strong national security … the Labor Party, Greens and green independents will put all of that at risk.”

David Pocock: ‘We’ve built a lot of momentum’

Mr Pocock told NewsLocal he was feeling great this election day following promising results in the pre poll.

“We’ve run a good campaign, we’ve built a lot of momentum and people are realising that we can actually have an independent voice in the senate,” he said.

When asked if he’d run again if unsuccessful, Mr Pocock said he and his team would “give it our all” on election day and see what happened.

“This is our best chance to have an independent voice in the senate who will stand up for the ACT,” he said.

Lord Joseph, the crier of Canberra and Queanbeyan

There was a strong community vibe at Gordon Primary School in Canberra with Lord Joseph, the crier of Canberra and Queanbeyan, making an appearance at the school.

“My lords, my ladies and gentleman,” Lord Joseph cried as he rang his bell.

I want to draw your attention to the sausage sizzle over here – you can get free democracy sausages upon the payment of $3.

“Wonderful bargain.”

Gordon Primary School P & C able to fundraise at last

The school’s sausage sizzle and bake sale was a labour of love organised by the Gordon Primary School P & C.

P & C president Sarah Everingham said the bake sale and sausage sizzle was vital for the school community to raise funds.

“Over the last two years with Covid-19 we haven’t been able to fundraise much,” she said.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to get out into the community and fundraise.”

Ms Everingham said she hopes to see a change this election.

The P & C was accompanied by an eager helper, nine-year-old Gordon Primary Student Rylea, who had a chance to serve Mr Pocock a democracy sausage.

Alicia Payne: ‘I never take anything for granted’

Lyneham Primary School was packed to the rafters with voters in sunny Canberra.

Labor MP Alicia Payne was spotted with a plate of democracy sausage cupcakes, bought from Lyneham P & C‘s bake sale.

“I’m really pleased that polling day is finally here,” Ms Payne said

“I’m really hoping the people of Canberra put their trust in me to keep standing up for the issues that matter to them, and really hope that we choose an Albanese Labor government today.”

When asked if she felt hopeful about retaining the safe Labor seat Ms Payne said she “never takes anything for granted”.

“There’s always a nervous energy around these things and I’m looking forward to seeing the results tonight,” she said.

Katy Gallagher: “It’s in the people of Canberra’s hands now”

ACT Labor Senator Katy Gallagher was also spotted outside Lyneham Primary School and was candid about how she was feeling.

“(I’m feeling) tired, nervous, stressed, all of those things … it’s the end of a hard campaign, and three years of hard work,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Hopefully it will be a good night tonight for Labor.”

When asked if she was hopeful about retaining her senate seat Ms Gallagher said she was working hard but it was “in the people of Canberra’s hands now.”

“They’ve been voting in the pre poll, they’ll vote today and hopefully we’ll get a bit of an idea tonight.”

Outside of politics, during the campaign Ms Gallagher recently had a skin cancer removed from her nose.

“It was an unexpected thing thrown into the campaign,” she said.

“But two weeks it’s not looking too bad, you can hide it with a bit of makeup.”

Tim Hollo: “The Greens can win this seat”

ACT Greens candidates also made an appearance at Lyneham Primary School in Canberra‘s inner north.

Greens candidate for Canberra Tim Hollo rode his bike to the polling place and said despite the staunch support for Labor in the seat he the greens could get into the race.

“If the Greens get that bit ahead of the Liberals (the division of Canberra) will become quite a marginal Labor-Greens seat,” he said.

“With a 6 per cent swing the greens can win this seat.”

Mr Hollo said undecided voters should “have a good think about the future you want to have for yourself, your family and your children”.

“We have very little time to deal with the climate crisis and in order to deal with it we need to shake up politics,” he said.

“Both of the major parties are still taking large sums of money from the coal and gas industry

“Until we get that money out of politics we won‘t get the actions we need on climate.”

Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng: “Vote for the best representative for you”

Greens senate candidate Tjanara Goreng Goreng gave voters a simple message

“Vote for who you think is the best representative for you,” Dr Goreng Goreng said.

“The one with the most integrity, the person you can trust to be there for you.

“(The candidate) who‘s not just here because they want to be a politician, but here for the grassroots community.

“I think that‘s me.”

Kim Rubenstein: democratic privilege carries responsibility

Independent senate candidate Kim Rubenstein campaigned all day at Red Hill Primary in Canberra‘s inner south.

“It’s been an absolutely glorious day in h the real privilege we have to vote,” Professor Rubenstein said.

“I actually had someone get quite emotional saying to me that she felt so moved coming to vote.

“I think a lot of Australians don’t ground themselves in that reality- we are so privileged here but that privilege also carries a responsibility.”

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Originally published as Australia Votes: Labor retains Canberra, Bean, Fenner

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/national/federal-election/act-votes-everything-canberrans-need-to-know-this-election-day/news-story/9b02c7606fb1201cffa0aa8e5f2132f0