Deakin stays with Liberal Michael Sukkar
It was a safe Liberal seat that could have ended up in Labor hands, but Liberal Michael Sukkar has held on to Deakin in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Federal Election
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Liberal Michael Sukkar has claimed victory in the eastern suburbs battleground seat of Deakin tonight.
Mr Sukkar had a 6.5 per cent margin prior to today’s election and was eyeing a third term in federal parliament.
As of 10pm, Labor challenger Shireen Morris had secured 35.3 per cent to Mr Sukkar’s 45.3 per cent with the Liberal party ahead on 53.2 per cent two-party preferred.
Just under half of the vote has been counted in the electorate.
A Herald Sun YouGov Galaxy poll earlier in the week predicted a 5.4 per cent swing to Labor.
Mr Sukkar arrived to cheers from about 200 supporters at Maroondah Federation Estate in Ringwood at 9pm.
He thanked his campaign team and family, particularly wife Anna, who gave birth to his second son Nathan just a week before the election was called.
“On nights like tonight we have to pat ourselves on the back after a long campaign, but we have to remember we have been entrusted by those men and women to serve in our area to for three more years, and its service to them that I will be focused on from tonight onwards.
“Tonight, we’re going to let our hair down a bit, but after tonight, we’re back at work, working for the residents of Deakin and the people of Australia.”
Mr Sukkar said he was feeling “optimistic but certainly not complacent” before polls closed.
His campaign focused largely on infrastructure pledges to tackle one of the area’s key issues of transport, with promises for road upgrades and train station carparks.
Ms Morris was aiming to be only the third Labor MP and the first woman from either party elected in Deakin’s 82-year history.
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She said she was feeling tense and waiting for results to come in from five major booths.
Ms Morris said she offered “a very clear alternative” during her campaign with pledges for projects on health, the environment and the arts.
“We’ve got an amazing team, we ran a positive, factual campaign and I’m very proud of the way we’ve done this,” Ms Morris said.
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