Teal MP demands recount in seat of Goldstein as she trails Liberal candidate Tim Wilson
Teal MP Zoe Daniel is demanding a recount in Goldstein — where she trails Liberal candidate Tim Wilson — citing the tight margin and “several errors” in the count.
Victoria
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Teal MP Zoe Daniel is demanding a recount in the seat of Goldstein, where she is trailing the Liberal candidate Tim Wilson by 260 votes.
Ms Daniel on Saturday confirmed she would make a submission to the Australian Electoral Commission in light of the “very tight margin and several errors” being picked up during the distribution of preferences.
She said this was “leading to unusual fluctuations and large numbers of votes moving to and fro in the final stages of the count”.
“I have taken expert advice and asked the AEC to consider whether a full recount is appropriate,” Ms Daniel said.
“There are also several outstanding questions regarding the broader count which would be resolved by a recount.
“As always I will respect the process and await the Commission’s decision.”
Ms Daniel’s move comes three weeks after the election and follows her opponent, Liberal candidate Tim Wilson, twice claiming victory.
Ms Daniel also claimed victory prematurely on the night of the May 3 election due to the early count leaning in her favour.
But a surge in postal votes coming in over the following days swung the pendulum back in the Liberals favour, with the seat predicted as a win for Mr Wilson on May 7.
Mr Wilson was quick to point out that he has “continually had a majority of votes for nearly three weeks” and it had never fallen below 100 votes which was the threshold for an automatic recount.
“The votes have now been counted at least four times and Liberal and Teal volunteers have scrutineered the count,” he wrote on X.
“Yet the former MP has argued the threshold for an automatic recount should be 140. We have nearly doubled that with a margin of 260.
“And now the former MP is asking for a full recount. At some point we should respect the professional staff at the AEC. I wish Zoe Daniel, her family & staff well in the next chapter. I hope she finds peace.”