Burns leads in tight race as polls close in Macnamara

Labor’s Josh Burns has edged ahead in Macnamara on election night, as counting continues in what was one of the most unpredictable three-way battles of the federal campaign.

NCA 2025 FEDERAL ELECTION, Labor Bus. April 21, 2025. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail in Victoria. The Prime Minister is in St Kilda meeting with the team from Street Side Medics. The PM is joined by Josh Burns MP, Member for Macnamara, Daniel Nour, Founder Street Side Medics and 2022 Young Australian of the Year, Nicholas Brown, CEO Street Side Medics and Grant Fenton, Victoria Manager Street Side Medics. Picture: Mark Stewart / NewsWire

Labor’s Josh Burns has edged ahead in Macnamara on election night, as counting continues in what was one of the most unpredictable three-way battles of the federal campaign.

As of 10pm, Mr Burns was leading with 36.85 per cent of first-preference votes, gaining a 5 per cent swing. He was followed closely by Liberal candidate Benson Saulo at 29.04 per cent. Greens candidate Sonya Semmens was in third place at 28.64 per cent with minor parties and independent candidates trailing behind.

Speaking with The Australian, Mr Burns said he would wait until more votes were counted to call win.

“Looking solid but will wait for some more votes to completely call it, but pretty hard to catch us,” Mr Burns said.

The seat — once a safe Labor stronghold in Melbourne’s inner south — was thrown into turmoil by voter backlash over the Albanese government’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict and a resurgent Liberal campaign.

Mr Burns, the incumbent since 2019 and one of federal parliament’s few Jewish members, found himself squeezed between Mr Saulo’s appeal to disaffected Jewish and centrist voters, and Greens candidate Sonya Semmens’ growing support in suburbs like St Kilda and Southbank.

Labor held Macnamara — which spans South Melbourne, St Kilda, Port Melbourne, Elwood and parts of Caulfield — with a 12.2 per cent margin over the Liberals in 2022. But the Albanese government’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict has sparked a backlash in key parts of the electorate, particularly among Jewish voters.

Speaking at Caulfield Indonesian Uniting Church shortly before results began trickling in, Mr Saulo said he felt a “positive momentum” after a year of campaigning across the electorate.

“To flip a seat and turn it blue for the first time, it doesn’t happen overnight,” Mr Saulo said. “It happens with a lot of dedication… and support from people doing it tough.”

If successful, Mr Saulo would become the first Indigenous MP to win the seat for the Liberal Party. He has campaigned on themes of social cohesion, economic resilience and public safety — while directly appealing to Jewish voters who feel betrayed by Labor’s shift in Middle East policy.

Mr Burns was approached for comment but did not respond by deadline.

Liberal MP for Caulfield David Southwick described Mr Saulo as the “real winner” of the campaign, regardless of the result.

“We’ve seen an unprecedented number of young people come out to support Benson,” Mr Southwick said.

“They’re getting involved in politics for the first time because they feel Labor turned their back on the Jewish community when it mattered most.”

The Greens’ Sonya Semmens is also in contention, aiming to capitalise on a growing progressive vote in gentrifying suburbs like St Kilda, Southbank and Elwood. The result is expected to come down to preferences — and may not be known for days.