Clive's seat result may still be weeks away

THE recount in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax, contested by businessman Clive Palmer, may not be finalised for weeks.

THE recount in the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax, contested by businessman Clive Palmer, may not be finalised for weeks, with more than 40,000 of the votes now being challenged.

Mr Palmer said yesterday he believed the Australian Electoral Commission would "rig" the recount and deliver victory to his Liberal National Party opponent, and his scrutineers have continued to challenge more than half the votes that have been counted.

Last night, the AEC confirmed that more than 40,000 of the 74,000 recounted votes had been challenged, mostly by scrutineers from the Palmer United Party.

The challenges have delayed the outcome of the vote. Counting will continue over the weekend and at least into next week.

"While the AEC is not forecasting a precise date for completion of the count, it is mindful of the provision in regard to the return of the writ by November 13," an AEC spokesman said last night.

Mr Palmer said yesterday he was "odds-on" to lose the contest against the LNP's Ted O'Brien, despite finishing ahead in two previous counts. "I think in the end Ted O'Brien will win because the AEC will put him there," he said.

"I've got great confidence in the AEC to rig the result."

Mr Palmer originally finished with 36 more votes than Mr O'Brien. His lead was whittled down to seven votes after a full redistribution of preferences.

Mr Palmer said the situation was ridiculous. "Both times I've won and now they are sending the ballots down to Brisbane to have a different AEC officer do a different determination on them, which is quite amazing," he said.

He is also frustrated by the AEC's decision to conduct a Senate recount, which has put his West Australian candidate, Zhenya Wang, at risk of losing his spot in the upper house.

It was "disturbing" the Electoral Commissioner had overruled a local officer's refusal of a recount, and ordered a recount of the state's 1.25 million above-the-line ballots.

Comment has been sought from the AEC.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP