Independent Zoe Daniel has lost the seat of Goldstein to Liberal candidate Tim Wilson after an extremely tight race for the Melbourne electorate.
On Tuesday evening, the ABC projected that Wilson would win the seat. The call comes after postal and pre-poll votes, which are counted last, favoured the Liberal Party candidate. Wilson, who represented Goldstein in parliament prior to the election of Daniel in 2022, will now return as an MP.
On election night, Daniel declared victory when inital figures looked promising, but clarified the next day that the numbers were too close to call. Over the coming days, her lead narrowed as Wilson received more favourable postal votes.
On social media on Tuesday evening, Daniel wrote she would continue to wait for furthing counting before conceding.
“While the media has called the result in Goldstein I will wait for further counting out of respect for my scrutineers and the democratic process. This seems sensible given the margin is in the hundreds and there are about 12 thousand remaining votes to be counted. Tomorrow is another day,” she said.
Daniel is the first “teal” indpedendent to lose a seat in federal parliament.
Throughout her time in federal parliament, Daniel was a strong advocate for climate action, integrity, and frequently called for the government to go further to stop gendered and sexual violence.
Unlike Daniel, many of the other ‘teal’ independents who swept to power in 2022 have been declared winners in their seats, including Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps, Kate Chaney. Zali Stegall was re-elected for her third term. The seat of Kooyong where Monique Ryan is in a close contest with Liberal Party Amelia Hamer, is still too close to call.