FORMER Wallaby and independent David Pocock has defeated Liberal Zed Seselja in taking the ACT’s second seat in the Senate.
The Australian Electoral Commision announced Mr Pocock’s victory this morning (June 14). The final result saw Mr Pocock receive 21.18 per cent of primary votes and successfully attain a quota at the distribution of preferences.
He will sit alongside Labor’s Katy Gallagher as one of two senators representing the ACT.
“For the first time, we have an independent voice representing the ACT in federal parliament,” said Mr Pocock.
“Our campaign aimed to make politics about people. We built a policy platform off the back of thousands of conversations about the things that matter.”
Mr Pocock congratulated Ms Gallagher on her re-election and acknowledged the work of Mr Seselja over his nine years as Senator.
“Today, the extraordinary movement of people we brought together across the ACT made history,” he said.
“Thank you to everyone who put their trust in me to represent you. It is an incredible honour to be able to serve a community I love.”
Mr Seselja conceded defeat and congratulated Mr Pocock on his election this morning.
His loss means Canberra will not have any Liberal representation in the federal parliament for the first time since the introduction of ACT Senate representation in 1975.
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