Teal independent Nicolette Boele has won the final seat to be called in the federal election, edging out Gisele Kapterian to claim Bradfield by just 26 votes following a recount.
However, the result could yet be challenged in court, with the defeated Liberal candidate saying she will review the count.
Kapterian was initially declared to have won the seat in one of the tightest races in Australian political history, finishing the first full count ahead by eight votes.
However, the AEC conducted a full recount and this afternoon declared Boele was the actual winner.
Boele, who unsuccessfully ran for Bradfield in 2022 against then-MP Paul Fletcher, will now become the first non-Liberal MP to represent the northern Sydney seat in its 75-year history.
But Kapterian, who was chosen to contest the seat after Fletcher announced his retirement late last year, didn’t rule out challenging the result in the Court of Disputed Returns.
“This recount has created a different result – while I was ahead at the conclusion of the original count, Ms Boele is now ahead after this recount,” Kapterian said in a statement.
“I will now carefully review the two counts.”
If it stands, the result will be a major blow for the Liberal Party and new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
Kapterian had taken part in the party room meeting in which Ley was chosen to succeed former Liberal leader Peter Dutton, and was even promoted straight to the shadow ministry last week.
The Bradfield result not only leaves Ley needing to find a new shadow assistant minister for technology and the digital economy, but also could weaken her hold on the Liberal leadership.
She won the ballot against former shadow treasurer Angus Taylor by only four votes, however two of her supporters – Holly Hughes and Linda Reynolds – will be out of parliament when the new Senate terms begin next month.
With the moderate Kapterian now also out of the party room, it leaves Ley likely only with a one-vote buffer, leaving her vulnerable to any potential leadership challenges in the future.
Boele said she was honoured to have been elected.
“After 75 years, Bradfield’s long-standing hold by one party has changed,” she said.
“We have chosen a new path – one that puts people above parties.”
She also acknowledged Kapterian ”for the civility she’s shown as a candidate during this close contest”.
With Bradfield changing hands, the final make-up of the House of Representatives will see Labor hold an equal-record majority of 94 seats, with the Liberal-National Coalition reduced to just 43.
Boele will be one of ten independents sitting on the crossbench alongside Bob Katter, Rebekha Sharkie and the lone Greens MP, Elizabeth Watson-Brown.
