Keay out to repay Braddon support

LABOR’S Justine Keay has been officially declared winner of the Braddon by-election and will take her seat in federal Parliament on August 15.

Ms Keay’s resignation over her dual citizenship sparked the by-election in Tasmania’s North-West, but she secured a return victory after 11 weeks of an at times, bitter campaign.

Ms Keay said the attention paid to Braddon during the campaign was unprecedented.

“I hope we never have a byelection again,” she said.

“There were a lot of resources thrown at Braddon which was one of just five of Australia’s 150 electorates under the spotlight.

“Today is where the next part of my job begins – to get back out there and listen to the people of Braddon in the leadup to the next general election.”

Ms Keay won the seat at the 2016 Federal election from Liberal incumbent Brett Whiteley, but was forced to resign in May 2018.

On a two-party preferred basis, Ms Keay secured 32,317 votes in the by-election compared with Liberal Brett Whiteley’s 29,310.

Australian Electoral Commission returning officer for Braddon, Claire Wickham, said 1979 votes were still not counted, but they would not change the election result.

She congratulated the eight candidates who stood, saying it took “guts” to stand up and be scrutinised by the public.

The votes tally to late yesterday was Ms Keay 22,848 primary votes, Brett Whiteley (24,115), independent Craig Garland (6542), Greens Jarrod Edwards (2444), Shooters, Fishers and Farmers’ Party Brett Neal (2946), independent Donna Gibbons (1512), Liberal Democrat Joshua Boag (807) and Bruno Strangio from the People’s Party (413).