Broadbent: most difficult election yet
Last month’s federal election that saw veteran Liberal Russell Broadbent re-elected for his seventh consecutive term was “the most difficult election.”
Mr Broadbent was officially declared Member for Monash at the Australian Electoral Commission poll declaration on Friday afternoon.
Final two candidate preferred vote counts showed Mr Broadbent with 51,156 votes and the ALP’s Jessica O’Donnell with 45,556.
Mr Broadbent’s safe 6.9 per cent hold on the seat has been reduced to a 2.9 per cent margin, making Monash the most marginal it has been in years.
Mr Broadbent said the Kevin ‘07 campaign had been very strong but “this was the most difficult election.”
“Not only did we not have any friendlies but the opposition had so much momentum.
“My team stuck to their guns. Yes I was extremely worried. We knew it would be difficult and we knew it a long way out.
“It’s been an amazing ride. I am absolutely humbled to be the Member for Monash.
“Now we go into the back bench opposition. We’ve done it before and we will do it again for the people,” he said.
Mr Broadbent said he could guarantee in the election campaign, everyone had a fair go.
“We are all here for the Australian people and the democratic process we adhere to. We will be working very hard for the people of Monash to ensure their voice in parliament will be heard,” he said.
Mr Broadbent received almost 38 per cent of the primary vote with 36,546 votes, representing an eight per cent swing against him at the ballot box. The ALP was hit with a 4.3 per cent swing against the party, with Ms O’Donnell receiving 25.6 per cent of the primary vote with 24,759 votes.
The third party challenge trend that emerged in results across Australia on election night was evident in Monash where the minor parties increased their primary votes in Monash.
Independent candidate Deb Leonard recorded just under 11 per cent of the primary vote with 10,372 votes.
The Greens’ Mat Morgan increased the party’s primary vote by 2.69 per cent, achieving almost 10 per cent of the votes with 9533 votes. One Nation candidate Allan Hicken recorded 7.5 per cent with 7289 primary votes.
Other candidates included United Australia Party’s Christine McShane - 3991 votes, 4.1 per cent; Liberal Democrats candidate Meg Edwards - 3548 votes, 3.6 per cent; and Australian Federation Party’s David Welsh - 674 votes, 0.7 per cent.
AEC divisional returning officer for Monash Darren McNair said it had been a very trying election for a number of reasons.
“We had to go through a full distribution of preferences,” he said, with votes being counted three times in this election, as was the case in many electorates across Australia.
Mr Broadbent said the vote counting process was a thorough process that was virtually a double count from the booths to the electoral office. “I have great faith in the count,” he said.