Former rugby union star David Pocock has made history, becoming the first independent senator for a territory.
This morning, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirmed he had unseated former ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja, taking the territory's second Senate seat alongside Labor's Katy Gallagher.
Mr Pocock, a conservationist and former Wallabies captain, had been predicted to take the seat since the night of the federal election, but he had not officially declared victory, nor had Mr Seselja declared defeat.
Since the ACT and Northern Territory first elected senators in 1975, every election has produced the same pairing — one Labor senator and one Liberal senator in each jurisdiction — until this year.
Senator Pocock is the first territory senator not from one of the two major parties.
When announcing his candidacy, he said the choice to run as an independent, rather than join an established party, was an easy one, hinging his campaign on person-led politics intended to support Canberrans over political parties.
A focus on climate action and territory rights
Before joining politics, Senator Pocock was a professional football player for 15 years, playing for the Brumbies and Western Force in the Super Rugby from 2006 to 2019, and also representing Australia with the Wallabies.
He also has a long history of environmental activism, including being arrested in 2014 for chaining himself to a digger in protest of a coal mine in New South Wales.
During the election campaign, those views resulted in Senator Pocock being targeted by conservative lobby group Advance Australia in false election placards, depicting him as a Greens candidate, and a phone message, which were both criticised by the AEC.
Despite the backlash from conservative groups during the campaign, Senator Pocock said, now that he was elected, an orderly transition to renewable power was among his top priorities.
"The thing that's been used about me is being an 'extreme green' when it comes to things like climate, but the reality is that the economics have shifted, and there's been a huge societal shift," he told ABC Radio Canberra.
"What we're seeing now with energy prices is the result of a decade or two of denial and delay and the politicisation of the transition to renewables.
In addition to climate action, Senator Pocock also campaigned on territory rights, which would allow the ACT to debate and legislate voluntary assisted dying.
"It makes absolutely no sense that the ACT and the NT don't have the same rights as people living in states when it comes to legislating on these issues," he said.
Putting community issues over 'factional fights'
Speaking about his election, Senator Pocock said it was a "huge honour" and something he was very excited about.
"I was blown away by the support from people in Canberra across the political spectrum," he said.
"[There is a] push to do politics differently, and do it better, and have an independent voice for the ACT for the first time in federal parliament."
Senator Pocock credited his election to Canberrans' desire to have a voice separate from traditional party politics.
"There's a real recognition that you can actually have independents in there who don't have to toe the party line.
"They don't have to get caught up in factional fights, they can go in and represent their community on issues that matter to us. And that's my commitment to the people in the ACT."
In the lead-up to the election, Senator Pocock's popularity was such that there was concern over Senator Gallagher's ability to retain her seat.
But, having won her seat once more and since the announcement of Senator Pocock's win, Senator Gallagher said she believed the result was indicative of a positive change in Australian politics.
"I think there was a clear vote from Canberrans that they wanted people to represent them, who shared their values," she said.
Seselja congratulates Pocock, vows Liberals will be back in the ACT
Just after the AEC confirmed Senator Pocock's election, Mr Seselja issued a statement, saying it was an "immense honour" to serve the people of the ACT for the past nine years.
"I am grateful to the women and men of the ACT for giving me the honour to be their senator for three terms," he said.
"I extend my congratulations to Katy Gallagher and David Pocock on the honour of being elected to represent the ACT in the Australian Senate, and to Senator Gallagher on her appointment as Australia's Finance Minister.
Mr Seselja said for Liberal supporters, the election of a federal Labor government and the loss of an ACT Liberal Senate seat was "a bitter blow", but he said it did not mark the end of the party's presence in the territory.
"People will write off the Liberal Party as they did in 2007, but we will be back, here in the ACT and nationally," he said.
"I thank sincerely those who have supported the Liberal Party and myself during my time in political life... While it is difficult now I'm convinced that better times lie ahead.
"Finally, I thank my family. They are the most important people in my life and I'm pleased that as we end our journey in politics our adventure together as a family will continue. I look forward to continuing to find new ways to serve my community and support those closest to me."
