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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Lucy Bladen

Nuttall in with a chance of securing fifth Brindabella seat

The ACT Greens are in with a chance of picking up the fifth seat in Brindabella with incumbent MLA Laura Nuttall picking up pace as preference flows are counted.

The 24-year-old has re-entered the race for the seat with one election expert saying she appeared best placed to win based on the preference count on Monday.

Ms Nuttall replaced former MLA Johnathan Davis after he resigned last year following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Many thought it would be difficult for the Greens to win back this seat.

The party did experience a 1.7 per cent swing against them but Ms Nuttall has received more first preference votes than Mr Davis did in 2020.

She received 3080 votes, or 5.7 per cent of total primary votes. Mr Davis received 3019 votes, or 5.4 per cent.

Ms Nuttall said she was encouraged by the results coming in.

"I'm grateful for the support I've received and remain hopeful about the path ahead as we continue counting the votes," she said.

Greens member for Brindabella Laura Nuttall. Picture by Karleen Minney

"No matter the result, I am immensely proud of the campaign we've run in Tuggeranong to make it a fairer place to live.

"If I'm fortunate enough to be re-elected, I will remain dedicated to serving the people of Tuggeranong, ensuring they have a strong advocate for them in the ACT Legislative Assembly."

If Ms Nuttall is re-elected she would be only one of two MLAs to retain their seat in Brindabella and she would knock out Police Minister Mick Gentleman.

Labor was still holding out hopes Mr Gentleman would be re-elected but Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he would be the underdog. Labor candidates Caitlin Tough and Taimus Werner-Gibbings have been elected.

Based on the first votes counted, it was widely tipped the Liberals would pick up the third seat in the electorate.

The Liberals picked up 43 per cent of the primary vote and had a 4.6 per cent swing towards them. If the Liberals do manage to nab the third seat it would be held by James Daniels.

Polling analyst Kevin Bonham said the Liberals results had been hampered by votes on the day. He said the Greens appeared best placed on Monday based on preference flows.

"On raw party totals it may look like this is an easy Liberal win barring very strong preference flows to the Greens but Hare-Clark is about candidates and not just parties," he wrote.

ABC election analyst Antony Green said Mr Daniels was still in front. He said the result would depend on whether Ms Nuttall or Mr Gentleman were knocked out first in the preference count.

"We've got a preference count for nearly half the votes and that shows the Liberals winning the last seat," he told ABC Radio.

If Mr Daniels is not elected, sources say Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee would lose a potential ally if she decides to contest a leadership spill. Mr Daniels is a moderate and would likely back Ms Lee.

Former Canberra Liberals leader Jeremy Hanson has confirmed he will seek the leadership when the position is spilled at the first party room meeting after the election.

Liberal MLA Mark Parton was comfortably re-elected and will sit alongside Deborah Morris.

Labor member for Brindabella Joy Burch did not re-contest the seat and neither did the Liberals' Nicole Lawder.

The Greens lost two seats with ministers Emma Davidson and Rebecca Vassarotti failing to be re-elected.

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