news, federal-politics,

Canberra voters have again voted overwhelmingly for the Labor party in the lower house, delivering three seats to the party that has a happy hunting ground in the ACT. Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh's margin in Fenner was mainly unchanged, which after a redistribution covered Gungahlin and Belconnen. In a room that was coming to terms with an unexpected loss, Dr Leigh said the result didn't change what the party stood for. "Nothing changes the fact that over the last six years, Labor has moved to be the central driver of ideas. Nothing beats driving these ideas through from government. But even from opposition, we have shaped debates across the board to change the way the country thinks about tax loopholes, changed the way it thinks about multinationals" "We have never had values crystallised as strongly as in this election with these ideas." "We're not going to become a narrower party of haters and black roadside signs and lies and fear and smear. That's not us. That will never be us." As expected, Alicia Payne has held Canberra for the Labor party, and despite a push from the Greens, managed to increase Labor's margin on a two party preferred basis. The Greens increased their primary vote by 4 per cent while the Liberals lost 5 per cent. Ms Payne said she was thrilled to represent Canberra in parliament. "I'm very honoured that the people of Canberra put their trust in me, and looking forward to getting to work standing up for them and continuing the conversation on very important issues they've raised with me over the last few months," she said. "This is the city I grew up in, and I love, and I love our progressive caring community, and I look forward to standing up for the issues that they've raised with me and continuing to have a close conversation. I really want to be always talking with the people of Canberra and listening, and standing up for them." Dave Smith has completed his move from the Senate to the lower house, becoming the first ever member for Bean. He told Labor's party faithful he had "a pretty weird last 12 months," after Katy Gallagher was found to be ineligible for the Senate. "I've had ... an amazing opportunity to be part of something that I didn't expect to be." "That was to be part of an amazing Bill Shorten-led Labor opposition party, which had an amazingly positive agenda for the country not just now, but in five years' time and in 10 years' time." Mr Smith said the party's message had been successful locally, even though it hadn't elsewhere. "What may have happened tonight ... is that some pretty cheap and nasty fear campaigns in some places have worked ... but they have not worked here."

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75ek9b6mwjq179x3o1z4.jpg/r12_283_5437_3348_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg