ACT election: Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr claims victory, says Canberra has voted for light rail

Updated

ACT Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr has claimed victory in the territory election and said Canberra had voted to build light rail in the national capital.

ABC election analyst Antony Green said the most likely outcome would see Labor receive the support of the ACT Greens to form government, but attaining a majority in its own right was a slim possibility.

Claiming victory, Mr Barr spoke to a rapturous Labor crowd, amid chants of "four more years", and "build the tram".

"We're not going to know the final outcome of the election tonight, but what we do know is that Canberrans have voted for another Labor government," he said.

Mr Barr wasted no time in claiming a mandate to build light rail, which became the single largest issue of the campaign.

"Canberrans have voted for a positive vision for our city," he said.

"Tonight we can confidently say that Canberra has voted for light rail."

Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson concedes defeat

About three and a half hours after the polls closed in Canberra, Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson addressed his party headquarters, conceding it would be "difficult for the Liberals to form government".

"It is the case that it is very difficult for us to form government and we have to acknowledge that from here it is unlikely that we will do so," he said.

"I have spoken to Chief Minister Andrew Barr and I have congratulated him, because it is likely now that there will be a continuation of a Labor-Greens coalition in Canberra."

Mr Hanson praised his deputy Alistair Coe, who had prosecuted the case against light rail as the party's transport spokesman.

"He made the case exceptionally well — but perhaps not well enough in terms of the result tonight — but I do thank you for your support my friend," he said.

"Not all of the candidates will be joining us in the Assembly, a number will be. It's yet to be determined who they will be, but I congratulate all of you."

Question remains whether Labor will rule as majority

Green said a low Liberal vote in Kurrajong "potentially brings in Labor for a third seat".

But he said it seemed more likely that ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury would be required to provide the thirteenth seat, guaranteeing a Labor-Greens coalition.

Labor has held government in the ACT over four successive terms since 2001 and Mr Barr has ruled since late 2014.

Mr Rattenbury indicated he was happy to work with a future Labor Government on issues he took to the election.

"We are a party of the community, it's in our DNA," he said.

"And all of the things that people have told us through the course of this election campaign will be what motivates us over the next four years.

Mr Barr, his opponent, Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson, and ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury have all been returned, as have Labor MLA Meegan Fitzharris and Deputy Liberal Leader Alistair Coe.

Topics: elections, canberra-2600, act

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