Swing to Liberals as Greens lose favour

Updated

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Swing to ACT Liberals but result unclear (ABC News)

The counting of votes will resume for the ACT election later today, after an inconclusive result last night.

Despite about 70 per cent of the votes having been counted, the parties went home without knowing who will be governing the ACT into the next term.

So far ACT Labor has secured seven seats, the Liberals seven and the ACT Greens one.

Take a look back at our blog to see how the count unfolded.

Having rejected this alliance, ladies and gentlemen, it would be a rejection of the verdict of the people if the Labor Party and the Greens were to now forge a closer alliance. Zed Seselja

ABC election analyst Antony Green is predicting the final result will be Liberals eight, Labor seven and the Greens two.

With more than 73 per cent of the vote counted, Labor is currently ahead on primary votes with 39.1 per cent, a positive swing of 1.7 per cent.

The Liberals have 38 per cent of the vote, a strong swing of 6.4 per cent.

It has been a bad night for the Greens with a swing against the party of 4.6 per cent.

Despite the strong Liberal result, Green is still predicting Labor will govern with support from the Greens.

That has not dampened Canberra Liberals' celebrations though, with leader Zed Seselja still talking up his chances of forming a minority government.

"It is the biggest ever overall vote for the Liberal Party, " Mr Seselja said.

Mr Seselja says the Liberals have the most seats and the onus is now on the Greens to negotiate.

But he says he will not be inviting a Greens MLA into his cabinet.

"The result is a rejection of the Labor-Greens alliance. Having rejected this alliance, it would be a rejection of the verdict of the people if the Labor Party and the Greens were now to forge a closer alliance," he said.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher thanked her supporters but warns it is still too early to celebrate.

"We have held all of our seats. We have increased our vote and we are the party with the most votes. We have seen a win to an incumbent Labor government," she said.

There's much more to do and we enter that time with a preparedness to talk and a preparedness to negotiate. Katy Gallagher

"But tonight is not the night for victory speeches. The final count won't be known for some time."

Ms Gallagher used the speech to criticise the Liberals' claims that household rates would triple under ALP.

"The Labor Party that I lead will never campaign on a lie, we will never, ever run a campaign on a scare campaign," she said.

"We campaign with honesty and integrity and a vision of what we would like Canberra to be."

Uncertain future

The future is uncertain for Attorney-General Simon Corbell, who may be pipped at the post by running mate Megan Fitzharris.

In Brindabella, Mick Gentleman looks set to fill the seat of retiring MLA John Hargreave.

Mr Gentleman is no stranger to the Legislative Assembly, having served as an MLA from 2004 to 2008.

At this stage, the Greens have secured only one seat in Molonglo, and it is a tight race race between sitting MLAs Shane Rattenbury and Caroline Le Couteur.

In Brindabella the future is uncertain for MLA Amanda Bresnan. Her party has secured only half a quota and the Liberals may take the seat.

It is likely Greens Leader Meredith Hunter will retain her seat in Ginninderra, but her party has secured only 0.6 of a quota.

There's no doubt that the fear campaign has cut through, I don't think it's cut through to the extent they were hoping it to cut through but nevertheless it has had an impact. Simon Corbell

That leaves Australian Motorist Party candidate Chic Henry close behind with nearly 7 per cent of the vote.

Despite the loss, Ms Hunter says she is proud of her party's campaign and the role the party has played in the Legislative Assembly.

"What we have done in the last four years with this wonderful team is to show that the Greens have the new ideas," she said.

"They are able to sit at a negotiating table, they are able to get great benefits for the people of Canberra."

Some of the smaller parties were also hit hit in the swing back to the Liberals and Labor.

The Australian Motorists Party and Marion Le's Social Justice Party did not poll as well as expected.

Mr Henry described his campaign with the Motorists Party as a learning experience.

"I would think about running again. The experience that I've gained, the knowledge from people that I've associated with around town, what I thought I could bring to the table before, I think I can bring more to the table now," he said.

Ms Le says her supporters will keep up the pressure on the ACT and Federal Government over refugee and social issues.

Topics: elections, states-and-territories, political-parties, act, australia

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