ACT Election 2024 Live Blog: Parton says the Liberals 'aren't out of it yet'

UPDATE 8:50 pm: Parton says the Liberals ‘aren’t out of it yet’

The Liberal vote is up 1 per cent, at this stage, but it’s not enough to win government.

The swing against Labor is 3.9 per cent but Labor appears to have leaked a lot of votes to independents, particularly IFC, and their preferences will be crucial.

Labor is confident that as booth totals come in from today its position will strengthen.

But Liberal Mark Parton remains upbeat, saying the fifth seats will go down to the wire.

“We’re not out of it yet,” he told the ABC.

With 54.7 per cent of the vote counted, Labor is polling 34 per cent, Liberals 34.9. Greens 11.7 and IFC 8.5 per cent.

UPDATE 8:26 pm: Greens lose three seats but likely still be kingmakers

The mood is upbeat at the Labor event at the Mercure Belconnen.

“We did a lot of door knocking, handing out and worked hard, it looks like it’s paid off. Looks like we’ll be in power for an Australian record, so we must be doing something right,” volunteer Aiden Hamilton said.

Yvette Berry said she was honoured to be re-elected and satisfied that the party looks as if it will retain all their seats.

The Greens are hanging on to three seats – Leader Shane Rattenbury in Kurrajong, Jo Clay in Ginninderra and Andrew Braddock in Yerrabi.

This is crucial because it means Labor with the Greens would achieve a majority and be returned to government.

But they have lost Emma Davidson in Murrumbidgee, Rebecca Vassarotti in Kurrajong and Laura Nuttall in Brindabella.

The Greens are still polling at 11.7 per cent, only down 1.8 per cent, but they have lost half their representation so far.

Senator David Pocock embraced his ACT counterpart this evening as he arrived to the group’s event at Dickson Taphouse.

Mr Pocock said the turn out is marvellous to see and shows that Canberrans are ready for more accountability to be provided in the next term of government.

The first independent senator ever elected to the Territory said he was incredibly proud of the largely self-driven efforts made by the independent candidates and its leader Thomas Emerson. He added that tonight’s already promising votes could see the ‘teal’ wave of influence continue across the country to every jurisdiction

UPDATE 8:11 pm: Independents for Canberra likely to win a seat; Mick Gentleman in for a fight

The mood is ‘jubilant’ in the Dickson Taphouse this evening where Independents for Canberra have taken up half the venue to watch the election.

Leader Thomas Emerson has been taking centre stage for the ABC’s live election coverage but has been coy about where his preferences will lie if he is called on to decide the next Chief Minister.

Ben Johnston, one of their candidates, has kindly offered his very own venue to host a crowd of about 60 supporters and observers that have swung by their local for a Saturday night schooner.

The group of independents has been ecstatic to see their votes rise throughout the early evening. ‘From little things big things grow’ is playing on the speaker outside, a motto the group here is certainly living up to.

The early swing against Labor is abating as today’s votes come in, with the gap between the two major parties narrowing to 0.6 per cent.

Labor is now polling 34.3 per cent, Liberal 34.9, the Greens 11.6 per cent and IFC 8.2 per cent.

On that basis, it is looking harder for the Liberals to win government.

At this stage, the new Assembly appears to be Labor 10, Liberals 10, Greens 3, IFC 1, and Fiona Carrick.

UPDATE 7:50 pm: In Ginninderra, Labor’s Tara Cheyne and Yvette Berry, and the Liberals’ Peter Cain look to return to the Assembly.

In Brindabella, the Liberals’ Mark Parton is polling the most, and Deborah Morris and James Daniels will be new MLAs.

Labor’s Mick Gentleman is in trouble, which means Brindabella could have two new Labor MLAs in Caitlin Tough and Taimus Werner-Gibbings.

In Kurrajong, Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee will return, as will Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, but Green Rebecca Vassarotti appears to have lost her seat.

Independents for Canberra’s Thomas Emerson is also polling strongly and looks set for a seat.

In Yerrabi, Deputy Liberal leader Leanne Castley has been returned along with James Milligan.

Labor’s Michael Petterson is also going back to the Assembly.

In Murrumbidgee, Independent Fiona Carrick appears to have broken through in her bid.

Labor’s Chris Steel and Dr Marisa Paterson are also headed back, while Liberal Jeremy Hanson will join them.

UPDATE 7:05 pm: Early counting shows swing against Labor, Greens

Early results are showing a 1.9 per cent swing to the Canberra Liberals, with Labor suffering a 3.6 per cent loss overall and the Green vote down 2.4 per cent.

The Liberals have 35.7 per cent of the vote, Labor 34.6 per cent and the Greens 11.1 per cent. Independents for Canberra have so far garnered 8.2 per cent. Independent Fiona Carrick in Murrumbidgee is poling 12.4 per cent.

The most significant swing to the Liberals is occurring in Brindabella at 7.8 per cent, but it is much tighter elsewhere.

At this stage nine Labor, eight Canberra Liberals and one Green have been called across the ACT.

UPDATE 6:41 pm: Count begins in close ACT election

Polls have closed across the ACT and counting has begun to decide who will govern the Territory for the next four years.

About half the electorate had already voted before today and this means an early large dump of data should provide a good indication of where the night is headed.

However, the large number of independents will complicate the count, and some of the fifth seats in each electorate, in particular, may not be decided tonight.

The Canberra Liberals are confident that the hiccups in the campaign, especially Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee’s now notorious finger, will not deter voters from embracing their large program.

But Labor believes they can defend their 10 seats and are even eyeing seats in Ginninderra and Brindabella.

The Greens may be struggling to retain their record six seats but hope their ambitious platform will keep them as a force in the Legislative Assembly.

But independents, particularly the Independents for Canberra movement, are the wild card and could end up being kingmakers.

No one knows where their preferences will flow and who successful candidates will support from the cross benches.

More to come.