The AEC has today distributed preferences and determined that Independent David Pocock has been elected to one of the two Senate seats for the ACT.
The final result saw Senator-elect Pocock attain 21.18% of primary votes and successfully attained a quota at the distribution of preferences today. This is the first time an Independent candidate has ever won a senate seat in either the ACT or NT.
Senator-elect Pocock thanked the community for their overwhelming support.
“Today, the extraordinary movement of people we brought together across the ACT made history,” Senator-elect Pocock said.
“For the first time, we have an independent voice representing our community in the federal parliament.
“I congratulate Senator Katy Gallagher on her re-election, and subsequent ministerial appointments, and look forward to working collaboratively in service to the people we have been elected to represent.
“I also acknowledge the work of outgoing ACT Senator Seselja after 9 years representing us and wish him and his family all the best.
“Thank you to everyone who put their trust in me to represent you. It is an incredible honour to be able to serve a community I love.
“Our campaign aimed to make politics about people. We built a policy platform off the back of thousands of conversations about the things that matter.
“We kept it positive. We talked about the issues and the ideas for the future we want and It clearly resonated.
“I am committed to being accessible and accountable to Canberrans. I’d love you to come to my first quarterly town hall on 20 July to continue the conversation.
“Thank you to the more than 2200 Team Pocock volunteers. And thank you to the entire ACT community.
“You have helped create something special here in the ACT. You have shown what democracy can be.
“And this is hopefully just the beginning.”
The AEC will officially declare the result tomorrow at Hub Civic Quarter, Ground Floor, 68 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT.