Tasmanian Senate spots officially locked in

Senator Jacqui Lambie has retained her seat after a close race with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate Lee Hanson.

The Australian Electoral Commission has announced that the count for the election of six senators for Tasmania was completed today.

The successful candidates are (in order of their election):

1.      BROWN, Carol – Australian Labor Party

2.      CHANDLER, Claire – Liberal

3.      McKIM, Nick – The Greens

4.      DOWLING, Richard – Australian Labor Party

5.      LAMBIE, Jacqui – Jacqui Lambie Network

6.      COLBECK, Richard Mansell – Liberal

The Australian Electoral Officer for Tasmania, Hannah Brown, said the distribution of preferences was conducted today.

“As with all aspects of the count, scrutineers appointed by the candidates were able to witness the automated distribution of preferences undertaken today.”

Meanwhile, Anne Urquhart’s replacement in the Senate, Josh Dolega, is set to have his nomination ratified by a joint sitting of both houses of the Tasmanian parliament today.

According to Labor Party insiders, he beat out Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday, Meander Valley Councillor Ben Dudman and former state secretary Stuart Benson for the spot in the Senate.

Ms Urquhart resigned as a Labor senator to instead contest the seat of Braddon in the federal lower house for the party.

She won the seat comfortably after a more than 15 per cent swing in her favour.