Bendigo West vote count close

By Lauren Henry
Updated November 7 2012 - 4:10am, first published November 30 2010 - 9:57am
Returned Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan, left, with Maree Edwards, awaiting the result of the poll in Bendigo West.
Returned Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan, left, with Maree Edwards, awaiting the result of the poll in Bendigo West.

PREFERENCES could decide who wins the state seat of Bendigo West.Although Labor candidate Maree Edwards claimed victory on Saturday night, pre-poll and postal votes indicate the Nationals candidate Steven Oliver is gaining ground.Labor scrutineers yesterday watched over counting of the Bendigo West votes, at the Victorian Electoral Commission in Bendigo.Latest results show Ms Edwards had 13,353 first-preference votes, ahead of Mr Oliver on 7531, and Liberal candidate Anita Donlon on 6702. Mr Oliver’s preferences have yet to be counted.Bendigo East Labor MP, Jacinta Allan said that because Mr Oliver was second behind Ms Edwards in first preference votes, the preferences of Ms Donlon would be distributed to the Nationals.She said that the two-party preferred votes would then be on a Labor-Nationals basis.“It does appear that there is movement in that seat, but it’s too early to call it,’’ she said.Ms Edwards said she wasn’t worried about losing the seat because the preferences of the Greens, who polled well in Castlemaine, would be directed to Labor.“It will probably be closer than it is now,’’ she said.“But I haven’t heard the seat is in doubt.“My scrutineers have assured me it will be fine,’’ she said.Votes for the Bendigo East electorate were being re-checked yesterday, with Ms Allan on 13,868 first-preference votes, ahead of Michael Langdon on 11,122.Ms Allan was on 54.54 per cent in the two-party preferred candidate poll, and Mr Langdon on 45.57 per cent.

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