The three major parties – the Coalition, Labor and the Greens – all saw a significant reduction in their upper house vote in Bendigo as counting approaches its conclusion.

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation appear to have driven the surge in minor party votes.

In 2013, One Nation received just three votes in Bendigo. This year, the party received 2792 votes, representing 3.1 per cent of voters.

Derryn Hinch’s party proved the most popular of the minor parties, securing 4.7 per cent of the vote.

The next most popular parties were the Animal Justice Party, the Sex Party, Nick Xenophon Team and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said the senate reforms, combined with a nationwide rise in popularity of minor parties, contributed to the result.

“It’s coming from that feeling with voters that they have more freedom with their vote in the senate ,” she said.

“There was a massive number of candidates and a massive number of parties – the biggest number ever.

“Unfortunately for some, a lot of those votes ended up being splintered. If you voted 1 to 6 above the line for all minor parties, it probably wouldn’t have counted in the end.”

Labor retained four senate seats, while the Greens are likely to win two. Bendigo-based Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie was also re-elected.

In addition to One Nation, a number of other far-right parties with anti-multiculturalism platforms managed to gather several hundred votes.

Ms Chesters said the approval of Bendigo’s first mosque and subsequent protests, which occurred after the last federal election, did not have an impact on the election outcome.

“We saw in the lower house the independent candidate had been opposed to the Bendigo mosque, and she only managed 1500 votes,” she said.

“On the other hand, we had myself, the Greens, the Coalition candidates and others who support the mosque gain an overwhelming majority of the votes.

“With Pauline Hanson and Derryn Hinch, both came to Bendigo during the campaign which was likely to have boosted their numbers. We also had Sunrise paying Pauline Hanson to be on their program and broadcast her views.”

Minor parties also polled well in Ballarat and Geelong, although One Nation was more popular in Bendigo.

In Ballarat, One Nation scored 2.1 per cent of the vote, while Derryn Hinch received 6.25 per cent.

Geelong had a similar outcome, as One Nation received 2.2 per cent and Derryn Hinch’s party had 7.9 per cent.

While the minor parties may have increased their share of votes in Bendigo, the second most “popular” choice apart from the major parties remained an old favourite – informal.

First party preferences in Bendigo (as of Thursday afternoon):

Total: 93,917

Liberal National Coalition 30,274

Labor 26,948

Greens 9418

Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party 4238

Informal 3809

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 2792

Animal Justice 1581

Sex Party 1523

Nick Xenophon Team 1467

Shooters, Fishers, Farmers 1435

Family First 1158

Liberal Democrats 1085

Motoring Enthusiasts 915

Australian Christians 666

Australian Liberty Alliance 603

Drug Law Reform 587

Jacqui Lambie Network 562

Rise Up Australia 533

Marriage Equality 526

Health Australia 460

Democratic Labour 435

Pirate Party 407

Palmer United Party 311

Australian Country Party 259

Science/Cyclist Party 240

Christian Democrats 211

Renewable Energy Party 219

Sustainable Australia 215

Arts Party 182

Voluntary Euthanasia 135

Independents 116

Manufacturing and Farming 122

Mature Australia 89

Voteflux.org 71

Socialist Equality 66

Secular Party 62

Australian Progressives 57

Socialist Alliance 45

Citizens Electoral 34