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DERRYN Hinch’s ascension to the federal parliament has been confirmed, while Ricky Muir’s time in Canberra has come to an end after the Victorian Senate results were announced on Wednesday.
Of the 12 seats on offer, the Liberal and Labor parties each won four seats, while Bendigo-based senator Bridget McKenzie confirmed her expected victory for the Nationals.
The Greens picked up two senate seats from Victoria, while Derryn Hinch was the only independent senator elected in the state.
The result means the Greens are likely to hold the balance of power in the Senate, but the government could still pass legislation with the support of a diverse mix of senators.
The government would need nine votes from the 11 crossbench senators, likely to be four from One Nation, three from the Nick Xenophon Team, and one from the Liberal Democratic Party, Derryn Hinch, Jacqui Lambie and Bob Day, of Family First.
The Coalition is likely to finish with 30 senators, while Labor will have 26 and the Greens could have nine.
Ricky Muir, who became an independent after he was elected as a Motoring Enthusiast Party senator at the last election, released a statement shortly after the results were released.
He said he did not regret allowing the government to hold a double dissolution election – despite it reducing his Senate term from six years to two.
“I can leave parliament proud knowing that I gave it my best shot against the odds and did not fall victim to the two party political game,” Mr Muir said.
“Despite many achievements in varying areas of politics and trying hard to achieve in others, my proudest achievement is to hear people in the street say ‘you gave me hope’ or ‘you influenced me to try’.
“No matter who you are, what your background is, what your socio economic status is, what your age, sex, education or the geographical location you reside in is, you are entitled to a voice.”
The Queensland and New South Wales Senate results are expected to be announced on Thursday.