The NSW Liberal Party is set to contest the federal election outcome in the Sydney seat of Bradfield, following a narrow defeat to independent candidate Nicolette Boele. In a statement issued on the evening of June 5, 2023, Liberal representative Giselle Kapterian announced the decision to seek a review, emphasizing the importance of reflecting the “true wishes of the voters.”
Kapterian stated, “While the second count resulted in a 26-vote lead for Ms Boele, today’s decision is taken to ensure the intentions of the voters of Bradfield are accurately reflected in the final count.” She added that pursuing this legal action would “provide collective confidence” and “remove any remaining doubts created by the two conflicting counts.”
Despite the legal challenge, Kapterian clarified that this move does not question the integrity of the electoral system. “To be clear, there is no question regarding the integrity of our electoral system. In fact, this process has only served to reaffirm my faith in Australia’s democratic institution,” she remarked, expressing gratitude for the work of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) in managing the close counts.
Details of the Election and the Challenge
The election concluded on June 4, 2023, more than a month after voters participated in the polls. Boele emerged victorious with a slim margin, defeating Kapterian by just 26 votes. The challenge will be taken to the Court of Disputed Returns, where the Chief Justice of the High Court will appoint a judge to oversee the proceedings.
The result was marked by weeks of uncertainty, with both candidates leading at different stages of the counting process. Initially, Kapterian was ahead by approximately 200 votes when the ABC’s chief election analyst, Antony Green, called the seat for her on May 12. However, as the counting progressed, Boele gained ground and eventually took the lead.
After the unofficial distribution of preferences, Boele retained a 40-vote lead, but Kapterian briefly surged ahead by eight votes as the count neared completion. Given the close nature of the race, a recount was mandated by the AEC, as is standard protocol for contests won by fewer than 100 votes.
In a June interview with ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Kapterian expressed caution regarding the legal proceedings, stating, “It’s the two different outcomes that we’re having to look at now, taking a moment to breathe, taking advice … to really understand where the numbers lie and what might lie ahead.”
As the situation unfolds, both the Liberal Party and the independent candidate will closely monitor the legal process that could redefine the electoral outcome in this historically significant seat.
