The latest update from the Australian Electoral Commision has Dr Kerryn Phelps on track to win the Wentworth by-election.
The latest tally has Dr Phelps 1,573 votes ahead of Liberal candidate Dave Sharma as postal votes slowly trickle in on a daily basis. Today another 511 votes are being counted and added to the tally.
On Saturday night Dr Phelps looked likely to win the seat in a landslide result, but pre-polling votes and postal votes added to the tally on Sunday morning gave a glimmer of hope to the Liberal party who are hoping to retain Malcolm Turnbull’s former seat.
Equality advocates have congratulated Dr Kerryn Phelps on her likely election in the seat of Wentworth.
Just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome said Dr Phelps had a lot to bring to the federal parliament.
“Kerryn will bring compassion, common sense and a spirit of cooperation to a polarised parliament.”
“Kerryn’s election shows Australians want solutions not in-fighting, progress not dogma.”
Croome noted that Dr Phelps will also become the first openly-lesbian member of the House of Representatives.
“We look forward to Kerryn working with other MPs to foster inclusion and equality for the LGBTI community and bring to an end the sexuality and gender culture wars that have afflicted LGBTI Australians in recent years.” he said.
Liberal member Treant Zimmerman became the first openly gay member of federal parliament when he was elected at a by-election in 2015. Zimmerman replaced former Treasurer Joe Hockey.
Currently there are eight parliamentarians who have shared that they are same-gender attracted including Labor’s Senator Louise Pratt, Senator Penny Wong, The Liberals’ Senator Dean Smith and The Greens’ Senator Janet Rice. Alongside Zimmerman in the lower-house is colleagues Trevor Evans and Tim Wilson and Labor’s Julian Hill.
OIP Staff
