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Polls have closed and counting begins
By Olivia Ireland
Polls have just closed for the Dunkley byelection as the electorate of over 113,000 people have cast their ballots.
Counting will begin in the 32 voting centres that were set up across the electorate.
As of March 1, approximately 22,150 people voted earlier and 21,900 applied for a postal vote.
All votes cast on Saturday will be counted tonight as well as the majority of pre-poll votes.
The Australian Electoral Commission will also start counting postal votes but can receive postal votes back until close of business of Friday March 15.
Labor candidate for Dunkley Jodie Belyea casting her vote with husband Dave Glazebrook.Credit: Penny Stephens
Memory of Peta Murphy prevails during byelection
By Olivia Ireland
The late Labor MP Peta Murphy who passed away last year to cancer continues to have an effect on the Dunkley electorate, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said earlier today he wished the byelection wasn’t happening because of her passing.
Murphy chaired a public inquiry into the social damage from problem gambling and became a strong advocate for change.
Peta Murphy in February. Diagnosed with cancer at 37, she died in December, aged 50.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
In the final stages of Murphy’s cancer, she came to parliament to advocate for reform, and sent a message through her husband Rod Glover on November 30 for a complete ban on gambling advertisements.
On Wednesday, Australia’s most prominent anti-gambling advocate Tim Costello said he was disappointed that Albanese had not announced a betting crackdown before the byelection to honour Murphy.
“It’s one of the most socially significant and courageous recommendations in recent political history and it would have been fitting to highlight it and honour her,” he said.
“She was courageous and morally clear on sports betting ads and protecting children from grooming. That would be applauded by most of this nation, including people in Dunkley.”
Albanese makes birthday wish for a Labor victory
By Annika Smethurst
On his birthday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived at a polling booth in Frankston earlier today, saying his one wish is for a Labor victory in Dunkley.
The prime minister, who is celebrating his 61st birthday, was joined by his fiancee Jodie Haydon as they mingled with voters at Derinya Primary School in Frankston on Saturday morning. Arriving shortly after 9am, Albanese thanked well-wishers who wished him a happy birthday and congratulated the couple on their recent engagement.
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor candidate for Dunkley Jodie Belyea at Derinya Primary School in Frankston South where Jodie voted in the Dunkley by-election. The PM’s fiancee Jodie Haydon accompanied them.Credit: Penny Stephens
Albanese, who will spend Saturday night in Sydney, said Dunkley voters deserve “a strong advocate”, and urged them to honour Murphy’s legacy to make sure they got a local representative, not just “another bloke with all the other blokes”.
“What I want for my birthday is obvious today, which is a win for Jodie Belyea, and I do that because this community deserves a strong advocate … and Jodie Belyea will be that strong advocate,” he said.
“We wish the byelection wasn’t happening. Peta Murphy was a remarkable person … it was a privilege to get to know Peta over a long period of time.”
Liberal candidate left to defence Dutton’s absence
By Annika Smethurst
Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy was forced to fend off questions about Peter Dutton’s byelection day absence, with the opposition leader spending the day in his home state of Queensland as his party fights to unseat Labor in Dunkley.
At a lunchtime address to the media from a polling booth in Langwarrin, Conroy and Liberal senator Jane Hume were drowned out by Labor and pro-Palestinian protesters as they attempted to highlight the cost-of-living crisis facing voters.
Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy and wife Steffie casting their votes in the Dunkley byelection in Langwarrin on Saturday.Credit: Penny Stephens
Across the electorate, which centres on the suburb of Frankston in Melbourne’s outer south-east, state and federal Liberal MPs – including Senator James Paterson, Jason Wood and Cindy McLeish – were spotted handing out how-to-vote cards.
Conroy attempted to defend the absence – against the shouts of protesters – saying he was “extremely proud” of Dutton’s leadership, and said the opposition leader had visited the seat five times during the campaign.
“We have run a strong positive campaign,” he said. “We don’t shout, we don’t roar … what we do have is a strong positive campaign.”
Good evening
By Olivia Ireland
Good evening and welcome to our live blog on the Dunkley byelection. The seat in Melbourne’s south-east is a crucial litmus test for the government and opposition.
Polling is set to close at 6pm as major party candidates include Labor’s Jodie Belyea and the Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor candidate for Dunkley Jodie Belyea at Derinya Primary School in Frankston South.Credit: Penny Stephens
Triggered by the death of Labor MP Peta Murphy, who died of cancer in late 2023, the byelection will be watched closely by both the ALP and Coalition as votes are counted to decide who gets the federal seat.
Stay tuned – we will be with you until the verdict is in.
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2024-03-02 07:07:58Z
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