I am humbled and grateful to receive a vote of confidence from the people of Flinders, to represent them as their Federal Member of Parliament for the next three years.
The AEC is continuing to count but at this stage, it would appear that the Labor Candidate Sarah Race received the second highest number of first preference votes. I congratulate Sarah on running a professional campaign, and for securing commitments to our region, which I will begin today to advocate for their fulfilment.
This morning Ben Smith, the independent candidate, called me to concede. He was gracious and enthusiastic for our community, as he has always been.
I thank the candidates from other parties, and independents, who put their hands up to represent Flinders at this election. Flinders is without doubt the most beautiful part of Australia, and it deserves a proper contest to represent it in the national arena.
In the next fortnight, I will meet with those who were to benefit from my commitments across sporting and community facilities, education and mental health support, as well as youth engagement, to start the process of advocacy across three levels of government – and to fight for their implementation.
This election saw a resounding victory for the ALP, off a primary vote of just over one third of all electors.
My party has a great deal of reflection to do and we have lost many fine Members of Parliament.
We have a huge task ahead to ensure we craft policy consistent with our principles of individual choice, freedom and responsibility and reward for effort.
That task has begun with the election of a new leadership team, both of whom know Flinders well, having joined me here many times.
I look forward to playing a big part in the evolution of my Party and its platform, and ensuring that the Peninsula’s needs and nature will continue to be central to both.
I thank all the residents of Flinders – both those who voted for me and those who didn’t.
I will work every day to ensure the Peninsula gets what it deserves from Canberra, and work with my State and Council counterparts to ensure we also have our needs met by each level of government.
Ends.
