Greens in knife-edge battle in Melbourne by-election -- FEC

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Date Posted: 06:38:37 07/21/12 Sat
Author: By Alison Savage
Subject: Greens in knife-edge battle in Melbourne by-election

Greens in knife-edge battle in Melbourne by-election
By Alison Savage
Updated July 21, 2012 23:12:45

Video: Labor and the Greens battle for the seat of Melbourne (ABC News)
Related Story: Greens tipped to win Melbourne by-electionRelated Story: Tight result predicted for Melbourne by-electionRelated Story: Preferences key to Melbourne by-election winRelated Story: Labor, Greens ready to face-off in by-electionMap: Melbourne 3000
The Greens and Labor are neck-and-neck as counting continues in the Melbourne by-election.

The Greens' Cathy Oke is hoping to make history by snatching the seat of Melbourne from Labor's Jennifer Kanis. The seat has held by Labor for more than a century.

With over 50 percent of the vote counted, Labor is leading the Greens 51.38 to 48.62 on a two-party preferred basis.

However, the result is likely to be decided on preferences.

There are 16 candidates in the by-election and the majority of the minor parties and the Independents are preferencing Labor.

In a surprise twist, the Sex Party's Fiona Patten has claimed just under seven per cent of the primary vote, edging out Crikey founder and media commentator Stephen Mayne, who currently sits on four per cent.

If the Greens win it will be their first seat in the Victorian Lower House and end more than a century of Labor party representation.

Greens insiders earlier said they were pessimistic about their chances because of a low voter turnout, which they say is down by 30 per cent at some booths.

Federal Greens MP and deputy leader Adam Bandt has told the party faithful to "prepare for a long night, this is going to go down to the wire".

The campaign has been dominated by tensions between Labor and the Greens federally.

View the Victorian Electoral Commission's official count figures here.

Topics: states-and-territories, government-and-politics, elections, political-parties, melbourne-3000, australia, vic

First posted July 21, 2012 20:01:14

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