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The Canberra Times

Jacob McArthur

Assembly finally takes shape with last seat decided

Assembly Laura Nuttall Ed Cocks Brindabella Fiona Carrick Labor Thomas Emerson Canberra Murrumbidgee (Geopolitical Entity)

A tight tussle between Liberal Party candidates has been settled with an incumbent member beating a Murrumbidgee hopeful to claim the last ACT Assembly seat.

The ACT Electoral Commission called the final Murrumbidgee seat for Ed Cocks, who was facing tough competition from fellow Canberra Liberals candidate Amardeep Singh.

Mr Cocks has held the seat since 2022 when he elected on a countback following the resignation of former Liberals deputy leader Giulia Jones.

The commission finished counting on Saturday, October 26, one week after polls closed.

The next territory Assembly will include 10 Labor members, nine Canberra Liberals, four Greens, and two independents.

Six new members will join the Assembly, with Labor's Caitlin Tough and Taimus Werner-Gibbings representing Brindabella, independent Thomas Emerson claiming a seat in Kurrajong, fellow independent Fiona Carrick who won a Murrumbidgee seat, while the Liberals welcome Chiaka Barry for Ginninderra and Deborah Morris for Brindabella.

Liberals MLA Ed Cocks has retained his Murrumbidgee seat after a close count with another Liberals candidate. Picture by Karleen Minney

A formal declaration by the electoral Commissioner of the result of the election and elected candidates will be held at the Legislative Assembly at Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

The new Assembly will sit on Wednesday, November 6. A new ministry will be announced by the Chief Minister after the first sitting.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said his party would look to work collaboratively with all members on areas of policy consensus.

"This includes work on a new Northside hospital and expanding community health care services, investing in education equity and improving literacy and numeracy programs in our schools, increasing housing supply and affordable rentals, construction of light rail to Commonwealth Park, building new community sports facilities and improving local footpaths and playgrounds," Mr Barr said in statement.

Mr Barr paid tribute to the Assembly's departing members.

"Joy Burch and Mick Gentleman have more than 30 years of combined service to the people of Tuggeranong. They have made a long-term contribution to the Labor caucus, cabinet and the Assembly," he said.

Rebecca Vassarotti and Emma Davidson both served as Ministers and made a valuable contribution to the tenth Assembly and the work of the ACT government. I'm confident that both will continue to advocate strongly for their communities beyond the Assembly.

"Nicole Lawder and Elizabeth Kikkert were both multiple term MLAs which highlights the support they received from their respective electorates. We wish them well for the next stage of their careers."

Brindabella MLA Laura Nuttall sealed a remarkable comeback to retain her southern Canberra seat.

Ms Nuttall's election means Labor's Mick Gentleman has been knocked out. It also means the Canberra Liberals have failed to grow their numbers in the Assembly.

Ms Nuttall said it was a privilege to be re-elected. She said after Saturday night, when it appeared she had lost the seat, she had planned to take up a variety of hobbies but these would have to be put on ice.

Laura Nuttall on Friday morning after the fifth seat in Brindabella was called in her favour. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"It's an immense privilege to be re-elected to serve the people for Brindabella for four more years," she said.

"It's certainly been a long week waiting for the results as they slowly trickled in and there's been a couple of sleepless nights but I'm certainly really excited at the prospect that I might be able to represent the electorate for Brindabella."

Ms Nuttall said she wanted to focus on being an effective local representative over the next term and the challenge the notion that Tuggeranong has been left behind.

"One of my focuses is on being more visible and more available and getting a really consistent schedule together of where you'll be able to find me, how you'll be able to access me," she said.

Ms Nuttall has only been a member since November 2023. She was elected on countback following the resignation of Johnathan Davis over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Former ministers Rebecca Vassarotti and Emma Davidson were also voted out.

Former Liberals MLA Elizabeth Kikkert also lost her seat. She was disendorsed by the Liberals ahead of the election and ran for the Family First party.

Joy Burch and Nicole Lawder, who represented the Liberals in Brindabella, both retired from politics at the election.