Liberal leads independent as seat goes to recount

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Liberal leads independent as seat goes to recount

The Liberals have pulled ahead of an independent to lead by just eight votes after the distribution of preferences in a federal seat that must go to a recount three weeks after the election.

Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian had pulled ahead of Nicolette Boele by a whisker during preference counting in the Sydney seat of Bradfield, just days after Ms Boele was provisionally declared the winner by 39 votes.

After a full distribution of preferences on Friday, the *********** Electoral Commission confirmed it would do a recount beginning on Monday and is expected to take two weeks.

The commission does recounts for all lower-house contests where the final margin is less than 100 votes.

Ms Kapterian was originally declared the winner in Bradfield by some media outlets, and was in the Liberal party room during the leadership contest that led to Sussan Ley being named opposition leader.

However, a strong spread of postal and absentee votes to the teal independent caused her to take a narrow lead in the Liberal stronghold.

In another tight race, Labor is on track to pick up an extra seat to add to its increased majority as counting continues in the Melbourne-based seat of Calwell.

As the full preference distribution is carried out, it has come down to a four-way contest between Labor, the Liberals, the Greens and an independent.

An electoral commission spokesman said counting would resume on Monday.

A win in Calwell will place the government on 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives.

The Liberals have 28 seats in the lower house and the Nationals have 15.

The Greens have been reduced to one seat, with 11 shared between independents and other minor parties.

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