RECOUNT: Northern Metro Still In Play // Nazih Elasmar Fights Back From VEC DLP Shock

Check out this extraordinary memo from the VEC sent to candidates which confirms the suspicions of ALP strategists that something has gone wrong with the count in the Northern Metro seat.

Nazih Elasmar - a great patriot and now decidedly nervous candidate - has had a terrible night and we can only hope it works out for him. A great civic leader, former Mayor of Darebin whose good works saw him given the Order of Australia award had been considered all but over the line in the election so the announcement that he had lost yesterday came as a dreadful shock to him and his many Labor moderate supporters.

So highly regarded is Elasmar that it was believed that in the event of a loss that he would be likely fast-tracked into the Parliament at the earliest opportunity to fill any vacancies that might occur. Although in light of the below memo it seems quite likely that Nazih is back in town.

Northern Metropolitan Region

Following a thorough check of the count sheet for Northern Metropolitan Region, I am sufficiently concerned about the underlying integrity of the Liberal vote in that region to require a recount of all ballot papers.

It is my preliminary view that the Liberal Party vote is overstated by about 6,000 votes and that such an overstatement could have a profound effect on the result.

In order to give parties and candidates time to arrange scrutineers, this recount will commence at 6:00 pm at MECC and will probably conclude around 3 am. The result following the recount will be recalculated.

This recount is in addition to the recounts where arrangements are already in place for Western Victoria and Western Metropolitan Regions.

I have scrutinised the count sheets and ballot paper reconciliations for the other 5 Regions and consider that there are no issues to consider. These will proceed with the current declaration arrangements.

Further, it remains the intention that the recounts will be conducted in time so as not to delay the previously arranged declarations.

Steve Tully
Electoral Commissioner