Labor’s Mike Kelly has conceded defeat in his New South Wales seat of .
Dr Kelly is trailing Liberal Party candidate Peter Hendy by just over 600 votes.
Dr Kelly has used Twitter to announce he will be conceding this morning, telling his followers “it’s over” and thanking them for their support.
The outgoing minister for defence materiel has held the seat since 2007, after Kevin Rudd convinced him to contest the seat on the promise he would one day be defence minister in Mr Rudd’s cabinet.
It looked as though his popularity in the seat might prevent or ward off the swing nationwide against him.
And early counting on election night suggested Dr Kelly would hold on to the seat.
The concession means Eden-Monaro maintains its status as a Bellwether electorate.
The seat has gone to the party that has won government since 1972.
To all my valued friends on twitter I’m sorry to have to say I will be conceding this morning. It’s over. Thank you for your support.
- Mike Kelly (MikeKellyMP
Mirabella quits frontbench role as Indi uncertainty continues
Meanwhile, federal Liberal MP as uncertainty continues over her parliamentary future.
Mrs Mirabella is locked in a close contest with independent candidate Cathy McGowan for the Victorian seat of .
The latest count figures show Ms McGowan 1,100 votes ahead after preferences, although it is likely to be several days until a final result is known.
Mrs Mirabella has been the Coalition’s spokeswoman on innovation, industry and science for nearly four years.
Mr Abbott has thanked Mrs Mirabella for her “tireless efforts” in bringing the Coalition to government.
“I pay tribute to Sophie Mirabella and thank her for her magnanimity in ensuring the continuing vote count in Indi does not hinder formation of the new ministry,” he said in a statement.
Liberal backbencher Dennis Jensen has put his hand up for the job, arguing that his background as a scientist would make him well qualified for the position.
Mr Abbott has previously indicated his frontbench team would remain relatively unchanged, although he will need to reduce the number of positions to meet legislated limits.
With Mrs Mirabella’s departure from the frontbench, foreign minister-elect Julie Bishop will be the only woman in Cabinet unless there is a broader reshuffle.
Palmer in front but ‘not a done deal’
Clive Palmer has a four-figure lead in his bid to win the Queensland seat of .
Mr Palmer is 1,132 votes ahead of his closest rival, Liberal National Party member Ted O’Brien.
Australian Electoral Commission spokesman Phil Diak says it is a commanding lead, but not a done deal.
“Things can move around quite a lot as we are seeing,” he said.
“If we might turn to Parramatta, where the margin’s come in quite close to under 400 votes, it’s all about how the trends go going through the declaration votes.
“Of course you’d prefer to be in that position with over 1,000-vote lead.”
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