FED:Brown's claim conflicts with evidence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2011
FED:Brown's claim conflicts with evidence

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says the minor party won
its first lower house seat in NSW without preferences, but the evidence says otherwise.

Leichhardt mayor Jamie Parker has claimed victory in the inner-western Sydney seat of Balmain.

Shortly before former education minister Verity Firth conceded defeat to the Greens
candidate, Senator Brown held a media conference in Hobart praising Mr Parker.

"Jamie's win is historic. It's a big breakthrough into the single-member house of government
in NSW," he said.

"He's done it without getting preferences from anyone, or having preferences directed
from anyone."

Evidence from the NSW Electoral Commission, however, says otherwise.

Liberal candidate James Falk won 14,857 primary votes, compared with Mr Parker's tally
of 14,019, updated figures say.

Labor came third with 13,769 first-preference votes.

With no candidate getting more than 50 per cent of the vote, preferences were allocated,
making Mr Parker the next MP for Balmain.

In NSW, preferential voting is optional meaning that voters don't have to number every square.

But in cases where voters opt to nominate preferences, their decisions can prove pivotal
in a tight race.

AAP saj/nb

KEYWORD: POLLNSW BALMAIN BROWN

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