Batman byelection: Labor’s Ged Kearney defeats Greens’ Alex Bhathal

Labor has declared victory in the Batman byelection for the former Australian Council of Trade Union president Ged Kearney.

“Oh, they said we’d never do it, but we did,” Kearney told an ecstatic crowd at the Labor post-election event in Thornbury. “I want the people of Batman to know that I have listened, that Bill Shorten has listened, and we are going to take everything you have said to Canberra.”

The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Labor would not take the win for granted. “Tonight I want to make a promise to all of the voters of Batman, the ones who voted for Labor and the ones who voted for other candidates … that Labor hears the lesson and the message of Batman,” he said.

“I promise that we do not treat this election campaign as a triumph and an end in itself, but as another step in the way to giving Australians the sort of government they want with the policies that make a difference to everyday Australians.”

A 1.4% swing to Labor saw Kearney leading 52.2% to 47.8% in two-party-preferred terms about 9.30pm, with about 57% of the vote counted.

Kearney was also leading the primary vote with 42.4% to the Greens candidate Alex Bhathal’s 40.8%. About 30% of the vote is through pre-poll or postal votes and yet to be counted …

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Guardian