Labor has won a seventh consecutive term in power in the Australian Capital Territory.
ABC’s chief election analyst Antony Green says there is no viable path for the Canberra Liberals, led by Elizabeth Lee, to form government.
The Canberra Liberals have won at most 10 seats in the 25 seat Legislative Assembly.
Labor have likely won 10 and cannot win a majority, but will be able to form a governing coalition.
ACT Labor has governed the territory for the last 23 years – whether it be outright, in minority, or in coalition with the ACT Greens.
Party leader Andrew Barr – who has been re-elected in Kurrajong – is the ACT’s longest serving chief minister, having been in the top job for almost 10 years.
Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee and ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury have also both retained their seats in the Kurrajong electorate.
Addressing the party faithful, Ms Lee conceded defeat and congratulated Labor for its “incredible feat” of a 27-year government.
“There are few political duos that have forged and maintained a relationship as long as Andrew [Barr] and Shane [Rattenbury], and they certainly have cemented themselves in the history books as they embark, perhaps, on another coalition government,” she said.
“I wish them both all the very best as they embark on this new term.
“They say that being a Liberal in Canberra is hard and tonight I think for many us it is even harder because we came so close.”
Ms Lee took full responsibility for her party not “getting over the line”.
First independents in 20 years
Thomas Emerson and Fiona Carrick have become the first independents elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly since 2001.
Mr Emerson, as Independents for Canberra’s lead candidate, has won a seat in Kurrajong and said it was a “remarkable” result for independents.
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