OUTGOING Dunkley MP Chris Crewther has conceded his seat to Labor’s Peta Murphy.
Mr Crewther rang Ms Murphy on Friday to concede defeat, having fallen 4.8 per cent behind her on a two party preferred basis with 84.5 per cent of the vote counted.
Mr Crewther took to social media to thank his supporters and congratulate Ms Murphy on her victory.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to serve as your federal member for Dunkley over the past nearly three years. This is a community and people I love. We have friendly locals, and the best of the city, the country and the coast,” he said.
“With over 84 per cent of the vote counted I’m honoured that, despite the boundary redistribution in 2018 making Dunkley a notional Labor seat, more of you voted for me on primary votes than any other candidate. However, with Hinch, Animal Justice and Greens all preferencing Labor, this has given Labor’s candidate Peta Murphy a clear lead after preferences. While postal votes now being counted are going in my favour, it has become apparent that these will not be enough to close the gap.
“I have today made a phone call to Peta Murphy to concede, and to congratulate her on her hard fought campaign and tenacity to win the seat over many years. Peta will have a lot of hard work ahead of her, and I wish her all the best in serving the electorate over the next few years.
“I thank each and every one of you, along with my wife Grace, daughter Yasmin and son Edward, for the enormous honour of being your representative in Canberra. I’d also like to thank my family, my office team, our friends, Pastor Glenn and others from our church St Lukes Frankston and elsewhere for your ongoing prayers, parliamentary colleagues at the local, state and federal levels, my local Liberal electorate conference and members, my campaign team, fellow candidates like Emily Green, Ron Jean and Yvonne Gentle, bright young potential candidates like Spencer Porter, donors and the generosity of Poppyseeds who provided us a campaign office, the many volunteers who have helped me over the years, and the local residents of Dunkley.”
Labor last held Dunkley in 1996.
