Democrats Lose NSW Senate Seat To Greens

The Australian Greens candidate, Kerry Nettle, has won the sixth Senate seat in New South Wales, defeating Senator Vicki Bourne from the Australian Democrats. Bourne has held the seat for the past 12 years.

Whilst counting has not been completed in Victoria, it is expected that the Democrats Senator Lyn Allison will retain her seat. In all other States, the balance of numbers is unchanged.

From July 1, 2002, the composition of the Senate will be Coalition 35, ALP 28, Democrats 8, Greens 2, One Nation 1, Brian Harradine 1, Independent 1. The Independent is the former Labor Senator from Tasmania, Shayne Murphy, who resigned from the ALP just before the recent election.

On these numbers the balance of power still remains with the Democrats, although it is possible for the government to pick up the extra votes it needs to pass legislation from a combination of the 2 Greens, One Nation's Len Harris, Brian Harradine and Shayne Murphy. It is unlikely, however, that the Greens will support the government's more contentious legislation, such as industrial relations and privatisation of Telstra, so the balance of power effectively resides with the Democrats.

• 2001 Senate Election Results

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------