Flinders | AEC | STPL News
The race for the federal seat of Flinders has tightened significantly, with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirming that counting will proceed on a two-candidate-preferred (2CP) basis between incumbent Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie and independent challenger Ben Smith.
Initial counting in the electorate necessitated a three-candidate-preferred (3CP) approach due to the close contest between Race and Smith for the second position. However, subsequent tallies have clarified that Smith has secured the second spot, prompting the AEC to proceed with a traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count between McKenzie and Smith.
Labor’s Sarah Race has made a statement wishing the next member for Flinders well.
As of 5:41pm Tuesday, McKenzie leads with 52.1% of the vote, while Smith holds 47.9%, a margin of approximately 4,771 votes. The final outcome will depend on the distribution of preferences from eliminated candidates, including those from Labor and the Greens.
Flinders, encompassing the Mornington Peninsula, has historically been a Liberal stronghold. McKenzie retained the seat in 2022 with a 5.6% margin. Smith’s campaign, backed by Climate 200, has marked a significant shift, with his primary vote share increasing to 21.4% from the combined 12.5% achieved by community independents in 2022.
The AEC continues to process remaining postal and absentee votes, with a final result expected in the coming days. Flinders remains one of the few undecided seats in the 2025 federal election, alongside Calwell and Longman.
