Kristy McBain has re-claimed the seat of Eden-Monaro for Labor after a by-election that’s been viewed as a loss for both major parties.

The result was always too close to call, with the government expecting blowback for its handling of summer’s bushfires crisis. Labor’s win however was largely due to preferences and not the strength of its primary vote.

It was the first Australian poll conducted under social distancing restrictions and the first since the bushfires.

Pnina Hagege covered the by-election for Central News, from Narooma on the NSW South Coast.

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POLLS OPEN

 

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POLLS CLOSE

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VICTORY CLAIMED