Kerryn Phelps to be declared winner of Wentworth: AEC



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Independent Kerryn Phelps should be declared the winner of the Wentworth by-election after a fortnight of counting.

The result will be announced Monday morning by the Australian Electoral Commission. Dr. Phelps is expected to narrowly reach Liberal candidate Dave Sharma.

His victory will deprive the Coalition of its majority government of the coalition and force Prime Minister Scott Morrison to negotiate with the referee.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg discuss the results of the Wentworth by-election to the media.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

AAP

The grand-name of the GP represented 51.22% of the votes cast by the two candidates, before Sharma at 1851 votes Saturday morning.

Dr. Phelps took the victory in the by-election on the night of Oct. 20, after gaining an unprecedented 20% boost against the Liberal Party east of Sydney.

But that changed the next day, the margin between the two being reduced to less than 900 votes while postal votes were still counted.

Since then, election officers have processed and verified postal votes, pre-ballot votes and provisional votes.

Dr. Phelps intends to remain on Sydney City Council once she occupies her seat in the federal parliament.

Wentworth MP, Kerryn Phelps, at a press conference in Parliament in Canberra,

Dr. Kerryn Phelps.

AAP

But she will not say whether she will reveal the legal advice she has relied on to be eligible to serve on Wentworth under section 44 of the constitution.

The constitution section prohibits people sitting in parliament if they make money with taxpayer money.

Dr. Phelps' position as a university professor and her role as an attending physician receiving Medicare payments could mean that she possibly breaks the rules.

But the independent told reporters earlier that she was convinced she would not break article 44.

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