Independent Nicolette Boele could clinch the Sydney seat of Bradfield from the Liberals in her second attempt to win the electorate.
She was leading Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian by 40 votes on Monday afternoon, after two weeks of counting since the 3 May federal election.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will now conduct a full distribution of preferences, where scrutineers will go over the votes again.
When the final margin is fewer than 100 votes, the AEC requires a compulsory recount.
A teal upset
Bradfield in Sydney’s north shore is one of the most affluent electorates in Australia and has long been held by the Liberals.
Liberal Paul Fletcher defended the seat from Boele in 2022, but since then, the electorate has been redistributed, gaining part of the abolished electorate of North Sydney, a teal seat.
If Boele wins, she will join three other teals elected from Sydney: Allegra Spender in Wentworth, Sophie Scamps in Mackellar and Zali Steggall in Warringah.
The result means teal independents are likely to maintain their lower house representation in the 48th parliament.
