Election officials in South Australia have launched a new recount in the Narungga electorate after uncovering 81 overlooked ballot papers, threatening One Nation candidate Chantelle Thomas’s slim victory margin.
Narrow Win Now in Question
Chantelle Thomas secured the seat for One Nation on April 2, defeating Liberal contender Tania Stock by a mere 58 votes after an initial recount. The newly discovered ballots—77 unopened absent ordinary votes and four declaration ballots mistakenly returned with votes inside—far exceed that margin.
These papers were found in three sealed boxes connected to Narungga and the adjacent Stuart electorate.
Recount Details and Timeline
A fresh count begins Friday to assess the impact of these ballots. Acting Electoral Commissioner Leah McLay confirmed that all candidates received immediate notification to ensure result integrity.
McLay emphasized that One Nation remains the declared winner. “The purpose of the count is for the commission to determine whether the result would have differed had those ballots been included in the initial count and subsequent recount,” she stated.
Potential Outcomes
McLay clarified that the recount may not reverse the outcome. However, if it shifts the win to the Liberals, the matter heads to the courts. “If the recount was to indicate that, then we would seek Crown advice and look to the disputed court of returns,” she added.
