Labor has secured its seventh consecutive victory in the ACT election, maintaining its stronghold. 

The party is set to hold 10 seats in the 25-member Legislative Assembly, continuing its governance in Canberra, which began in 2001, often in coalition with the Greens.

Initial results from Saturday night suggest eight seats for the Canberra Liberals, two for the Greens, and one each for the Independent for Canberra (IfC) and a second independent. Three seats remain undecided as counting continues.

The Canberra Liberals, led by Elizabeth Lee, have now lost seven consecutive ACT elections.

This comes amid a historically strong left-leaning sentiment in the ACT, which also delivered a 67-33 win for Labor at the 2022 federal election, marking it as the country’s most pro-Labor jurisdiction.

Lee has acknowledged that internal ideological conflicts contributed to the loss. 

Retiring Liberal MLA Nicole Lawder claimed during ABC’s election night coverage that some party members “pushed the Liberals too far to the right”. 

Lawder criticised “very powerful players in the party” for prioritising ideology over electoral success, warning they may push for a more conservative direction after this defeat.

ACT Labor will likely need to collaborate with the Greens or independents to form the next government. 

Chief Minister Andrew Barr reportedly is in discussions with the Greens, while also exploring potential agreements with independents to ensure stable governance.

“I think there is potential for broader support, not just from the Greens, but also from the independents,” Barr said.

Lee faces scrutiny over her leadership as the party begins a review of the results. 

When asked about possible changes, she said she would consult with supporters and consider her position. 

Despite failing to gain overall ground, ABC election analyst Antony Green projects an increase in Liberal seats from nine to 10, though the party's primary vote dropped by 0.8 per cent compared to 2020.

As vote counting proceeds, the final composition of the assembly should become clearer in coming weeks.

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