The good doctor returned

By: STEVE KELLY and ANDY WILSON INDEPENDENT Helen Haines has swept to a resounding victory in the seat of Indi with her ‘Cockateers’ spending a night of cheering and welcoming the verdict cast by the greatest portion of the electorate’s voters. Dr Haines has 58.49 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred (TCP) vote, with nearest rival Liberal James Trenery on 41.51pc. The first preference vote was up on the 2022 election for Dr Haines with 43.03pc (38,367), a swing of 2.46pc, while Mr Trenery accumulated 31.02pc (27,851 votes). Next was Labor - Mitch Bridges with 8pc, One Nation - Athol Thomas (6.94pc), The Greens - Alysia Regan (3.28pc), Legalise Cannabis - Ben Howman (2.92pc), Family First - Michael White (1.78pc), Libertarian - Tim Quilty (1.61pc), and Independent - Mark McFarlane (1.41pc). Dr Haines won 65 of the electorate's 80 voting booths. It was a buzzing room of supporters dressed in the well-known orange attire and energised by the win that welcomed Dr Haines as she made her winner’s speech at about 9.30pm on Saturday. They had been receiving regular updates of results relayed across a public address system at the usual lair for the orange army on election night, Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre’s Memorial Hall. It was a comprehensive win across many polling places for Dr Haines on election day, with the totals indicating many voters were happy with what the Independent has delivered over the last two terms spanning six years. In her speech Dr Haines made strong reference to the 940 active volunteers across the electorate, which stretches from Wodonga to King Lake and coined the term for them, the Cockateers. Dr Haines was introduced as the winner of Indi with Destiny’s Child song 'Independent Women' on the loud speaker prompting the returning MP to blow kisses and partake in a dance as she approached the stage. "I'm standing in front of you all again with such pride in my heart, such privilege to be re-elected as a member of the house of representatives in the magnificent federation seat of Indi," she said to raucous applause. "But the victory is not mine, the victory is yours, all of the people of Indi, those who voted for me, and those who didn't, because I know that having independent representation in the seat of Indi has not only made Indi a better place, but has made the nation a better place. "People have said to me tonight that it's so great that good wins," she said in relation to the recent nature of politics across the world. She acknowledged Anthony Albanese's return as Prime Minister and she said she's looking forward to continuing her work and she cited her strong relationships with other MPs in the house of representatives. Dr Haines referred to the scrutineers as the "guardian angels of democracy" for the work they do, and the extended campaign period was also noted. "We've been at this for a few months, we thought the election was coming a little earlier than it has and I've been saying to folks, I feel like I've been living in a perpetual Wednesday, but it's Saturday now, right," she said. "It is an amazing story we have to tell here, what started as a local movement with 12 people in the library up the road who just wanted an MP to listen to them, truly is now a movement right across Australia. "We have got so many people on the ground in Indi and so many others like us across Australia, thousands of volunteers, potentially millions of voters voting independent." She was happy her Independent colleagues have been returned, with the AEC having Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, Zoe Daniel, Sophie Scamps, and Kate Chaney ahead in their electorates. "At the heart of our campaign, the heart is listening to the people of Indi and what matters to them and what they want to see in their representation," she said. "We listened across 12,257 meaningful conversations, we knocked on 15,721 doors, more doors in more towns that we've ever knocked on before. Dr Haines promised to deliver the local impact that she promised constituents and the national influence that she said her supporters have collectively achieved. "I want to see us do better in housing, lower the cost of living, better health and childcare, the infrastructure we need to make sure we can continue to thrive. "It truly is the biggest honour of my life to represent the people of Indi." Voters in Strathbogie Shire also showed overwhelming support for Dr Haines, with all booths counted early on Saturday night. At the Euroa voting booth, 517 voters supported Dr Haines compared to Liberal James Trenery with 421 votes, producing TCP percentages of 55.99 and 44.01 respectively. Voters at the remaining Strathbogie Shire booths had higher TCP percentages for Dr Haines. In Ruffy, 61.90 per cent of voters preferred Haines compared to 38.10 per cent voting for Trenery. Violet Town's TCP percentages were 62.24 and 38.10, and Strathbogie had 62.82 and 37.18 per cent. Mr Trenery was disappointed with the loss but he said he enjoyed the 'real local' campaign and meeting a lot of great people along the way. "There were several thousand people who supported us and we had more volunteers and signs out than we've ever had," he said. "It was not a good result for either the country or Indi, from my perspective. "Mansfield was strong and there were other small booths where we had wins which was absolutely magnificent. "Overall we didn't move very far compared to the last election, and we'll wait for the final count but it looks like it's going to be the same, which is better than the national result."

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