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Josh Burns wins Macnamara

Josh Burns wins Macnamara

Despite a loss to Federal Labor at the May 18 election, new candidate Josh Burns maintained his party’s hold on our local seat of Macnamara.

Replacing retiring Labor MP of 21 years in Michael Danby, who recorded a slender victory at the 2016 election, Mr Burns managed to claim a more comfortable win that what many had anticipated on a near five per cent swing.

At the time of publishing the June edition of Southbank Local News, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) had counted nearly 90 per cent of the vote. As expected, Liberal candidate Kate Ashmor recorded the most primary votes (37 per cent) ahead of Burns (32 per cent) and the Greens Steph Hodgins-May (24 per cent). Following preference flows, Mr Burns had recorded 56 per cent of the vote overall ahead of Ashmor on 44 per cent.

Mr Burns told Southbank Local News that despite a hard night overall for his party, he was pleased that the people of Macnamara had endorsed his own positive campaign for a “fairer future.”

“To the people of Macnamara who placed their trust in me - thank you. This has been a long journey and I am extremely grateful for your support,” he said.

“But the credit for our win does not belong to me. It belongs to each and every one of hundreds of people who gave their time, passion and effort to campaign for a fairer future.”

“We offered a hopeful and positive plan for Macnamara and I am proud that it was endorsed.”

“Across our country, it was a hard night for the Australian Labor Party and its true believers.”

“Despite that result, those who helped put forward our courageous and ambitious agenda of reform can – and should – hold their heads high.”

“Ultimately, though, we respect the decision of the Australian people.”

“I offer my congratulations to the Coalition, and my best wishes to my opponents Kate Ashmor and Steph Hodgins-May. Both are people of integrity and talent, and I know both will continue to serve our community.”

“To all the volunteers from all sides of politics who devoted their time and effort, you did our democracy proud.”

“To my team, I will always be grateful for your tireless efforts and professionalism. You ran an outstanding campaign, and all deserve to own our result. For now, we in the Labor movement must regroup.”

“We act with humility. We rebuild. And we devote every day to working as hard as we possibly can - our country deserves no less.”

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