Australian House of Representatives elections use full-preferential voting: voters number every box. If no candidate has more than half the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest is excluded and their ballots pass to each voter’s next preference, repeating until someone has more than half. Practical lesson: rank the candidate you most want to win first and the one you most want to lose last.
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (Labor) won Kingsford Smith in 2025 with 66,604 of the 99,132 votes in the final count, beating Brad COLE (Liberal) by 34,076 votes (67.2% to 32.8%). Thistlethwaite won on first preferences, with 50.8% of 99,132 formal votes (more than half: 49,567 needed).
99,132 formal votes5 candidates3 counts34,076-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 99,132 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Elsa PARKER (Independent) was excluded; their 3,557 votes were distributed: 1,348 (37.9%) to Keiron BROWN; 1,009 (28.4%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 625 (17.6%) to Brad COLE; 575 (16.2%) to Mark JELIC.
On count 2, Mark JELIC (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 6,440 votes were distributed: 3,964 (61.6%) to Brad COLE; 1,654 (25.7%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 822 (12.8%) to Keiron BROWN.
On count 3, Keiron BROWN (The Greens) was excluded; their 15,610 votes were distributed: 13,595 (87.1%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 2,015 (12.9%) to Brad COLE.
Finally, Matt THISTLETHWAITE (Labor) won with 66,604 votes to 32,528 for Brad COLE (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Kingsford Smith 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Elsa PARKERIndependent
3,557
Keiron BROWN (GRN): 1,348 (37.9%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 1,009 (28.4%)
Brad COLE (LP): 625 (17.6%)
Mark JELIC (ON): 575 (16.2%)
2
Mark JELICPauline Hanson's One Nation
6,440
Brad COLE (LP): 3,964 (61.6%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 1,654 (25.7%)
Keiron BROWN (GRN): 822 (12.8%)
3
Keiron BROWNThe Greens
15,610
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 13,595 (87.1%)
Brad COLE (LP): 2,015 (12.9%)
Votes after every count
Kingsford Smith 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Matt THISTLETHWAITELabor · elected
50,346
51,355
53,009
66,604
Brad COLELiberal
25,924
26,549
30,513
32,528
Keiron BROWNThe Greens
13,440
14,788
15,610
–
Mark JELICPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,865
6,440
–
–
Elsa PARKERIndependent
3,557
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (Labor) won Kingsford Smith in 2022 with 62,868 of the 97,466 votes in the final count, beating Grace TAN (Liberal) by 28,270 votes (64.5% to 35.5%). Thistlethwaite led on first preferences with 47.9% of 97,466 formal votes and passed the 48,734-vote majority at count 3.
97,466 formal votes5 candidates3 counts28,270-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 97,466 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Darrin MARR (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 3,051 votes were distributed: 1,961 (64.3%) to Anthony TAWAF; 477 (15.6%) to Grace TAN; 313 (10.3%) to Stuart DAVIS; 300 (9.8%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE.
On count 2, Anthony TAWAF (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 5,349 votes were distributed: 2,920 (54.6%) to Grace TAN; 1,407 (26.3%) to Stuart DAVIS; 1,022 (19.1%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE.
On count 3, Stuart DAVIS (The Greens) was excluded; their 18,121 votes were distributed: 14,849 (81.9%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 3,272 (18.1%) to Grace TAN.
Finally, Matt THISTLETHWAITE (Labor) won with 62,868 votes to 34,598 for Grace TAN (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Kingsford Smith 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Darrin MARRPauline Hanson's One Nation
3,051
Anthony TAWAF (UAPP): 1,961 (64.3%)
Grace TAN (LP): 477 (15.6%)
Stuart DAVIS (GRN): 313 (10.3%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 300 (9.8%)
2
Anthony TAWAFUnited Australia Party
5,349
Grace TAN (LP): 2,920 (54.6%)
Stuart DAVIS (GRN): 1,407 (26.3%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 1,022 (19.1%)
3
Stuart DAVISThe Greens
18,121
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 14,849 (81.9%)
Grace TAN (LP): 3,272 (18.1%)
Votes after every count
Kingsford Smith 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Matt THISTLETHWAITELabor · elected
46,697
46,997
48,019
62,868
Grace TANLiberal
27,929
28,406
31,326
34,598
Stuart DAVISThe Greens
16,401
16,714
18,121
–
Anthony TAWAFUnited Australia Party
3,388
5,349
–
–
Darrin MARRPauline Hanson's One Nation
3,051
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (Labor) won Kingsford Smith in 2019 with 55,501 of the 94,376 votes in the final count, beating Amanda WILMOT (Liberal) by 16,626 votes (58.8% to 41.2%). Thistlethwaite led on first preferences with 45.2% of 94,376 formal votes and passed the 47,189-vote majority at count 5.
94,376 formal votes7 candidates5 counts16,626-vote final margin
Each column is a count. Bar height = votes held; the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes flow to the others. Hover or tap a candidate to highlight their flows.
What happened, count by count
Initially 94,376 first-preference votes were counted. The candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes pass to the voters' next preference, and so on until two remain.
On count 1, Petra CAMPBELL (Sustainable Australia) was excluded; their 1,346 votes were distributed: 410 (30.5%) to James CRUZ; 350 (26.0%) to James JANSSON; 263 (19.5%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 149 (11.1%) to Amanda WILMOT and 2 more.
On count 2, Adrian MANSON (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)) was excluded; their 1,419 votes were distributed: 700 (49.3%) to Amanda WILMOT; 233 (16.4%) to Adam Bruce WATSON; 231 (16.3%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 143 (10.1%) to James CRUZ and 1 more.
On count 3, Adam Bruce WATSON (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 1,996 votes were distributed: 962 (48.2%) to Amanda WILMOT; 417 (20.9%) to James JANSSON; 379 (19.0%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 238 (11.9%) to James CRUZ.
On count 4, James JANSSON (Science Party) was excluded; their 2,474 votes were distributed: 1,080 (43.7%) to James CRUZ; 702 (28.4%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 692 (28.0%) to Amanda WILMOT.
On count 5, James CRUZ (The Greens) was excluded; their 13,289 votes were distributed: 11,297 (85.0%) to Matt THISTLETHWAITE; 1,992 (15.0%) to Amanda WILMOT.
Finally, Matt THISTLETHWAITE (Labor) won with 55,501 votes to 38,875 for Amanda WILMOT (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Kingsford Smith 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Petra CAMPBELLSustainable Australia
1,346
James CRUZ (GRN): 410 (30.5%)
James JANSSON (FUT): 350 (26.0%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 263 (19.5%)
Amanda WILMOT (LP): 149 (11.1%)
Adam Bruce WATSON (UAPP): 114 (8.5%)
Adrian MANSON (CDP): 60 (4.5%)
2
Adrian MANSONChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,419
Amanda WILMOT (LP): 700 (49.3%)
Adam Bruce WATSON (UAPP): 233 (16.4%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 231 (16.3%)
James CRUZ (GRN): 143 (10.1%)
James JANSSON (FUT): 112 (7.9%)
3
Adam Bruce WATSONUnited Australia Party
1,996
Amanda WILMOT (LP): 962 (48.2%)
James JANSSON (FUT): 417 (20.9%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 379 (19.0%)
James CRUZ (GRN): 238 (11.9%)
4
James JANSSONScience Party
2,474
James CRUZ (GRN): 1,080 (43.7%)
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 702 (28.4%)
Amanda WILMOT (LP): 692 (28.0%)
5
James CRUZThe Greens
13,289
Matt THISTLETHWAITE (ALP): 11,297 (85.0%)
Amanda WILMOT (LP): 1,992 (15.0%)
Votes after every count
Kingsford Smith 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Matt THISTLETHWAITELabor · elected
42,629
42,892
43,123
43,502
44,204
55,501
Amanda WILMOTLiberal
34,380
34,529
35,229
36,191
36,883
38,875
James CRUZThe Greens
11,418
11,828
11,971
12,209
13,289
–
Adam Bruce WATSONUnited Australia Party
1,649
1,763
1,996
–
–
–
James JANSSONScience Party
1,595
1,945
2,057
2,474
–
–
Adrian MANSONChristian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
1,359
1,419
–
–
–
–
Petra CAMPBELLSustainable Australia
1,346
–
–
–
–
–
About this page
Australian House of Representatives elections use full-preferential voting: voters number every box. If no candidate has more than half the first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest is excluded and their ballots pass to each voter’s next preference, repeating until someone has more than half. Practical lesson: rank the candidate you most want to win first and the one you most want to lose last.
