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.
Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party) won Lilley in 2025 with 68,030 of the 105,440 votes in the final count, beating Kimberley WASHINGTON (LNP) by 30,620 votes (64.5% to 35.5%). Wells led on first preferences with 46.1% of 105,440 formal votes and passed the 52,721-vote majority at count 4.
105,440 formal votes6 candidates4 counts30,620-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 105,440 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, Alan DENARO (Family First) was excluded; their 2,746 votes were distributed: 1,141 (41.6%) to Michelle McKAY; 485 (17.7%) to Joshua MORRISON; 420 (15.3%) to Kimberley WASHINGTON; 381 (13.9%) to Melissa STEVENS and 1 more.
On count 2, Joshua MORRISON (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 3,613 votes were distributed: 1,852 (51.3%) to Michelle McKAY; 771 (21.3%) to Anika WELLS; 608 (16.8%) to Kimberley WASHINGTON; 382 (10.6%) to Melissa STEVENS.
On count 3, Michelle McKAY (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 7,478 votes were distributed: 4,929 (65.9%) to Kimberley WASHINGTON; 1,354 (18.1%) to Melissa STEVENS; 1,195 (16.0%) to Anika WELLS.
On count 4, Melissa STEVENS (The Greens) was excluded; their 19,411 votes were distributed: 17,163 (88.4%) to Anika WELLS; 2,248 (11.6%) to Kimberley WASHINGTON.
Finally, Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party) won with 68,030 votes to 37,410 for Kimberley WASHINGTON (LNP).
Where the preferences went
Lilley 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Alan DENAROFamily First
2,746
Michelle McKAY (ON): 1,141 (41.6%)
Joshua MORRISON (CYA): 485 (17.7%)
Kimberley WASHINGTON (LNP): 420 (15.3%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 381 (13.9%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 319 (11.6%)
2
Joshua MORRISONTrumpet of Patriots
3,613
Michelle McKAY (ON): 1,852 (51.3%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 771 (21.3%)
Kimberley WASHINGTON (LNP): 608 (16.8%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 382 (10.6%)
3
Michelle McKAYPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,478
Kimberley WASHINGTON (LNP): 4,929 (65.9%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 1,354 (18.1%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 1,195 (16.0%)
4
Melissa STEVENSThe Greens
19,411
Anika WELLS (ALP): 17,163 (88.4%)
Kimberley WASHINGTON (LNP): 2,248 (11.6%)
Votes after every count
Lilley 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Anika WELLSAustralian Labor Party · elected
48,582
48,901
49,672
50,867
68,030
Kimberley WASHINGTONLNP
29,205
29,625
30,233
35,162
37,410
Melissa STEVENSThe Greens
17,294
17,675
18,057
19,411
–
Michelle McKAYPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,485
5,626
7,478
–
–
Joshua MORRISONTrumpet of Patriots
3,128
3,613
–
–
–
Alan DENAROFamily First
2,746
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party) won Lilley in 2022 with 59,941 of the 99,007 votes in the final count, beating Vivian LOBO (Liberal National Party of Queensland) by 20,875 votes (60.5% to 39.5%). Wells led on first preferences with 41.8% of 99,007 formal votes and passed the 49,504-vote majority at count 5.
99,007 formal votes7 candidates5 counts20,875-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 99,007 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, Stephen McGRATH (Informed Medical Options Party) was excluded; their 1,378 votes were distributed: 370 (26.9%) to Gerardine Louise HOOGLAND; 305 (22.1%) to Michelle WILDE; 271 (19.7%) to Melissa STEVENS; 168 (12.2%) to Daniel FRESHWATER and 2 more.
On count 2, Daniel FRESHWATER (Liberal Democrats) was excluded; their 2,580 votes were distributed: 922 (35.7%) to Vivian LOBO; 500 (19.4%) to Michelle WILDE; 463 (17.9%) to Anika WELLS; 412 (16.0%) to Gerardine Louise HOOGLAND and 1 more.
On count 3, Gerardine Louise HOOGLAND (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 4,102 votes were distributed: 2,351 (57.3%) to Michelle WILDE; 819 (20.0%) to Melissa STEVENS; 600 (14.6%) to Vivian LOBO; 332 (8.1%) to Anika WELLS.
On count 4, Michelle WILDE (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 7,183 votes were distributed: 4,004 (55.7%) to Vivian LOBO; 1,712 (23.8%) to Melissa STEVENS; 1,467 (20.4%) to Anika WELLS.
On count 5, Melissa STEVENS (Queensland Greens) was excluded; their 20,001 votes were distributed: 16,123 (80.6%) to Anika WELLS; 3,878 (19.4%) to Vivian LOBO.
Finally, Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party) won with 59,941 votes to 39,066 for Vivian LOBO (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
Where the preferences went
Lilley 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Stephen McGRATHInformed Medical Options Party
1,378
Gerardine Louise HOOGLAND (UAPP): 370 (26.9%)
Michelle WILDE (ON): 305 (22.1%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 271 (19.7%)
Daniel FRESHWATER (LDP): 168 (12.2%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 132 (9.6%)
Vivian LOBO (LNP): 132 (9.6%)
2
Daniel FRESHWATERLiberal Democrats
2,580
Vivian LOBO (LNP): 922 (35.7%)
Michelle WILDE (ON): 500 (19.4%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 463 (17.9%)
Gerardine Louise HOOGLAND (UAPP): 412 (16.0%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 283 (11.0%)
3
Gerardine Louise HOOGLANDUnited Australia Party
4,102
Michelle WILDE (ON): 2,351 (57.3%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 819 (20.0%)
Vivian LOBO (LNP): 600 (14.6%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 332 (8.1%)
4
Michelle WILDEPauline Hanson's One Nation
7,183
Vivian LOBO (LNP): 4,004 (55.7%)
Melissa STEVENS (GRN): 1,712 (23.8%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 1,467 (20.4%)
5
Melissa STEVENSQueensland Greens
20,001
Anika WELLS (ALP): 16,123 (80.6%)
Vivian LOBO (LNP): 3,878 (19.4%)
Votes after every count
Lilley 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Anika WELLSAustralian Labor Party · elected
41,424
41,556
42,019
42,351
43,818
59,941
Vivian LOBOLiberal National Party of Queensland
29,530
29,662
30,584
31,184
35,188
39,066
Melissa STEVENSQueensland Greens
16,916
17,187
17,470
18,289
20,001
–
Michelle WILDEPauline Hanson's One Nation
4,027
4,332
4,832
7,183
–
–
Gerardine Louise HOOGLANDUnited Australia Party
3,320
3,690
4,102
–
–
–
Daniel FRESHWATERLiberal Democrats
2,412
2,580
–
–
–
–
Stephen McGRATHInformed Medical Options Party
1,378
–
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party) won Lilley in 2019 with 48,917 of the 96,605 votes in the final count, beating Brad CARSWELL (Liberal National Party of Queensland) by 1,229 votes (50.6% to 49.4%). Wells came from behind: Carswell led on first preferences (40.8% to 35.6%) but preferences from excluded candidates put Wells ahead at count 5.
96,605 formal votes7 candidates5 counts1,229-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 96,605 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, Mike CROOK (Socialist Alliance) was excluded; their 743 votes were distributed: 376 (50.6%) to John MEYER; 122 (16.4%) to Anika WELLS; 85 (11.4%) to Don COLES; 64 (8.6%) to Brad CARSWELL and 2 more.
On count 2, Don COLES (FRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY) was excluded; their 1,240 votes were distributed: 688 (55.5%) to Tracey BELL-HENSELIN; 217 (17.5%) to Brad CARSWELL; 152 (12.3%) to David Bruce McCLAER; 94 (7.6%) to John MEYER and 1 more.
On count 3, David Bruce McCLAER (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 2,367 votes were distributed: 940 (39.7%) to Tracey BELL-HENSELIN; 762 (32.2%) to Brad CARSWELL; 356 (15.0%) to John MEYER; 309 (13.1%) to Anika WELLS.
On count 4, Tracey BELL-HENSELIN (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 6,851 votes were distributed: 4,111 (60.0%) to Brad CARSWELL; 1,376 (20.1%) to John MEYER; 1,364 (19.9%) to Anika WELLS.
On count 5, John MEYER (The Greens) was excluded; their 15,741 votes were distributed: 12,599 (80.0%) to Anika WELLS; 3,142 (20.0%) to Brad CARSWELL.
Finally, Anika WELLS (Australian Labor Party) won with 48,917 votes to 47,688 for Brad CARSWELL (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
Where the preferences went
Lilley 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Mike CROOKSocialist Alliance
743
John MEYER (GRN): 376 (50.6%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 122 (16.4%)
Don COLES (FACN): 85 (11.4%)
Brad CARSWELL (LNP): 64 (8.6%)
Tracey BELL-HENSELIN (ON): 58 (7.8%)
David Bruce McCLAER (UAPP): 38 (5.1%)
2
Don COLESFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
1,240
Tracey BELL-HENSELIN (ON): 688 (55.5%)
Brad CARSWELL (LNP): 217 (17.5%)
David Bruce McCLAER (UAPP): 152 (12.3%)
John MEYER (GRN): 94 (7.6%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 89 (7.2%)
3
David Bruce McCLAERUnited Australia Party
2,367
Tracey BELL-HENSELIN (ON): 940 (39.7%)
Brad CARSWELL (LNP): 762 (32.2%)
John MEYER (GRN): 356 (15.0%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 309 (13.1%)
4
Tracey BELL-HENSELINPauline Hanson's One Nation
6,851
Brad CARSWELL (LNP): 4,111 (60.0%)
John MEYER (GRN): 1,376 (20.1%)
Anika WELLS (ALP): 1,364 (19.9%)
5
John MEYERThe Greens
15,741
Anika WELLS (ALP): 12,599 (80.0%)
Brad CARSWELL (LNP): 3,142 (20.0%)
Votes after every count
Lilley 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Brad CARSWELLLiberal National Party of Queensland
39,392
39,456
39,673
40,435
44,546
47,688
Anika WELLSAustralian Labor Party · elected
34,434
34,556
34,645
34,954
36,318
48,917
John MEYERThe Greens
13,539
13,915
14,009
14,365
15,741
–
Tracey BELL-HENSELINPauline Hanson's One Nation
5,165
5,223
5,911
6,851
–
–
David Bruce McCLAERUnited Australia Party
2,177
2,215
2,367
–
–
–
Don COLESFRASER ANNING'S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY
1,155
1,240
–
–
–
–
Mike CROOKSocialist Alliance
743
–
–
–
–
–
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.
