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 BURNELL (Australian Labor Party) won Spence in 2025 with 72,903 of the 111,582 votes in the final count, beating Daniel WILD (Liberal) by 34,224 votes (65.3% to 34.7%). Burnell led on first preferences with 44.3% of 111,582 formal votes and passed the 55,792-vote majority at count 5.
111,582 formal votes8 candidates6 counts34,224-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 111,582 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, Miranda Joyce SMITH (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 2,343 votes were distributed: 760 (32.4%) to Luke SKINNER; 356 (15.2%) to Matt BURNELL; 344 (14.7%) to John William BENNETT; 327 (14.0%) to Kym HANTON and 3 more.
On count 2, Kym HANTON (Independent) was excluded; their 3,076 votes were distributed: 705 (22.9%) to Matt BURNELL; 642 (20.9%) to Luke SKINNER; 540 (17.6%) to Darryl BOTHE; 522 (17.0%) to John William BENNETT and 2 more.
On count 3, Paul Michael MORRELL (Trumpet of Patriots) was excluded; their 4,871 votes were distributed: 2,108 (43.3%) to Darryl BOTHE; 1,360 (27.9%) to John William BENNETT; 524 (10.8%) to Matt BURNELL; 446 (9.2%) to Daniel WILD and 1 more.
On count 4, John William BENNETT (Family First) was excluded; their 7,127 votes were distributed: 3,315 (46.5%) to Darryl BOTHE; 1,702 (23.9%) to Luke SKINNER; 1,231 (17.3%) to Matt BURNELL; 879 (12.3%) to Daniel WILD.
On count 5, Darryl BOTHE (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 16,872 votes were distributed: 7,835 (46.4%) to Daniel WILD; 4,873 (28.9%) to Luke SKINNER; 4,164 (24.7%) to Matt BURNELL.
On count 6, Luke SKINNER (The Greens) was excluded; their 24,576 votes were distributed: 16,460 (67.0%) to Matt BURNELL; 8,116 (33.0%) to Daniel WILD.
Finally, Matt BURNELL (Australian Labor Party) won with 72,903 votes to 38,679 for Daniel WILD (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Spence 2025: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Miranda Joyce SMITHAnimal Justice Party
2,343
Luke SKINNER (GRN): 760 (32.4%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 356 (15.2%)
John William BENNETT (FFPA): 344 (14.7%)
Kym HANTON (IND): 327 (14.0%)
Darryl BOTHE (ON): 255 (10.9%)
Daniel WILD (LP): 191 (8.2%)
Paul Michael MORRELL (CYA): 110 (4.7%)
2
Kym HANTONIndependent
3,076
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 705 (22.9%)
Luke SKINNER (GRN): 642 (20.9%)
Darryl BOTHE (ON): 540 (17.6%)
John William BENNETT (FFPA): 522 (17.0%)
Daniel WILD (LP): 360 (11.7%)
Paul Michael MORRELL (CYA): 307 (10.0%)
3
Paul Michael MORRELLTrumpet of Patriots
4,871
Darryl BOTHE (ON): 2,108 (43.3%)
John William BENNETT (FFPA): 1,360 (27.9%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 524 (10.8%)
Daniel WILD (LP): 446 (9.2%)
Luke SKINNER (GRN): 433 (8.9%)
4
John William BENNETTFamily First
7,127
Darryl BOTHE (ON): 3,315 (46.5%)
Luke SKINNER (GRN): 1,702 (23.9%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 1,231 (17.3%)
Daniel WILD (LP): 879 (12.3%)
5
Darryl BOTHEPauline Hanson's One Nation
16,872
Daniel WILD (LP): 7,835 (46.4%)
Luke SKINNER (GRN): 4,873 (28.9%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 4,164 (24.7%)
6
Luke SKINNERThe Greens
24,576
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 16,460 (67.0%)
Daniel WILD (LP): 8,116 (33.0%)
Votes after every count
Spence 2025: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Count 5
Count 6
Matt BURNELLAustralian Labor Party · elected
49,463
49,819
50,524
51,048
52,279
56,443
72,903
Daniel WILDLiberal
20,852
21,043
21,403
21,849
22,728
30,563
38,679
Luke SKINNERThe Greens
16,166
16,926
17,568
18,001
19,703
24,576
–
Darryl BOTHEPauline Hanson's One Nation
10,654
10,909
11,449
13,557
16,872
–
–
John William BENNETTFamily First
4,901
5,245
5,767
7,127
–
–
–
Paul Michael MORRELLTrumpet of Patriots
4,454
4,564
4,871
–
–
–
–
Kym HANTONIndependent
2,749
3,076
–
–
–
–
–
Miranda Joyce SMITHAnimal Justice Party
2,343
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022 Federal election
Matt BURNELL (Australian Labor Party) won Spence in 2022 with 66,818 of the 106,227 votes in the final count, beating Shawn LOCK (Liberal) by 27,409 votes (62.9% to 37.1%). Burnell led on first preferences with 43.9% of 106,227 formal votes and passed the 53,114-vote majority at count 3.
106,227 formal votes6 candidates4 counts27,409-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 106,227 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, Matilda BAWDEN (Australian Federation Party) was excluded; their 1,736 votes were distributed: 607 (35.0%) to Linda CHAMPION; 383 (22.1%) to Alvin Eric WARREN; 320 (18.4%) to David DEEX; 233 (13.4%) to Matt BURNELL and 1 more.
On count 2, Alvin Eric WARREN (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 7,541 votes were distributed: 3,353 (44.5%) to Linda CHAMPION; 2,057 (27.3%) to Matt BURNELL; 1,255 (16.6%) to David DEEX; 876 (11.6%) to Shawn LOCK.
On count 3, David DEEX (The Greens) was excluded; their 13,627 votes were distributed: 9,216 (67.6%) to Matt BURNELL; 2,468 (18.1%) to Linda CHAMPION; 1,943 (14.3%) to Shawn LOCK.
On count 4, Linda CHAMPION (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) was excluded; their 17,960 votes were distributed: 9,244 (51.5%) to Shawn LOCK; 8,716 (48.5%) to Matt BURNELL.
Finally, Matt BURNELL (Australian Labor Party) won with 66,818 votes to 39,409 for Shawn LOCK (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Spence 2022: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Matilda BAWDENAustralian Federation Party
1,736
Linda CHAMPION (ON): 607 (35.0%)
Alvin Eric WARREN (UAPP): 383 (22.1%)
David DEEX (GRN): 320 (18.4%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 233 (13.4%)
Shawn LOCK (LP): 193 (11.1%)
2
Alvin Eric WARRENUnited Australia Party
7,541
Linda CHAMPION (ON): 3,353 (44.5%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 2,057 (27.3%)
David DEEX (GRN): 1,255 (16.6%)
Shawn LOCK (LP): 876 (11.6%)
3
David DEEXThe Greens
13,627
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 9,216 (67.6%)
Linda CHAMPION (ON): 2,468 (18.1%)
Shawn LOCK (LP): 1,943 (14.3%)
4
Linda CHAMPIONPauline Hanson's One Nation
17,960
Shawn LOCK (LP): 9,244 (51.5%)
Matt BURNELL (ALP): 8,716 (48.5%)
Votes after every count
Spence 2022: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Matt BURNELLAustralian Labor Party · elected
46,596
46,829
48,886
58,102
66,818
Shawn LOCKLiberal
27,153
27,346
28,222
30,165
39,409
David DEEXThe Greens
12,052
12,372
13,627
–
–
Linda CHAMPIONPauline Hanson's One Nation
11,532
12,139
15,492
17,960
–
Alvin Eric WARRENUnited Australia Party
7,158
7,541
–
–
–
Matilda BAWDENAustralian Federation Party
1,736
–
–
–
–
2019 Federal election
Nick CHAMPION (Australian Labor Party) won Spence in 2019 with 65,174 of the 101,629 votes in the final count, beating Kathleen BOURNE (Liberal) by 28,719 votes (64.1% to 35.9%). Champion won on first preferences, with 51.0% of 101,629 formal votes (more than half: 50,815 needed).
101,629 formal votes6 candidates4 counts28,719-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 101,629 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, Rita KUHLMANN (Animal Justice Party) was excluded; their 3,626 votes were distributed: 1,271 (35.1%) to Daniel JURY; 1,094 (30.2%) to Nathan HERBERT; 597 (16.5%) to Nick CHAMPION; 377 (10.4%) to Ron FIEDLER and 1 more.
On count 2, Nathan HERBERT (Independent) was excluded; their 6,567 votes were distributed: 2,314 (35.2%) to Daniel JURY; 1,774 (27.0%) to Ron FIEDLER; 1,606 (24.5%) to Nick CHAMPION; 873 (13.3%) to Kathleen BOURNE.
On count 3, Ron FIEDLER (United Australia Party) was excluded; their 9,308 votes were distributed: 4,012 (43.1%) to Kathleen BOURNE; 2,685 (28.8%) to Daniel JURY; 2,611 (28.1%) to Nick CHAMPION.
On count 4, Daniel JURY (The Greens) was excluded; their 13,600 votes were distributed: 8,569 (63.0%) to Nick CHAMPION; 5,031 (37.0%) to Kathleen BOURNE.
Finally, Nick CHAMPION (Australian Labor Party) won with 65,174 votes to 36,455 for Kathleen BOURNE (Liberal).
Where the preferences went
Spence 2019: where each excluded candidate’s votes went
Count
Excluded
Votes distributed
Passed to
1
Rita KUHLMANNAnimal Justice Party
3,626
Daniel JURY (GRN): 1,271 (35.1%)
Nathan HERBERT (IND): 1,094 (30.2%)
Nick CHAMPION (ALP): 597 (16.5%)
Ron FIEDLER (UAPP): 377 (10.4%)
Kathleen BOURNE (LP): 287 (7.9%)
2
Nathan HERBERTIndependent
6,567
Daniel JURY (GRN): 2,314 (35.2%)
Ron FIEDLER (UAPP): 1,774 (27.0%)
Nick CHAMPION (ALP): 1,606 (24.5%)
Kathleen BOURNE (LP): 873 (13.3%)
3
Ron FIEDLERUnited Australia Party
9,308
Kathleen BOURNE (LP): 4,012 (43.1%)
Daniel JURY (GRN): 2,685 (28.8%)
Nick CHAMPION (ALP): 2,611 (28.1%)
4
Daniel JURYThe Greens
13,600
Nick CHAMPION (ALP): 8,569 (63.0%)
Kathleen BOURNE (LP): 5,031 (37.0%)
Votes after every count
Spence 2019: votes held by each candidate after every count (– = excluded)
Candidate
First prefs
Count 1
Count 2
Count 3
Count 4
Nick CHAMPIONAustralian Labor Party · elected
51,791
52,388
53,994
56,605
65,174
Kathleen BOURNELiberal
26,252
26,539
27,412
31,424
36,455
Daniel JURYThe Greens
7,330
8,601
10,915
13,600
–
Ron FIEDLERUnited Australia Party
7,157
7,534
9,308
–
–
Nathan HERBERTIndependent
5,473
6,567
–
–
–
Rita KUHLMANNAnimal Justice Party
3,626
–
–
–
–
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.
