Simon Kennedy has secured the federal seat of Cook, succeeding former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in a decisive by-election victory. The Liberal party maintained control of this traditionally safe seat, capturing over two-thirds of the votes. Kennedy’s primary competition, Green party candidate Martin Moore, garnered 29% in the final tally.
The results came in swiftly, with ABC’s Antony Green confirming Kennedy’s lead shortly after polling stations closed at 6 PM on Saturday. Despite a pre-planned event to honor campaign volunteers being canceled due to an unrelated incident at Westfield Bondi Junction, Kennedy spent election day engaging with constituents and distributing voting materials at Burraneer Public School.
The absence of a Labor candidate was a point of contention among voters, reflecting a broader dissatisfaction with limited political choices. Despite a decrease in voter turnout, which the Australian Electoral Commission noted was down by about 13% compared to previous elections, those who did participate expressed a strong preference for maintaining Liberal representation, citing alignment with local values.
