Labor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedBy political reporter Tom CrowleyTopic:Elections1h ago1 hours agoSun 4 May 2025 at 3:10amDavid Pocock has been re-elected but may no longer be a powerbroker with Labor set to gain ground, while Jacqui Lambie is not assured of being re-elected. (
ABC News: Matt Roberts
)In short:Anthony Albanese may only need either the support of the Greens or the Coalition to pass legislation in the next parliament, as the surge in support for Labor boosts its ranks in the Senate by as many as four.An assortment of minor party candidates remain in the frame in several states, with Jacqui Lambie in a tight race with Pauline Hanson's daughter, Lee Hanson, for the final Tasmanian spot.What's next?The final Senate spot in several states will only become clear after preferences, with the chance that a minor party candidate with a small share of the vote could gain ground.abc.net.au/news/labor-set-for-easier-senate-federal-election-2025/105250414Link copiedShareShare articleAnthony Albanese may only need either the support of the Greens or the Coalition to pass legislation in the next parliament, as the surge in support for Labor boosts its ranks in the Senate by as many as four.While preference counts are incomplete, leaving the final spot in several states up in the air, Labor has already gained one senator in Queensland on first preferences alone, and the ABC projects it is likely to gain in South Australia and may do so in Victoria and New South Wales.Election essentials:Federal election updates and live resultsHow Labor carved a path to a landslide victoryWhat was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionThat would take its tally to 28 of 76 senators, 11 shy of a majority.Crucially, it could get all of those votes in one place, with the Greens almost certain to retain their tally of 11 seats, and the Coalition to hold 26, giving the government options to its left and right to negotiate the passage of its agenda.The result would sideline crossbenchers including David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie and Fatima Payman, whose votes were highly prized in the previous parliament.Senator Lambie is not assured of returning, locked in a tight battle with Pauline Hanson's daughter, Lee Hanson, for the final Tasmanian Senate seat.An assortment of minor party candidates remain in the frame in several states.Many horses in race for last placeThe Senate is elected in halves, with six out of 12 senators in each state up for re-election at any one time. The two senators from each territory are re-elected every time.That system means most spots up for grabs at this election were last contested in 2019, when Labor recorded a poor result that saw it slide to just one senator in Queensland.Read more about the federal election:It took just over two hours to call time on Dutton's two decades in federal politicsHave Your Say: What was the issue, policy or event that decided your vote?Federal election map: See a quick snapshot of how the parties are performingWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenThe system of proportional representation sees senators elected once they reach a "quota" of 14 per cent of the vote.The race for the final spot is often contested between candidates who begin a long way from a quota but gather the preferences of eliminated candidates.This makes it difficult to gauge the eventual winner from first preference results.Gruen Nation — Stream nowPhoto shows An election sign of Wil Anderson in a neighbourhood with a dog urinating on it with Gruen Nation Election edition and iview.It's election season and politicians are trying to sell you the world. The team at Gruen isn't about to buy it. They're taking a big swing at the election, showing you how the democracy sausage is made, all the sizzle and none of the meat.For example, in Victoria, the ABC projects Labor's third candidate, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, is ahead in the race for the sixth spot with 0.41 quotas — less than half of what she needs.But One Nation's Warren Pickering is on 0.31 quotas, and former state politician Fiona Patten is on 0.30 quotas running for Legalise Cannabis, with both a chance.In New South Wales, Labor's third candidate, Emilija Beljic, is ahead on 0.62 quotas, with One Nation on 0.42.In Queensland, One Nation's Malcolm Roberts leads the race for the final spot with 0.50 quotas, but former Liberal Gerard Rennick is competitive on 0.35, as are Belinda Jones of Legalise Cannabis on 0.32 and Harry Fong of the Trumpet of Patriots on 0.27.In Western Australia, Labor's third candidate, Deep Singh, is on 0.42, One Nation on 0.41 and Legalise Cannabis on 0.34.In Tasmania, the last two spots are up for grabs, with Liberal Richard Colbeck on 0.54, Jacqui Lambie on 0.47 and Lee Hanson on 0.39.In South Australia and the territories, there is little doubt over the final spots, with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and David Pocock among those re-elected.LoadingLoading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoSun 4 May 2025 at 3:10amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLabor victory a 'win for the ages'Topic:ElectionsPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behindLiberals begin dissection after ruinous lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Liberal Party launch in SydneyYour 4-minute guide to the federal election resultsTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds up his hands to calm the crowd.What was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows An illustration of the map of Australia with multicoloured lines behind itIt took just over two hours to call time on Dutton's two decades in politicsTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A close up of Peter Dutton on stage. 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