Jandakot Labor candidate Yaz Mubarakai.
Camera IconJandakot Labor candidate Yaz Mubarakai. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

WA Election: Joe Francis concedes defeat to Yaz Mubarakai in Jandakot

Bryce LuffCockburn Gazette

JANDAKOT MLA Joe Francis has conceded the fight to retain the seat.

This afternoon on Twitter Mr Francis, who held the seat for the Liberal Party since 2008, passed on his best to Labor candidate Yaz Mubarakai.

“Congratulations to my friend Yaz Mubarakai,” Mr Francis said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“It has been a privilege to serve the people of Jandakot and I wish him all the best in the job.”

At last count, Labor had jumped into the lead and looked on course to steal the legislative seat.

With 82.5 per cent of votes counted, Mr Mubarakai had stretched his lead over Mr Francis to 459 votes on a two-party preferred basis.

Percentage-wise the gap was 51 per cent to 49 per cent Labor’s way.

There are 29,048 registered electors in Jandakot, with 23,962 votes counted.

Overnight, with 76 per cent of nominations counted, Mr Mubarakai led by just four votes on a two-party preferred basis – 10,679 to 10,675.

MORE: Barnett may have breached Electoral Act

MORE: Seat of Jandakot set to go the wire

MORE: Stirling Mayor praises new Balcatta MLA David Michael

In terms of percentages it could not have been closer (50.01 per cent of votes for Labor to 49.99 for the Liberals), but Mr Mubarakai said he was not feeling the nerves with the count so tight.

“My take on it is that I can’t control the result, but I could control the commitment I made during the campaign,” he said.

“I’m really proud of all my effort. I’m overjoyed.”

Mr Mubarakai said a result was unlikely before Friday, with postal votes still filtering in.

“It’s out of my control,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens.”

Mr Francis, speaking on 6PR this morning, said he would not be monitoring the WA Electoral Commission website for a result.

“It’s not healthy for my sanity or my family’s,” he said in typically honest fashion.

“I don’t know (if I will win or lose).

“There’s 29,000 enrolled voters in Jandakot.

“Last time there was a 9 per cent no-show who didn’t vote.

“If it was 15 per cent this time, worst case scenario, there’s still some 3-4000 thousand votes.

“I just do not know and we may not know for another week from now.”