ACT elects former Wallabies captain David Pocock as first independent senator, unseating Liberal Zed Seselja

Former Wallabies captain David Pocock has made history, becoming the first independent senator for a territory.

This morning, the Australian Electoral Commission confirmed he had unseated former ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja, taking the territory's second Senate seat alongside Labor's Katy Gallagher.

Pocock had been predicted to take the seat since the night of the federal election, but he had not officially declared victory, nor had Seselja declared defeat.

Since the ACT and Northern Territory first elected senators in 1975, every election has produced the same pairing, one Labor senator and one Liberal senator in each jurisdiction.

We've officially made history! Thank you all.

What a huge honour to be able to serve the people of the ACT as a Senator. pic.twitter.com/OoORMmjJ4Z

— David Pocock (@pocockdavid) June 14, 2022

Senator Pocock is the first territory senator not from one of the two major parties.

When announcing his candidacy, he said the choice to run as an independent rather than join an established party was an easy one, hinging his campaign on person-led politics intended to support Canberrans over political parties.

Source : abc