Nationals MP Pat Conaghan has claimed victory in the seat of Cowper, after days of vote counting left him neck and neck with up-and-comer teal Independent Caz Heise.
Mr Conaghan faced an unexpectedly tight contest with Independent candidate Caz HeiseWith 99.99 per cent of the ballot papers counted, Mr Conaghan received 52.69 per cent of the votes.
"I have learned an incredible amount over these past three years and have listened to views from all sides," he said.Mr Conaghan said Ms Heise ran "a very strong campaign and there was change in the wind" but put down his loss of votes to an equally strong campaign by the One Nation candidate Faye Aspiotis."I think the most damage was actually done by them rather than the Independent at the end of the day.
Independent candidate Caz Heise says turning the Nationals stronghold of Cowper into a marginal seat in one election is a huge victory in itself.