MP Chris Trevor won't admit loss

IN a contradictory sequence of events yesterday, Member for Flynn Chris Trevor called a press conference to concede defeat in the federal election – then refused to concede defeat.

Mr Trevor also said he was looking forward to spending quality time with his wife and children, then announced he would spend six months working as a deckhand.

His move comes the day after the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) announced that due to handling irregularities, 452 early votes cast in Flynn would not be included in the count.

Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn said this was a serious matter that had resulted in affected voters not having their votes counted.

He said he had instigated an urgent examination into the circumstances which led to the exclusion of these votes.

But the exclusion of those votes is not expected to make any difference in the election, with LNP candidate Ken O'Dowd 4558 votes ahead of Mr Trevor on the latest figures.

While Mr Trevor is refusing to concede defeat, Mr O'Dowd has been acting like the newly-elected member for Flynn.

Yesterday he was on his way home from Canberra, where he had attended an LNP party room meeting.

In his press conference yesterday Mr Trevor started out by saying he had called the meeting to concede the seat of Flynn.

But then he said because of the issue of the quarantined votes, “I am not prepared to yet step down because clearly the people of Flynn have been denied their democratic right to vote”.

Then Mr Trevor said he and his staff were about to lose their jobs as “the result of the election I did not see coming”.

“The people have decided that Ken O'Dowd will be the new member for Flynn and I wish him the best of luck,” he said.

“I am going out to sea for six months to be a deckhand and upon my return will re-evaluate my future.”

Mr Trevor said he would not say at this stage whether he would recontest the seat of Flynn at a future election.

“All I seek is the confirmation of the AEC that everything was handled appropriately and then I will concede.”