Vote count see-saw continues - ABC Online

Posted October 25, 2012 19:33:44

The latest flow of preferences in the ACT election count gives the Liberals and Labor eight seats each with the Greens holding the balance of power with one seat.

Interim preference figures published by the Elections ACT on Thursday night, show Labor candidate Yvette Berry and Labor MLA Chris Bourke have firmed, at the expense of the ACT Greens Leader Meredith Hunter for the fifth seat in Ginninderra.

In the electorate of Brindabella, Canberra Liberals' Andrew Wall is leading sitting Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan.

In Molonglo, Attorney-General Simon Corbell appears likely to hold his seat after an earlier challenge from Labor candidate Meegan Fitzharris.

Sitting Liberals MLA Steve Doszpot looks set to lose his seat with fellow Liberal Elizabeth Lee slightly ahead.

Shane Rattenbury is holding the Greens only seat so far. He is just ahead of fellow Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur in Molonglo.

But the ACT political parties are not the only ones in limbo as the counting of votes continues.

The Chamber of Commerce says businesses are in a holding pattern while they wait for a result from Saturday's election.

Spokesman Chris Peters says in the weeks leading up to the election businesses are hesitant, and delay any big decisions.

But he says that should not be a reason for the parties to rush the negotiations for forming a minority government.

"Political stability is far more important," he said.

"Get it right, make sure it's going to stick and that we have some sort of certainty for the next four years, because political uncertainty is the worst impact for business.

"When the rules keep changing, when the people keep changing, when government policy keeps changing, then business gets very nervous and they're not prepared to invest."

Preference counting continues with a final election figure expected on Saturday at the earliest.

Topics: states-and-territories, elections, act, canberra-2600