The North East will not have a senator representing Victoria in Parliament after Tawonga’s Allan Mull only polled 128 votes.
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The independent candidate ran a campaign based around issues of defence force training, mental health support and stopping the over-regulation of small and medium businesses.
Australian Electorate Commission data showed 80 of his 128 first preference votes came from within the division of Indi, including 10 at the Mount Beauty booth closest to his home.
One of the people who did not vote for him was Jeff Kennett.
Mr Mull took objection to the former Victorian premier’s comments that he voted for five Labor candidates and Ricky Muir at a pre-poll because the very long Senate paper was “a dog’s breakfast”.
Mr Kennett was a regular on television programs in the past months, offering his views on the election.
“I have registered a verbal complaint to Prime TV Albury about allowing Mr Kennett, through Sunrise, the opportunity to have misled the Australian public,” Mr Mull said.
“Clearly, he (Kennett) abused his position and he should have had a duty of care and carried out due diligence to research the independent candidates’ policies, especially mine.”
He claimed Mr Kennett did him a “serious injustice” and owed him and the country an apology.
“I challenge him to a live debate on Sunrise however I don’t think he will have the balls to front up,” Mr Mull said.