ABC News: Tamara Penikett
)Gungahlin businessman James Milligan has re-entered the ACT Legislative Assembly as a Canberra Liberals member after losing his seat at last year's election.
Mr Milligan, 42, takes the place of former opposition leader Alistair Coe, who announced in January he would retire from politics.
By-elections are not held in the ACT when a member resigns.
Instead, the last election's ballot papers are recounted to see who would have been elected, had the departing member not run for office.
Mr Milligan won today's "countback" of relevant votes in the electorate of Yerrabi by a clear majority.
He told media after his re-election that he would work with Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee to provide a "very strong alternative for the ACT" in 2024.
"We've got to remember that this government's been in power now for 20 years and they've really lost their way," he said.
Mr Milligan also paid tribute to Mr Coe, describing him as a good friend and mentor.
The countback result leaves the balance of parties in the Assembly unchanged: Labor (10 seats) and the Greens (six) govern in coalition, while the Liberals (nine) form the opposition.
ABC News: Harry Frost
)Liberal swings and roundabouts in Yerrabi
The northern electorate of Yerrabi was a relative success for the Liberals last October, when Canberra voters turned away from the party in favour of the Greens and other candidates elsewhere.
The ACT-wide Liberal vote fell about 3 percentage points, but the party gained almost 5 points in Yerrabi, where Labor suffered a steep swing against it of almost 10 points.
However, the Liberals failed to benefit from Labor's collapse, as Greens newcomer Andrew Braddock won the seat that Labor lost.
Mr Milligan has previously represented Yerrabi — he was elected in 2016 — but lost his seat to fellow Liberal Leanne Castley at the October 2020 poll.
Facebook: James Milligan
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