Goldstein Electorate Results 2025: Tim Wilson Wins by 175

When the Australian Electoral Commission called for a recount in Victoria’s Goldstein electorate, few expected the margin to tighten rather than hold steady. After three weeks of methodical ballot review, Tim Wilson emerged with a 175-vote win over incumbent Zoe Daniel — one of the closest federal results in recent memory. The recount confirmed what the initial count suggested: this bayside Melbourne seat changed hands by the slimmest of margins.

2025 Winner: Tim Wilson (Liberal) · Final Margin: 175 votes · Recount Date: 31 May 2025 · Division: Goldstein, VIC · Key Source: AEC Tally Room

A complete summary of the election outcome, turnout, and enrolment figures appears in the table below.

Latest Goldstein electorate results

The 2025 federal election delivered one of the closest results in the country when the Australian Electoral Commission confirmed Tim Wilson as the winner of Goldstein on 31 May 2025. Wilson secured a final margin of 175 votes over Zoe Daniel after a partial recount that re-examined all first preference votes for both candidates and informal ballot papers.

First preferences

The AEC Tally Room shows Tim Wilson received 50,288 primary votes (43.42%), representing a swing of +3.85% from the previous election. Zoe Daniel attracted 35,533 primary votes (30.72%), a decline of 0.57%. Wilson held a lead of 14,695 primary votes over his opponent heading into preference distribution.

Two-party preferred

After full preference distribution, Wilson finished with 57,924 votes (50.08%) against Daniel’s 57,749 votes (49.92%). The two-candidate preferred result gave Wilson just 175 votes separating the candidates — well within recount territory under Australian electoral law.

Swing analysis

The partial recount narrowed the margin from an initial 260-vote lead to 175 votes, a reduction of 85 votes in Wilson’s favour. According to SBS News, the recount process was described as methodical and highly transparent, with all counting activities conducted in front of candidate-appointed scrutineers.

Goldstein electorate map

Goldstein covers a stretch of bayside Melbourne along Port Phillip Bay, encompassing several affluent coastal suburbs that have historically leant conservative but shown increasing openness to independent candidates.

Boundaries

The division includes suburbs such as Brighton, Brighton East, Hampton, Sandringham, and Black Rock. The electorate spans from the beachfront properties near the bay through to residential neighbourhoods inland, creating a mix of coastal and suburban voters.

Suburbs covered

Goldstein is positioned in Victoria’s bayside region, a politically competitive area where the “teal independent” phenomenon has challenged traditional Liberal support. The seat’s demographics — educated, wealthier, environmentally conscious voters — have made it a target for both major parties and independent candidates.

Demographics

With an enrolment of 126,139 voters, Goldstein ranks among the larger metropolitan divisions. The 94.24% turnout reflects strong engagement from a politically active electorate that closely followed the extended recount process.

Goldstein electorate results 2025

The official election results for Goldstein were among the most closely contested in the 2025 federal election, with the outcome ultimately decided after a recount rather than on election night.

Candidate votes

The AEC Tally Room recorded these primary vote totals: Tim Wilson (Liberal) 50,288 votes (43.42%), Zoe Daniel (Independent) 35,533 votes (30.72%), Australian Labor Party 15,812 votes (13.67%), and Australian Greens 8,320 votes (7.19%).

Party performances

The Liberal/National Coalition achieved a two-party preferred result of 62,427 votes (53.97%) across Goldstein, while Labor reached 53,246 votes (46.03%) when distributed between Wilson and Daniel. Wilson’s superior first-preference vote count gave him an advantage heading into preference distribution.

Historical context

Wilson previously held Goldstein before losing it to Daniel in the 2022 election. Wilson was one of the few Liberals to gain a seat at the 2025 election, a notable achievement given the Coalition’s overall result of approximately 43 seats — its worst in 80 years.

Tim Wilson Goldstein

Tim Wilson represented Goldstein from 2016 until 2022, when he lost to teal independent Zoe Daniel in a result that signalled shifting political allegiances in bayside Melbourne. His 2025 victory restores him to Parliament as one of the few Liberal MPs to gain a seat in the election.

Profile

Wilson served as the Liberal member for Goldstein for six years before his 2022 defeat. He has positioned himself on the centre-right of Australian politics, appealing to the electorate’s economically conservative but socially progressive sensibilities.

Past results

His previous tenure saw consistent Liberal results in Goldstein, a seat that had been considered safe for the party until Daniel’s victory three years ago. The 2025 rematch became one of the most-watched contests in the country.

2025 campaign

Speaking after the recount confirmation, Wilson said he was “pleased the AEC has confirmed the conclusion of the recount in Goldstein” and thanked voters including overseas voters. Wilson had been relaxed throughout the counting process, stating he knew the count would deliver a result reflecting the will of Goldstein voters.

Goldstein recount timeline

The path from election night to final confirmation took nearly four weeks, as the Australian Electoral Commission oversaw a partial recount in response to the tight margin between Wilson and Daniel.

• 3 May 2025: Federal election held across Australia, with Goldstein too close to call on the night.
• 26 May 2025: AEC announces a partial recount will be conducted, citing the need for integrity and confidence in the result despite the margin exceeding the 100-vote automatic threshold.
• 28 May 2025: Partial recount begins, with AEC officials and candidate scrutineers present throughout the counting process.
• 31 May 2025: Partial recount finalised. AEC confirms Tim Wilson wins by 175 votes. Zoe Daniel concedes.

Australian Electoral Commission (official electoral body)

The final margin after the partial recount is 175 in favour of Liberal Party candidate Tim Wilson. The partial recount has been a methodical and highly transparent process with all counting activities throughout the entire counting period occurring in front of candidate-appointed scrutineers.

The New Daily (independent Australian news outlet)

We have been very relaxed about every count and recount to date in Goldstein, as we know the count will deliver the result that reflects the will of the people of Goldstein.

For Liberal Party strategists, the Goldstein result offers a template: a disciplined campaign, strong ground game, and sufficient primary vote share can reverse even a determined teal challenge. Whether that lesson transfers to other marginal seats will shape the party’s electoral strategy heading toward the next cycle.