This from the Border Mail (local paper) at 2.31pmCATHY McGowan...

This from the Border Mail (local paper) at 2.31pm

CATHY McGowan is all but assured of victory in Indi, with fewer than 1000 votes left to count.

As the Australian Electoral Commission finishes today’s count, the independent is leading Liberal Sophie Mirabella by 405 votes.

AEC official Steve Kennedy said two small counts of 100 absentee votes and 150 provisional votes would be counted tomorrow, as they awaited the last of the postal votes to trickle in.

These would be counted on Friday, he said - under AEC rules, officials must allow exactly 13 days after an election for all postal votes to be received.

However, Mr Kennedy said it was hoped an official declaration would be made by Thursday as the final result became clearer.

It was reported today that neither Ms McGowan nor Mrs Mirabella were claiming victory or conceding defeat at this stage, though Ms McGowan has hired out the Oxley hall every night this week just in case.