Gisele Kapterian Snatches Bradfield for Libs in Nail-Biter as Independent Boele Falls Short (Again)
Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian narrowly wins the once-safe Bradfield seat in Sydney's north, edging out independent Nicolette Boele in a tight federal contest. Climate issues dominated, but not quite enough to flip the seat.
Bradfield Bounces Blue… Just Barely
It took more than a week, enough stress to power Sydney’s grid, and a margin tighter than your jeans after Easter — but it’s official: the Liberals are hanging onto Bradfield. Gisele Kapterian, the international lawyer turned MP, has defeated climate-focused independent Nicolette Boele by just 219 votes, according to the ABC’s projections.
That’s fewer votes than you’d find in a local Bunnings sausage queue on a Saturday.
The Bradfield Breakdown
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Winning Candidate | Gisele Kapterian (Liberal) |
| Runner-Up | Nicolette Boele (Independent) |
| Final Margin (approx.) | 219 votes |
| Total Votes Counted | Over 90,000 |
| Swing to Independent | +2.5% |
| Historical Liberal Hold | Since 1949 |
| Coalition Seat Count (So far) | 41 seats nationally |
| Greater Sydney Seats (Lib) | 5 of 24 |
Close But No Bradfield Biscuit (For Now)
Boele’s second attempt to wrestle the once-Liberal stronghold fell short, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Backed by Climate 200 and running on a platform of climate action and political accountability, she closed the gap since her 2022 campaign — but ultimately couldn’t overcome a late swing to Kapterian.
Boele had the buzz, the backing, and the bumper stickers. But in the end, the blue-ribbon seat stayed just that.
Who Is Gisele Kapterian?
Before becoming Bradfield’s next MP, Kapterian had a CV that read like a diplomatic action film:
- Prosecuted war crimes in Ethiopia
- Worked in international trade law in London and Geneva
- Preselected for North Sydney before shifting to Bradfield
- Fended off high-profile conservative Warren Mundine to win preselection
The win shores up Liberal morale in Sydney, where the party now holds just five seats — down from 11 before 2022.
Political Power Moves
| Candidate | Notable Background | Campaign Backing |
|---|---|---|
| Gisele Kapterian | International lawyer, Geneva & Ethiopia work | Mainstream Liberals |
| Nicolette Boele | Clean energy exec, climate policy, investment focus | Climate 200 (Teal camp) |
| Warren Mundine | Conservative Lib hopeful, backed by Tony Abbott | Lost Bradfield preselection |
Why This Race Mattered
Bradfield had long been Liberal bedrock. But the teal wave and rising climate concerns made even this blue bastion vulnerable. Boele’s performance signals growing appetite in wealthy suburbs for independents who break with the major party line on environment, integrity, and community consultation.
ABC election analyst Antony Green called it:
“A swing without a seat flip, but a sign that this area’s not as safe as it once was.”
Election Expert Take
Clinton Free, political analyst, University of Sydney:
“This wasn’t just a win for Kapterian — it’s a wake-up call for the Liberal Party. They held Bradfield, but the independents are still knocking loudly on the door.”
Final Word: A Win’s a Win, But Barely
While Kapterian didn’t claim victory outright and Boele hasn’t officially conceded, with fewer than 1,000 ballots left to count and the Liberal lead holding, it’s game over.
Boele’s climate-focused campaign may not have won this time, but it brought Bradfield from “safe as houses” to “swing suburb,” and that’s a political tremor the Liberals can’t ignore.
