First time Labor Party candidate Kate Thwaites won the seat of Jagajaga in the Federal election on Saturday to maintain Labor’s hold over the area.

Ms Thwaites increased Labor’s first preference margin in Jagajaga one percent, receiving 42.1 percent of the votes compared to Liberal candidate Richard Welch’s 39 percent.

“It’s a privilege to have been elected to represent the people of Jagajaga in Parliament,” she said. “I’m excited about the work that is ahead of me.”

Taking over from former minister Jenny Macklin, Ms Thwaites increased Labor’s Jagajaga preference count 0.7 percent despite the Coalition’s nationwide election victory.

“It’s a privilege to have been elected to represent the people of Jagajaga in Parliament,” she said. “I’m excited about the work that is ahead of me.”

Ms Thwaites said she is hopeful the “Federal Liberal government will fund the $7 million bike trail between Greensborough and Montmorency, and the extension to the Diamond Creek trail”.

Liberal candidate Richard Welch’s preference count decreased 0.7 percent, but he was “very delighted” due to the limited preparation he had.

“I personally don’t enter things to lose,” he said. “But we did a lot better in Greensborough then we thought we would.”

Mr Welch congratulated both Ms Thwaites and Jenny Macklin yet expressed his admiration for Scott Morrison and the Liberal’s election win.

“I felt the Liberal campaign was an entirely positive story compared to the Greens using climate change as politics of fear,” he said.

Mr Welch has since removed all online profiles of his candidacy following the loss, including his Facebook page and website.

Greens candidate Paul Kennedy finished with 13.8 percent of first preference votes, increasing Greens’ support 0.4 percent.

“I’ll go back to using my connections and networks to keep pushing the message of acting on climate change,” he said.

Mr Kennedy credited his competitors for “challenging the policies of others but not lying” yet said there was “blatant fibbing going on” in other electorates.

“The Clive Palmer attack ads on Bill Shorten contained a fair bit of mistruths. But my two competitors were honourable in their campaigns,” he said.

United Australia candidate Maria Rigoni received 3.7 percent of first preference votes, while 1.4 percent of voters preferred Rise Up Australia candidate Jeff Truscott.