How the Greens leader Adam Bandt won and lost the seat of Melbourne.

Greens leave:After 15 years,how Bandt and his party won,and lost,in Melbourne

So confident were the Greens of retaining Melbourne that they barely door-knocked in the seat,as they had their focus elsewhere. Instead,a “perfect storm” has cost the Greens their party leader.

  • Michael Bachelard andClay Lucas

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leaves illustration for Knott

How the war between ‘watermelons’ and ‘tree-Tories’ brought down the Greens

Party veterans are calling for the Greens to ditch its “hyper-militant” style and return to its environmental roots after the shock loss of Adam Bandt’s seat.

  • Matthew Knott,Mike Foley andMichael Bachelard
Greens leader Adam Bandt concedes defeat.

Greens leader Adam Bandt concedes he cannot retain the seat of Melbourne

The result caps a disastrous election in the lower house for the minor party and opens up the leadership of the Greens.

  • Olivia Ireland andMichael Bachelard
Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt speaking at the party’s campaign HQ in Melbourne on election night.

Greens’ dream of more seats has turned into a nightmare

The minor party faces the loss of lower house seats around the country.

  • Michael Bachelard andWilliam Davis
Gareth Hales,multimillionaire son of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church leader Bruce Hales,wears a blue Scott Yung campaign shirt at the Bennelong polling booth on April 30.

‘What’s going on?’:Why the Exclusive Brethren are out in force this election

This is not the first time the secretive sect has involved itself in a federal contest,but that also carries political risks.

  • Michael Bachelard
A man in a Liberal T-shirt putting up a poster authorised by Freedom Party candidate Morgan C. Jonas in the seat of Whitlam,NSW.

‘A 100 per cent turnout’:Leaks reveal Brethren secrecy push,bid to ramp up poll presence

A secret recording reveals members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church being told how to obscure who they are.

  • Michael Bachelard
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Gareth Hales,multimillionaire son of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church leader,Bruce Hales,spotted wearing a blue campaign T-shirt at the Bennelong polling booth on April 30.

Exclusive Brethren chief’s son spotted on hustings supporting Liberal Party

The appearance of the high-ranking member of the sect came as a Melbourne candidate’s wife said their campaign owed much to the support of “so many” of the church’s people.

  • Michael Bachelard,Kieran Rooney andMax Maddison

Who’s behind the mystery billboards urging voters to ‘make Australia happy’

Signs with “Make Australia happy. Put Labor last” have been popping up across crucial electorates,echoing a message by a separatist Christian sect.

  • Olivia Ireland andMichael Bachelard
Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members at a polling booth in Reid.

Exclusive Brethren don’t vote but are secretly campaigning for the Coalition

Members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church believe the world defiles them and don’t vote. The sect is sending hundreds of people to campaign for conservative candidates.

  • Michael Bachelard,Kieran Rooney andSumeyya Ilanbey
Michael Bachelard before (left) and after doing the Fast 800 diet.

Beefy to buff in just 10 weeks:What it’s really like to do the Fast 800 diet

Following a strict weight-loss program,Michael Bachelard endured twitchy legs,the fear of bad breath and constant cravings to shift his lard baby.

  • Michael Bachelard