Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine today confirmed the party had requested a recount after senator Scott Ludlam lost his West Australian Senate seat to the Palmer United Party (PUP).
After a tight count involving complicated preference votes, three Liberal senators, two Labor senators and Zhenya Wang from PUP were declared winners.
Scrutineers have identified the result may have come down to a 14-vote margin.
Ms Milne said The Greens had lodged a recount request with the Australian Electoral Commission.
"The entire Party Room is devastated at the thought of Scott leaving the Senate next year," she said.
"It would be particularly hard given how close the result was.
"Scott is widely respected in the Parliament and in the community for his passion, his wealth of knowledge and his calm and reasoned demeanour. And I know between now and when the Senate changes over Scott will be fiercely advocating for digital rights, keeping uranium in the ground, keeping the carbon price and getting big solar up and running in WA."
Senator Ludlam has thanked the 124,000 people who voted Green in WA, and the Western Australian and national campaign teams for their work during the election campaign.
"In particular, I acknowledge Senator Christine Milne for her dedicated and tenacious leadership: the role of the Greens has never been more crucial than now,” Senator Ludlam said.
David Johnston, Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds will represent the Liberals, David Johnston and Louise Pratt will represent Labor, and Mr Wang will be the PUP's latest parliamentary representative.
"Everyone is going to have a close look at the numbers and see if there is cause for a recount," he told ABC radio.
"But it appears they (PUP) have been elected on roughly half the vote of the Greens, and that is the sort of result our voting system throws up from time to time.
"(Losing) is still sinking in, but I would love to keep working on the things I have been working on - and if you think politicians do a crap job, then you should just try it." Senator Ludlam said there was an urgent need for electoral reform.
"It is an elegant system being expertly gamed and manipulated," he said. "The whole purpose of an electoral system is to accurately as possible reflect the voting will of the Australian people. It has let us down in this instance."
The Australian Sports Party, which was in the running, also lost out on preference votes.
