ndependent Kerryn Phelps has been formally declared the winner of the Wentworth by-election, joining the Lower House crossbench and ending the Morrison government's one-seat majority.
The result has been expected since mid-October, when the largest official by-election swing against a government in Australian political history appeared to doom the Liberals' chances of retaining Malcolm Turnbull's former seat.
Wentworth has been held by the conservative side of politics since the seat was created.
Now, the local doctor and Sydney City councillor says she wants to bring politics back to the "sensible centre" and force the Morrison government into action in key policy areas like climate change and offshore detention of asylum seekers.
Dr Phelps has repeatedly said she does not want to bring down the government - ruling out supporting no-confidence motions unless there were "exceptional" circumstances.
But the newly minted independent MP will use her voting power as part of the crossbench to block or modify bills she fundamentally disagrees with.
"What I would be seeking to do is to modify any legislation or government policies that sought to drag Australia further to the right," she told ABC Radio on Monday morning.
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