Labor Senate candidate Louise Pratt, with partner Aram Hosie, after voting at Dianella Heights Primary School. Source: News Limited
LOUISE Pratt last night described the past seven months as the "longest of her life".
The Labor senator has been fighting for her political survival as Labor's No. 2 candidate on its Senate ticket and her future may be unknown for weeks as preferences are counted.
And yesterday Senator Pratt followed her partner Aram Hosie's advice to voters – and defied ALP recommendations – by voting below the line.
In front of the media at Dianella Heights Primary School, Ms Pratt spent at least five minutes filling in every box below the line of her ballot paper as the ALP's No. 1 candidate Joe Bullock watched on glumly.
With Mr Bullock, an ultra-conservative union boss chosen as the party's No. 1 candidate, insiders were extremely worried that a predicted poor Labor showing would have Ms Pratt miss out on one of the six Senate spots up for grabs.
The salt on the wound has been Mr Bullock's dismal campaign, including questioning his running mate's sexuality.
Ms Pratt is an openly gay politician whose partner was a female, but is now legally a male.
Also this week audio surfaced of a speech Mr Bullock gave in November to a Christian group in which he said Labor could not be trusted.
Labor candidates Joe Bullock and Louise Pratt voting at Dianella Heights Primary School. Source: News Limited
Labor strategists were predicting yesterday that the party would need 29 per cent of the vote to win two spots.
Ms Pratt said her friends and family – particularly her partner Aram Hosie – had given her the support she had needed to stay positive and face the possibility that her Senate career was over.
"It has been the longest seven months of my life," she said. "The experience has certainly made me stronger.
"I've been lucky to have wonderful support around me. Aram is an extraordinary, emotional, practical and personal support to me.
"I am extremely lucky to have him as a partner especially at this stressful time. He is my rock."
Ms Pratt's sexuality and her relationship with Mr Hosie came under the spotlight when Mr Bullock said of his running mate: "She's a lesbian I think, although after her partner's sex change I can't be sure."
Asked if she was disappointed her sexuality had been brought up during the campaign, Ms Pratt said: "Joe and I have been debating these issues for decades. (His) views are no surprise to me."
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