While official announcements had not been made at the time of print, projections suggested she would be excluded on the 40th count, with the final appointment likely going to the Liberal Democrats’ David Leyonhjelm.

The Senator is disappointed although not surprised to be leaving office. Results highlight the need for electoral reform, she says.

Tight preference deals between micro-parties had distorted the outcome and didn’t reflect the wishes of the wider electorate.

“I always knew it was going to be difficult but I think we were all blindsided by the way in which the micro-parties stitched that up,” she said.

“It really was a gaming exercise for the Senate.”

The Motor Enthusiasts’ Ricky Muir and Australian Sports Party’s Wayne Dropulich are likely to gain seats.

The Palmer United Party also looks set to secure more than one Senate appointment.

“We saw it when Steve Fielding did it in 2007, he managed to get in on Family First doing a very similar thing, then we saw it again in 2010 when the Democratic Labor Party’s John Madigan got in,” Senator Stephens continued.

“But, each time the parties thought, ‘Well it kind of worked out’, but this time it has really demonstrated how such perverse outcomes aren’t democratic.

“How can somebody who gets less than 2000 votes be elected to the Senate and claim to be seeking to represent the people of that state? It’s a big lesson and I think there will be more of an appetite for electoral reform in this government.”

Locally, the Senator believes Labor’s Michael Pilbrow ran an excellent campaign.

“I think Angus Taylor couldn’t have spent any more money and I think one of the lessons here in Hume is that spending money hand over fist didn’t change the outcome. The swing to Angus Taylor was no bigger than the national swing,” she said.

Senator Stephens said Mr Taylor had to ‘step up’ and was left with big boots to fill.

“To give Alby (Schultz) his credit, his time in the state parliament meant he was a very experienced, connected, parish pump politician,” she said.

“He was one of the old school politicians. He had an amazing ability to remember people’s names and circumstances. He had a great generosity of spirit. We did so many things together. It was never party political, it was always about representing the constituents, or the cause, or the school, or the organisation we were there to support.

“I think that’s a skill Angus is going to have to learn and I think it comes with a bit of humility. He’s going to be on a big learning curve.”

Senator Stephens believes the national campaign had an impact on local results. So too did the media coverage over the last three years.

“People thought they’d been in an election campaign for the last three years,” she said.

“They were jaded, they were cynical and they didn’t want another minority government. They wanted something decisive and that’s what they’ve got. Now we all have to live with it.”

The Senator rejects the popular view that minority government isn’t effective and that her government achieved nothing.

“We live in such isolated splendour here in Australia that we just don’t realise that minority governments are operating around the world quite effectively and the Labor Government was effective,” she said.

The Senator has ruled out a future bid at the Lower House but said she would continue to take up political causes and work closely with the community.