Liam McNally
Labor’s “red wall” in the west continues to stand after the state election, with the seat of Kororoit going to Luba Grigorovitch.
The first preference vote swang 18.2 per cent away from Labor, however The former Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary got across the line with 45.19 per cent of the first preference vote and 64.9 per cent of the two-candidate preferred count.
The swing didn’t all go to Liberal, whose first preference increased 3.3 per cent, large increases were made by the Democratic Labour Party with 5 per cent, and the Victorian Socialists, who came third in first preferences with 6.7 per cent of the vote.
Kororoit has been a Labor seat since its inception in 2002, Ms Grigorovitch replaced Marlene Kairouz as the candidate for the area.
Ms Grigorovitch offered thanks to her constituents for her win on Facebook.
“To everyone in Kororoit who voted for upgrades to station platforms, to run longer trains, removal of our level crossings, free kinder for three and four-year-olds, free TAFE and a tafe centre right here in the west. Building a brand new Hospital here in the west and strengthening nurse-to-patient ratios, setting up a government-owned and 100 per cent renewable energy company and to drive down power bills, the Big Build to make sure we keep Victorian’s in jobs for years to come,” she said
“Because only Labor is doing what matters. Thank you so much for your vote.”
The VEC’s provisional leaderboard has 47 seats awarded to Labor, 15 to the Liberals, 8 for The Nationals, and 4 for the Greens on a 2CP basis.
