Liam McNally
It appears that Labor’s “red wall” in the west defied speculation and refused to break this state election, despite some swings against the party.
On Monday, Labor looked likely to have retained the seats of Sydenham, Kororoit, Eureka, while votes were being recounted in Melton. Labor’s Steve McGhie is expected to retain the seat.
Mr McGhie received 38.09 per cent of the primary first preference (PFP) votes. The two candidate preferred (2CP) vote was originally counted with independent candidate Dr Ian Birchall as the opposition, however, the preference votes are being recounted with Liberal candidate Graham Watt as a 2CP candidate.
Mr McGhie said although the VEC is finalising the result, “it looks like the people of Melton have chosen to endorse the positive plan that the Andrew’s Labor government has for Victoria”.
“I’m honoured and thankful that the voters in Melton have given me the opportunity to serve them for another term.”
Mr Watt has not conceded the seat of Melton yet.
In Kororoit, the first preference vote swung 18.2 per cent away from Labor, however Luba Grigorovitch 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.
Labor MP Natalie Hutchins will continue to serve the Sydenham electorate. A -17.3 per cent swing wasn’t enough to change the result, with Ms Hutchins still easily being re-elected ahead of the Liberal party’s Joseph Cullia.
Labor candidate Michaela Settle has been elected for the newly named seat of Eureka. She said over the last four years she has “spread her time over every part of Moorabool shire,” and she will “keep it up over the next four years”.
“It’s a huge honour to represent your community in the Victorian Parliament and I am grateful for such strong support in the election,” she said.
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.
