Pandemic politics and shifting demographics were blamed for an almost total wipeout of Liberals across suburban Melbourne including the heartland seats of Kooyong, Goldstein and Higgins, and with the formerly safe seats of Deakin and Menzies also in doubt.

State Liberals had banked on a backlash against Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews after long pandemic lockdowns in the state’s outer suburban seats, in a strategy that totally backfired.