State Election results and wrap up for East seats
MULGRAVE MP Daniel Andrews won his seat, his party won the election and he is the new Premier, after a rock star reception on Saturday night.
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MULGRAVE MP Daniel Andrews won his seat, his party won the election and he is the new Premier, after a rock star reception on Saturday night.
The Mulgrave Country Club was a sea of red on Saturday as hundreds of Labor staffers and supporters gathered to celebrate their leader and Victoria’s new Premier, Daniel Andrews.
The Mulgrave state Labor MP retained his seat for a fourth term.
Amid a crowd of about 500 people, Mr Andrews’ first nod was to his constituents.
“First and foremost, here at the amazing Mulgrave Country Club, the good people of Mulgrave,” Mr Andrews said.
“Proud and hardworking, and always looking out for each other, it has been my great honour to represent my constituents.
“My neighbours are my constituents and I thank the people of Mulgrave for again placing their trust and their confidence in me for a fourth term in the Victorian parliament,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews’ victory represented a 2.4 per cent swing towards Labor.
Bayswater
Heidi Victoria, who was returned to the seat of Bayswater, said she was upset for many of her staff who would lose jobs.
“I’m actually happy by what we’ve achieved — my team and my office have been phenomenal, and I feel so privileged,” she said.
“So many people have told me I have changed their lives for the better; this has been the most amazing honour anyone could ever have.”
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Bayswater
Box Hill
Box Hill state Liberal MP Robert Clark beat Labor candidate Stefanie Perri despite a substantial swing to Labor of 7.97 per cent on a two candidate preferred vote.
Mr Clark, who was the Attorney-General in the outgoing Napthine Government, said he appreciated the support of voters in his electorate but overall it was “a sad day for Victoria”.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Box Hill
Bulleen
Former Planning Minister Matthew Guy — the popular pick to be the next Liberal leader — claimed Bulleen, replacing retiring Liberal MP Nicholas Kotsiras, despite a 5.5 per cent swing toward Labor.
Mr Guy, who claimed about 60 per cent of the vote, said it was too early to confirm if he would be named the leader of the Liberal Party.
“When we know the date for the party room meeting, we’ll work on that in time,” Mr Guy said.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Bulleen
Burwood
Burwood Liberal MP Graham Watt won with 53.11 per cent of the vote, beating Burwood Labor candidate Gavin Ryan, who claimed 46.89 per cent on a two candidate preferred vote.
Mr Watt said it was a reasonable result for Burwood but a disappointing result for Victoria.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Burwood
Clarinda
Labor claimed a victory in Clarinda, with Hong Lim claiming 66.21 per cent of the vote.
Mr Lim, who held the seat of Clayton since 1996, will be the first MP to sit in the newly-created Clarinda seat after boundaries were redrawn for this election.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Clarinda
Eildon
Liberal Cindy McLeish retained her seat of Eildon and pledged to continue to advocate for her community in opposition.
Ms McLeish said the Coalition was up against “a very formidable” union attack during the election campaign.
“And, in a lot of the key seats, the unions went to work and harassed, as well as campaigned heavily against us,” she said.
Ms McLeish said she was disappointed Labor had only promised $2 million for the Eildon electorate, and she would advocate for the Warburton mountain bike trail project and Healesville Hospital.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Eildon
Evelyn
Liberal MP Christine Fyffe Mrs Fyffe has romped it in Evelyn and said she was pleased with her result.
“Labor did an intensive campaign on the Swinburne issue, but ... it didn’t have the impact they were hoping for out here.”
Labor candidate for Evelyn Peter Harris said it was always going to be tough to win the seat in a very conservative area.
“But we’ve had a swing towards us,” Mr Harris said.
“I’m happy with that result, but more so happy over the state, because we made some great commitments in Evelyn and now a Labor government will be able to implement them.”
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Evelyn
Ferntree Gully
Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling, who was returned despite suffering a 4.1 per cent swing against him, said he hoped the Labor government would “govern for all”.
“I hope my record stands with the four primary school upgrades I delivered in Ferntree Gully, including Eastern Ranges and Boronia K-12,” he said.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Ferntree Gully
Forest Hill
Forest Hill Labor candidate Pauline Richards said she was “at peace” with losing the seat to incumbent Liberal MP Neil Angus.
But Ms Richards said she was “delighted” Labor won government.
“I’m absolutely committed that Labor will continue to improve health, education and jobs and the Healesville Freeway Reserve is going to be so much easier now that Labor is in power,” Ms Richards said.
Mr Angus, who won with 54.06 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote as of Sunday morning, did not return Leader’s calls.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Forest Hill
Monbulk
Monbulk state Labor MP James Merlino, who is set to become the new education minister, won his marginal seat after campaigning strongly on restoring TAFE funding and reopening the closed Swinburne site.
“We’ll get started on finding the best provider for the Swinburne Lilydale site and get it opened as quick as humanly possible,” Mr Merlino said.
“There’s no doubt that the issue of the closure of Swinburne Lilydale was the biggest issue I’ve ever faced as a local member and it resonated so strongly in the local community, and I’ve got no doubt that was a part of the great result in Monbulk.”
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Monbulk
Mt Waverley
Meanwhile Mt Waverley state Liberal MP Michael Gidley retained his seat with 53.4 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote as of Sunday.
Mt Waverley Labor candidate and Manningham councillor Jennifer Yang said she was “positive and appreciative” of the support she’d received throughout her campaign.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Mt Waverley
Mulgrave
As mentioned, Mr Andrews retained his seat for a fourth term, beating Liberal candidate and Monash councillor Robert Davies.
Mr Davies said: “It was an honour and a privilege to campaign and meet thousands of people in Mulgrave.”
He said Labor’s victory was a death knell for Rowville Rail.
“Rowville Rail was only going to happen under a Liberal Government,” he said.
Cr Davies said he would reconsider his political ambitions in six months’ time.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Mulgrave
Oakleigh
In Oakleigh, Labor candidate and Monash councillor Steve Dimopoulos was the clear winner with 58.05 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote. Cr Dimopoulos celebrated at the Oakleigh Bowling Club with retiring Oakleigh state Labor MP Ann Barker, who has held the seat since 1999.
Cr Dimopoulos’ victory will trigger a countback in the Oakleigh ward at Monash Council, the second this term after Cr Rebecca Paterson replaced Cr Tom Morrissey, who died in 2013.
Oakleigh Liberal candidate and Monash councillor Theo Zographos, who was contesting the seat for the second time, had claimed 41.95 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote and said he would not contest the seat again.
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Oakleigh
Rowville
Rowville MP Kim Wells was re-elected despite suffering a 5.1 per cent swing against him — much higher than the statewide swing of 2.5 per cent.
Mr Wells, who has held the seat since 1992, said he was committed to remaining the local member for another four years.
“Obviously I’m disappointed with the overall result, but I’m honoured and
looking forward to representing the people of Rowville for the next four
years.”
His Labor opponent, Tamika Hicks, said the MPs now needed to advocate for the community.
Ms Hicks said she was ecstatic with the result considering she was hoping to achieve a swing of about 5 per cent.
“Look out for four years’ time — the east has proven that we’re out here and hopefully the sea of blue starts turning red.”
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Rowville
Warrandyte
Warrandyte Labor candidate Steve Kent scored 38 per cent of the vote with the Liberals Ryan Smith receiving 61 per cent.
The seat of Warrandyte gained Wonga Park, Warrandyte North, Doncaster East and Doncaster in the recent boundary change, following the abolition of the Doncaster electorate.
Mr Smith said the change was a challenge, but he had built support over the years.
“I certainly think it made it harder, so much of my new electorate wasn’t familiar with me,” Mr Smith said.
“I was able to show I was willing to listen and understand the things they wanted to see delivered in a future agenda, I think that paid dividends.”
Mr Kent said the 11 per cent swing toward Labor at the largest polling booth, Doncaster East Secondary College, was a win, considering his low profile and lack of commitments.
“Very few would have actually known me,” he said.
“I think we did a fantastic job with what we had to offer.”
Click HERE for the latest vote count in Warrandyte
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