Federal Election 2022: Labor Deakin candidate Matt Gregg tests positive to Covid-19

Labor’s chances of winning a marginal seat in Melbourne’s outer east have taken a blow, with its candidate testing positive for Covid-19.

Labor’s Candidate for Deakin, Matt Gregg, has tested positive for Covid-19. Picture: Supplied.

A Labor candidate in Melbourne’s outer east has tested positive for Covid, denting the party’s bid to remove a long-serving government minister from office.

Deakin candidate Matt Gregg announced on his Facebook page he had tested positive for the virus on Wednesday night.

His positive test comes after he campaigned at a pre-polling centre in Ringwood East on Monday and at the Heathmont Village shopping strip with Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.

Mr Gregg said the virus had “finally got me” and he would be off the campaign trail for the next week.

It means he will be in isolation until potentially Wednesday or Thursday, just a handful of days before the May 21 poll.

It is unclear if any Labor volunteers who have been campaigning with Mr Gregg have also been struck down by the virus.

Mr Gregg’s positive test is a blow to Labor’s chances of landing the marginal federal seat, which covers suburbs including Ringwood, Croydon, Heathmont and Forest Hill.

Incumbent Liberal Michael Sukkar holds Deakin by a 4.7 per cent margin, and is seeking a fourth term representing the electorate.

An exit poll at the Ringwood East pre-poll centre conducted by Leader on Monday found more than 50 per cent of those surveyed had cast their votes for Labor.

Labor’s Victorian campaign team has been contacted for comment.