Prahran by-election a standoff between Greens and Libs after Labor opts not to run

The Liberal Party has been given a potential election-winning boost in its quest to win the Prahran by-election next month.

Environmental engineer Angelica Di Camillo has been unveiled as the Greens’ pick for the Prahran by-election as they fight to cling onto the highly-prized seat. Picture: Supplied

The Liberal Party has been given a potential election-winning boost in its quest to win the Prahran by-election.

High profile independent candidate Tony Lupton – who represented the electorate as a Labor MP between 2002 and 2010 – has decided to preference Liberal candidate Rachel Westaway.

The preference deal means Mr Lupton’s votes would flow to Ms Westaway if he didn’t secure enough votes to win in his own right.

With Labor opting not to run in the by-election, the Liberal Party is the major party vying to steal the seat which has been held by the Greens since 2014.

Tony Lupton, an independent candidate in the Prahran by-election, has decided to preference Liberal candidate Rachel Westaway. Picture: Supplied

“The important thing is that people vote for me and put the Greens last, because they’ve become an extremist party,” Mr Lupton said.

“I don’t expect my preferences to be distributed but as the Liberals put me second, I reciprocated.

“This by-election is a referendum on the Greens failure representing Prahran for the last decade.

“I’m offering voters a candidate with traditional Labor values and experience as the member for Prahran, able to work positively with the current government but with the independence to always put Prahran first,” he said.

Mr Lupton served as Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation and Cabinet Secretary during his time working in the Bracks and Brumby governments.

Buzz Billman, another independent candidate for the seat, called for greater transparency around Mr Lupton’s preference deal saying it could help elect a Liberal MP.

“I am asking Labor voters to be wary of voting for Tony Lupton, who is campaigning as a former Labor MP on old Labor values, but is directly preferencing the Liberal Party above other progressive candidates,” he said.

“In not preferencing other progressive candidates above the Liberal Party, Lupton appears to have moved away from progressive values.

“Mark Latham comes to mind as a former Labor MP who has moved away from progressive values.”

Brad Battin with Rachel Westaway, the Liberal candidate in the upcoming by-election. Picture: Supplied

The by-election was prompted by the abrupt resignation of former Greens MP Sam Hibbins who was kicked out of the party after admitting to having a sexual affair with a staffer.

Pollsters say a nationwide swing against the Greens in various council and state elections could jeopardise the party’s longtime strong hold over the seat.

Both the Liberal Party and the ALP have had success in the electorate — the Liberal Party held the seat from 1985 until 2002 when it was won by Labor.

The Liberal Party regained the seat in 2010 before losing it to the Greens in 2014.

At the 2022 election the Liberal Party out-polled Labor on primary votes, 31 per cent to 26 per cent, while the Greens picked up 36 per cent of first preference votes.

It ultimately won the election with a 12 per cent margin following the flow of preferences.

Early voting began in the electorate on Wednesday.

More than 48,000 people are expected to vote in the February 8 by-election.