Premier Jacinta Allan triumphs as Labor candidate Eden Foster wins Mulgrave by-election

The Premier insists she is “thrilled” with the outcome of the Mulgrave by-election, despite Labor suffering a major hit to its primary vote.

Eden Foster is joined by Premier Jacinta Allan as she enters the Noble Park RSL after her by-election win. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Premier Jacinta Allan insists she is “thrilled” by the outcome of the Mulgrave by-election despite a double-digit swing against Labor on the primary vote.

“We’re really thrilled with last night’s outcome because we’re seeing the election to the Victorian parliament of someone who is from the local community, grew up in the local community, is proud to continue to live and work in the local community,” she said.

Labor candidate Eden Foster was victorious in Saturday’s by-election to fill the seat previously held by former premier Daniel Andrews.

On Sunday morning, Ms Foster had 40.1 per cent of the primary vote, down from the 51 per cent secured by Mr Andrews in 2022.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Eden Foster on Sunday. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

The Premier said her predecessor had left particularly big shoes to fill.

“By-elections for government can be really challenging and even more challenging when the election is in the seat of a long serving retiring leader,” she said.

Ms Allan also revealed she had been in constant contact with the man she replaced as leader as votes came in.

“We’ve had a number of text message exchanges as the former premier wasn’t just very keen to see and support Eden’s campaign, he’s also a keen student of political history.”

When all the votes are tallied the swing against Labor will land in about “the middle” of the historical swing against governments in by-elections, the Premier claimed.

Allan wins first big test as Labor retains Mulgrave

Labor has claimed victory in the Mulgrave by-election and retained Daniel Andrews’ former seat, despite its primary vote suffering a significant hit.

At 10pm on Saturday night, Labor candidate Eden Foster led high-profile independent Ian Cook 55-44 on a two-candidate-preferred basis, with 75 per cent of the votes counted.

Premier Jacinta Allan addressed the Labor faithful at the Noble Park RSL in Melbourne’s southeast alongside Ms Foster, who was elected as mayor of Greater Dandenong last year.

Premier Jacinta Allan addresses the crowd at the Noble Park RSL. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“It is a deep, deep honour to be standing here … with the next Labor member for Mulgrave,” Ms Allan told the crowd.

“Once again, the community has turned to Labor to support them now and into the future.

“They know that Labor delivers.”

Ms Allan said Labor knew the by-election, triggered by Mr Andrews’ resignation in late September, would be a “tough fight”.

“We knew it would be a hard one to win,” she said.

“Daniel Andrews served the community here for 20 years.

“Everyone on every street knew Daniel.”

But she said Ms Foster would be “a strong voice, a local voice and a proud voice” for the Mulgrave community.

Eden Foster retains the seat of Mulgrave for Labor. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Ms Foster thanked Ms Allan for her mentorship and for being a “fantastic role model for women”.

“The journey of the working class girl from Noble Park to Spring St has not been an easy one,” she said.

The former premier held the seat with a 10.2 per cent margin, winning last year’s election with 51 per cent of the primary vote, which was boosted to 60.2 per cent after preferences.

At 10pm, Ms Foster had secured 13,411 first preference votes – about 40 per cent of the primary vote – ahead of Liberal candidate Courtney Mann (7230 votes) and Mr Cook (6455 votes).

This means Labor’s primary vote could plunge more than 10 per cent.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto and Mr Mann conceded defeat about 9pm.

Mr Pesutto thanked Mr Mann and said Labor’s primary vote had taken a “massive hit”.

“The people of Mulgrave have sent a strong message to Jacinta Allan,” he said.

“They have said they are tired of her taxes, waste and mismanagement. They are tired of Labor doing nothing to address the rising cost of living.

“Over the next three years, we will continue to work hard to give Victorians the alternative government they deserve.”

The Victorian Electoral Commission had set the two-candidate-preferred vote against Ms Foster and Mr Cook, but results indicate the Liberal Party may claim second place.

Premier Jacinta Allan (left) and Labor candidate Eden Foster (right) hand out how-to-vote cards at Mulgrave Primary School. Picture: AAP

Earlier on Saturday, Ms Allan campaigned at Mulgrave Primary School, greeting voters and distributing how-to-vote cards.

Standing side-by-side, the Premier and Ms Foster – both dressed in red – spoke to voters heading into the polling booth.

“It’s always a good day to vote Labor,” Ms Allan said.

The Premier said voters were responding positively to Ms Foster, especially since she has lived and worked her whole life in the local area.

“Eden will bring a strong and powerful voice to the Victorian parliament on behalf of the Mulgrave community,” she told reporters.

“Local communities need strong local voices and that’s what Eden will bring to the parliament.”

Ms Allan conceded by-elections were “challenging” for governments, but remained positive over Saturday afternoon.

Ian Cook (right) speaks with voters at a polling station in Noble Park. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Cook, the man at the centre of the long-running “Slug Gate” scandal, was one of 10 candidates contesting the seat.

“Today we can make a difference,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Today, together, we can do it.”

Mr Cook won a Supreme Court battle this week to have the closure of his catering business I Cook Foods declared invalid.

A judge found the business was shut down with invalid orders over an alleged contaminated sandwich in February 2019, but dismissed Mr Cook’s claim for $50m in damages.

He said he was running as a candidate to ensure something similar could never happen to any other Victorian.

The Cookie Monster in support of Ian Cook. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Campaigning alongside Mr Cook was a volunteer dressed as the blue Cookie Monster, holding a ‘Honk for Cook’ sign to increase awareness of his brand.

“The nickname for anyone with the name Cook is Cookie,” he said.

“It puts a little bit of humour into politics.”

At last year’s election, Mr Cook won 39.2 per cent of the vote after preferences.

Mr Andrews, who held the seat for two decades, suffered an 8.5 per cent swing against him on the primary vote, which cut the ALP’s margin to 10.2 per cent.

The Liberal Party ran third at last year’s election after Mr Andrews and Mr Cook with Opposition Leader John Pesutto facing pressure to increase its 17 per cent primary vote.

Sources said the by-election would be a crucial test of Mr Pesutto’s leadership.

Liberal candidate Courtney Mann picked up 36 per cent of the primary vote in the seat at the 2010 election against Daniel Andrews.

Pollster Tony Barry, director at Redbridge, said Labor had carefully chosen a candidate with a strong local profile and record of community delivery to leverage off.