‘Safe’ seat of Werribee under threat as voters turn backs on Labor

The Liberals could storm next year’s Werribee by-election and clinch the seat as state debt, cost of living and new taxes cause locals to consider alternatives to a Labor local member for the first time.

The Liberals could storm next year’s Werribee by-election and clinch the safe Labor seat if voters continue to abandon the government.

State debt, cost of living and new taxes are all shaping up to be major concerns for voters in the west electorate, which will go to the polls in February for a by-election was triggered by veteran Labor MP Tim Pallas’ departure.

Local business owner Danny Yeo was among the locals spoken to by the Herald Sun who say for the first time they are considering their alternatives to a Labor local member.

“I’ve always voted Labor,” Mr Yeo said.

“I’ve never really thought of voting for another party but it feels like my costs just keep going up and it doesn’t seem like the government cares.”

A Werribee by-election has been triggered by veteran Labor MP Tim Pallas’ departure. Picture: Aaron Francis

Mr Yeo flagged land tax increases on his investment property and the recent announcement that homeowners would be hit with higher costs for the revamped fire levy as his key concerns.

Meanwhile Candice, a local mum of two said she also was thinking of not supporting Labor in the by-election.

“I don’t really know who I would vote for,” she said.

“The government don’t really do anything here and all you hear about is how much they are spending on these big roads and stuff that we don’t use.”

However, she pointed to the state’s recent $400 school bonus, which she is intending to use on extra-curricular activities for her kids, and says “it’s not much but it is really a godsend because everything is just so expensive now”.

Former Labor strategist and pollster Kos Samaras said the government should be feeling nervous going into the by-election.

“Whichever way you want to look at this, it’s going to be very, very difficult for Labor,” he said.

“There’s enough grievance out there to suggest that Labor could easily cop a 10 per cent swing against them.”

Former Labor strategist and pollster Kos Samaras says the government should be feeling nervous going into the by-election. Picture: Aaron Francis

Mr Samaras said the single biggest issue in Werribee is cost-of-living, followed by a growing perception of the western suburbs being neglected by the government, particularly with a lack of infrastructure projects.

He said it was still too hard to call, but said if the election was tomorrow, he’d predict a strong swing against Labor.

Mr Samaras said a bad result in Werribee could also point to the growing trend of Melbourne’s west turning away from Labor.

“If it’s a tsunami type result, Labor is going to be in big trouble,” he added.

Mr Samaras said he didn’t believe the Moira Deeming issue would dog the Liberals’ chance of taking the seat.

In November, Labor chose not to battle it out for the highly prized seat of Prahran, after former Greens deputy leader Sam Hibbins suddenly quit parliament after allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has been to Werribee multiple times over the past 12 months and also held several shadow cabinet meetings in the electorate. Picture: Wayne Taylor

At the time it was understood Premier Jacinta Allan wanted to avoid the negative impact of a potential loss and gave the order that no ALP candidate would be put up.

But, with Werribee being a traditional Labor stronghold there’s no option but to fight.

It’s understood the Liberals have been targeting the west, specifically Werribee, with constant rumours Mr Pallas was on the way out.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has been to Werribee multiple times over the past 12 months and also held several shadow cabinet meetings in the electorate.

Election results for Werribee also reveal a worrying downward trend for Labor.

In 2014, Werribee was one of the safest seats in the west, with Mr Pallas comfortably winning 56.6 per cent of the primary vote, on a margin of 11.4 per cent.

Four years later, in 2018, he held the seat again but his primary vote had dropped to 46 per cent.

In the last election, Mr Pallas’ primary vote dropped to 45.6 per cent, but notably the Liberal Party saw a swing of 8.7 per cent to the Liberals who garnered 25.3 per cent of the votes.

Mr Pesutto said: “For decades, Labor has taken the Werribee community for granted and denied local families and business the health, transport, education and community safety services they deserve.”

“My Liberal team wants to be the voice for Werribee and we are fully focused on providing a positive alternative at the upcoming by-election.”

A Victorian government spokesman said: “While the Liberal Party is extreme, incompetent and focused on their own divisions, we will continue to support the Werribee community — as we always have”.

“We are building for Werribee’s future — doubling the capacity of Werribee’s emergency department, removing every level crossing on the Werribee line and building the Ison Road Overpass to ensure this growing community has the infrastructure and services it needs.”