Nervous candidates and MPs wait on close seat counts

The state election may be decided but there’s still plenty of nervy candidates — and incumbent MPs such as Liberal John Pesutto — waiting on a definitive result. And they may not find out until next week. Here’s how the 10 undecided seats stand.

The winners of 10 Victorian seats may not be known until next week, as thousands of absentee votes cast in the weekend’s election are counted.

So far, Labor has won at least 71 of the 128 seats in both houses of state parliament.

Already, jostling for Cabinet positions within the expanded ranks of Labor government MPs has begun.

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Blame games within the defeated Opposition continued yesterday, as devastated Liberal MPs warned it may be some time before the party can get back on track in Victoria.

Party president Michael Kroger, state director Nick Demiris and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy have been criticised for their performances.

Attention is now turning to who will lead the Coalition: shadow treasurer Michael O’Brien and shadow attorney-general John Pesutto — should Mr Pesutto hang on to his Lower House seat of Hawthorn — are regarded as the leading contenders.

But whoever is chosen, the new leader will be left with a rump of a party room from which to select a front bench.

One senior Liberal said the party could not continue to run what seems to many voters to be a “boys’ club” operation.

But it will be hard for the party to tackle that problem, given that as few as eight or nine Liberal women may end up winning seats.

On the Labor side, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins announced that she would not be renominating for a Cabinet post.

Her husband died recently, and she intends to spend more time with her family.

John Eren also stepped down as minister for tourism, major events, sport and veterans on Monday night. He said he wanted to focus on his family, his health and his responsibilities serving the people of Lara.

Describing his time in Cabinet as a great honour, Mr Eren said: “My story is an example of the opportunities that this country can create for migrants to our great state.”

Premier Daniel Andrews paid tribute to Ms Hutchins, and said he was proud that she had chosen to “put family ahead of politics”.

Her departure leaves two vacant Cabinet posts to be filled from the party’s Right wing. More than half a dozen young MPs are being put forward as viable candidates.

Mr Andrews said ministerial posts would be decided in the next couple of days.

“It’s always good to have new blood. Fresh legs are ­always good,” he said.

The Premier kept the first promise of his second term yesterday, putting out to tender the $15.8 billion North East Link, which would connect the Eastern Freeway to the M80 in Greensborough. The first tender is for $200 million of early works, which are expected to start in 2020 once contracts are signed in late 2019 and planning and environmental approvals are obtained.

“We said that we’d take this project to the election and let Victorians make up their mind — the people have spoken, and North East Link starts today,” Mr Andrews said.

Homeowners in Melbourne’s northeast will know by the end of next year whether their properties will be acquired for the construction of Victoria’s biggest road project.

HOW THE UNDECIDED SEATS STAND

BAYSWATER

Liberal Heidi Victoria 72 votes ahead of Labor’s Jackson Taylor with a 29.08 per cent of votes left to count.

BENAMBRA

Liberal MP Bill Tilley received double the number of first-preference votes than any other candidate but preferences have kept the seat in play.

BRUNSWICK

Just 72 votes separate Labor’s Cindy O’Connor and the Greens’ Tim Read two-party preferred.

HAWTHORN

Liberal John Pesutto — touted as potential leadership material — leads Labor’s John Ormond Kennedy by a wafer-thin 53 votes.

John Pesutto. Picture: Paul Loughnan

MELBOURNE

Former Labor MP Jennifer Kanis trails current Greens MP Ellen Sandell by less than 2.5 per cent.

MORWELL

Nationals-turned-independent MP Russell Northe is, with 81.53 per cent of votes counted, clinging to the seat thanks to preferences.

NEPEAN

One per cent separates newcomers Liberal Russell Joseph and Labor’s Chris Brayne two-party preferred.

PRAHRAN

Greens MP Sam Hibbins currently leads the three-cornered contest, with Liberal Katie Allan and Labor’s Neil Pharaoh, but the winner will be determined by preferences.

RIPON

Labor’s Sarah De Santis is 50 votes ahead of Liberal Louise Staley, with 29.56% of ballots left to count, in what was Victoria’s most marginal seat.

SANDRINGHAM

Liberal Brad Rowswell holds a lead of just under one per cent over Labor’s Anita Horvath, with 70.51 per cent of votes counted.

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