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Victorian election 2022: Daniel Andrews, Labor wins third term, Matthew Guy to step down

Matthew Guy says he will step aside as Victorian Liberal leader following his second election loss last night to Daniel Andrews.

Jessica Wang and Rohan Smith
less than 2 min read
November 26, 2022 - 8:01AM
‘An extraordinary win’ for Daniel Andrews in state election

Daniel Andrews has celebrated a resounding election victory with a speech to "every Victorian", even those who did not vote for him.

 

He almost immediately addressed the way he handled the pandemic with four words that his detractors will find hard to swallow.

 

"Hope always defeats hate," he said.

 

"The fact that Victorians stuck together … looked out for each other … went and got vaccinated because vaccines work … because as a community were not divided but united in our faith in science … that sense of kindness and connection has been confirmed today."

 

The win makes Andrews the state's longest-serving Labor premier.

 

Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy, conceded defeat shortly before 11pm.

That wraps up our live coverage for tonight. Join us on Sunday morning for more updates.

Updates

Matthew Guy to resign as Liberal leader

Samantha Maiden
Samantha Maiden

Matthew Guy says he will step aside as Victorian Liberal leader following his second election loss last night to Daniel Andrews.

The Coalition look to have won 21 seats and have their nose ahead in another seven, putting them on track to achieve a similar result to 2018, when they held just 27 of 88 lower house seats.

"The respectable state-wide two party preferred swing to the Coalition of 3-4 per cent was the most profound in the exceptional swings to the Liberal Party in Melbourne's north and west," Mr Guy said in a statement on Sunday.

"This represents a huge future electoral opportunity for the Liberal Party.

"As soon as it is clearer which Liberal Party candidates will form the next parliamentary party room, I will call them together to elect their new leadership team.

"I will not be a candidate for the position of leader."

Stunning admission from Liberal MP

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

Outgoing Liberal MP Tim Smith predicted last night Matthew Guy would likely resign from the Liberal leadership.

Asked who might replace him, he said, "I've got absolutely no idea … that's part of the problem."

Andrews celebrating four more years

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

Daniel Andrews is celebrating.

To chants of "four more years," the Premier said "yes" and pumped his fist.

He almost immediately spoke about his handling of the pandemic, a subject the opposition attempted to make the election about.

"Friends, this last few years have been incredibly challenging. This was a one-in-100-year event," he said.


"The fact that Victorians stuck together … looked out for each other … went and got vaccinated because vaccines work … because as a community were not divided but united in our faith in science … that sense of kindness and connection has been confirmed today."

Then he directed five words at the Coalition who had attempted to make the election a referendum on Daniel Andrews.

"Friends, hope always defeats hate," he said.

Matthew Guy concedes defeat

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

A smiling Matthew Guy has conceded defeat but is remaining positive.

The Opposition Leader congratulated Daniel Andrews over the phone a short time ago.

Speaking to supporters, he said the Coalition would finish with more seats in both the lower house and upper house.

"There have been some truly tremendous swings to our side of politics," he said.

He encouraged Mr Andrews to "change style, change attitude" and unite Victorians.

"We respect the right of Victorians to vote how they vote and respect the outcome of the election.

"We've got a lot of work to do but we know our time in the sun will come again."

Outgoing Labor MP's brutal parting shot

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

Outgoing Labor MP Martin Pakula has taken one final swipe at the Coalition with a post on Twitter after Daniel Andrews was awarded a third term.

In it, he questioned the wisdom of Matthew Guy's team strategy which targeted the Premier relentlessly and made the vote a referendum on the man rathen than his party's policies.

"Framing an entire election campaign around the theory (hope?) that everyone hates Dan as much as you hate Dan was always a Hail Mary strategy," he wrote.

"It’s hard to hear the community clearly when you spend all your time in an echo chamber

'Greenslide': Victorian Greens celebrating big result

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

The Victorian election is expected to be a victory for Labor but there has been a swing against the two major parties.

The Greens have benefited.

According to The Australian's live seat tracker, the Greens are in position to win five seats with a number of others still in play.

Speaking to supporters, Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam said she was excited about the party's result.

"Melbourne is Green, Prahran is Green, Brunswick is Green and now Richmond is Green," she said to loud applause.

"I am pleased to say it is looking very good in Northcote and there are a number of other seats in play.

"When that swing came in, I wanted to see that board light and you all delivered that. We're seeing possibilities in places like Albert Park, Pascoe Vale, Footscray, Preston."

The Australian is predicting wins in Albert Park, Prahran, Brunswick, Richmond and Northcote.

O'Brien won't rule out second tilt at Liberal leadership

Samantha Maiden
Samantha Maiden

Former leader Michael O'Brien won't rule out another go at Liberal leadership if, as expected, Labor claims victory.

That could include a Liberal Party leadership spill and the departure of his successor Matthew Guy.

As the major networks call the election for Labor, former Victorian Liberal leader Michael O'Brien has reflected on what happens next "if we lose".

And he's not ruling out another go at the leadership suggesting now is not the time for such "speculation".

Asked if the Liberal Party would have fared better if they had not dumped him, he demurred.

"Oh, look, I don't think about hypotheticals like that. I very much operate in the here and now,'' he said.

"We've run the best campaign I think we've ever run, with the best team of party volunteers we've ever had."

"We need to make sure we can appeal to the majority of Victorians. We are a mainstream party. We need to appeal to mainstream Victorians."

Former Labor premier Steve Bracks thinks it's looking like 50 seats for Labor.

"It’s probably exceeded the expectations I had. I thought it would be a reduced majority. It looks closer to 50 seats for me,'' he told the Seven Network..

"It is even worse for the Liberals because the seats Labor have lost have largely been to the Greens."

Liberals' furious as Labor dominates election

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

A furious David Southwick has lashed out at what he called the "worst Premier ever" after Daniel Andrews raced to an historic election victory.

Speaking to Sky News, the deputy Liberal leader said Mr Andrews is the "worst Premier Victoria's ever seen".

"I've never seen a campaign like this that has got into gutter politics," he said.

"It got dirty. Victorians are over that regardless of the result."

He went on to target the Premier directly.

"This is the worst Premier Victoria's ever seen. We've got a Premier that shows no leadership.

"He's gotta change his attitude, he's gotta change the way he governs because he's divided people.

"Okay, he might look like he's more popular. I don't know why, but quite frankly we have a divided state at the moment."

It's over: 'This is a Labor victory'

Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith

Daniel Andrews appears to have won a third term in power.

Speaking on Sky News, former Andrews minister Lisa Neville celebrated the win.

"This is a Labor victory. It's an extraordinary win for Daniel Andrews," she said.

"He's an extraordinary leader who has pulled off something nobody thought he could."

The Australian's live seat tracker had called 34 seats for Labor by 9.30pm while the Coalition had won 20 seats but had not made ground in critical seats they needed to win.

Outgoing Liberal MP Tim Smith acknowledged the defeat early.


"We're just not seeing the swings to the Liberal party we would've expected," he said.

"Swings to Labor are higher than I expected."

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/politics/victorian-election-2022-live-dan-andrews-and-mathew-guy-go-head-to-head/live-coverage/e16907790d15ecaa1f6e5f88b4e42785