Liberal candidate Nicole Werner secures commanding victory in Melbourne by-election
The Victorian Liberal Party has claimed victory in a by-election in Melbourne’s east widely viewed as test for the party’s leadership.
Victorian Liberal Party leader John Pesutto said voters in Melbourne’s east have helped “turn the tide” after a crucial by-election win.
Nicole Werner, a charity manager and former youth pastor, secured a commanding early win as counting got under in Warrandyte.
The Australian declared Ms Werner the winner of the closely watched ballot shortly after 8pm with about 67 per cent of the primary vote.
Crucially for the state leadership, Ms Werner secured about 73 per cent of the two-party preferred vote with 39 per cent of the vote counted.
The party had been eyeing to maintain or increase its 4.2 per cent margin it secured over Labor in the seat in the 2022 state election.
The Greens candidate Tomas Lightbody came in a distant second behind Ms Werner on a two-party preferred system, with 26 per cent.
The Liberal Party was tipped to comfortably win the seat of Warrandyte, with Victorian Labor declining to field a candidate.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto said voters had been the “voice for all Victorians” in his address at Ringwood Bowls Club.
“The people of Warrandyte had been the voice of all Victorians tonight in saying that they are tired of the cost of living increases,” he said.
“They are tired of their jobs being taxed. They are tired of their rents being taxed. They are tired of their schools being taxed.
“They want to be heard. They want to be respected. They want to be looked after.
“The people of Warrandyte have done their fellow Victorians a great service tonight because they have helped turn the tide in this state.”
Mr Pesutto hit out at Premier Dan Andrews, telling supporters were sick of the “corruption”, “branch-stacking”, and “breach of faith”.
Buoyed by chants of “Nicole”, Ms Werner promised supporters she would spend everyday in parliament giving it her all to “make a difference”.
“Thank you to every candidate that stood out and for taking your place in democracy, and to the people of the electorate of Warrandyte,” she said.
“Thank you for entrusting me with this honour. I am humbled that you will elect me and put your confidence in me and I recognise the responsibility.
“To you I say this, I will do my best to give my all every single day to fight for you and just serve our wonderful community.”
Ms Werner told supporters she “stood on the shoulders” of her popular predecessor, Ron Smith, a one-time potential party leader.
The daughter of Chinese-Malaysian immigrants, Ms Werner recounted her families emigration in a touching tribute to her teary-eyed mother.
“My mom was born to an illiterate mother who due to poverty was never sent to school,” she said.
“She was able to move to Australia at 22 years of age to join my dad in 1988, who moved the year before his life savings of $800. They worked hard and did everything that they could to get ahead.
“While pregnant with me – a new migrant, full of hope and selfless ambition – my mom would say to me in her belly: I want you to be a leader, and I want you to change the world. My success is their success.”
The messages by Ms Werner and Mr Pesutto marked a change in tone from earlier remarks on Saturday at the Ringwood North Primary School booth.
The embattled Victorian Opposition Leader said his party was “fighting right up until 6pm tonight” and wasn’t taking anything “for granted”.
“Nicole has worked so hard,” he said at the booth.
“She’s knocked on doors, she’s phone canvassed, she’s held listening posts, she’s connected with the community she grew up in.
“We’re fighting right up until 6pm tonight.”
Ms Werner, a charity manager, faced off against 11 other minor party or independent candidates.
The by-election was triggered in July when Liberal MP Ryan Smith resigned to take up a corporate job.
Mr Smith retained the seat with a 4.3 per cent margin in 2022 and any substantial swings against Ms Werner could blow back on Mr Pesutto and cast doubt on his leadership.
Mr Pesutto has been ensnared in controversy following his decision to boot female MP Moira Deeming from the Party room after she attended a anti-transgender rally.
Ms Werner, 32, the daughter of Chinese-Malaysian migrants, said on social media she would work to “restore integrity” to Victoria’s finances in an apparent swipe at the state pulling out of hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Without a Labor opponent, Greens candidate Tomas Lightbody is tipped to be her closest competitor.
On the morning of the election, Ms Werner said she had spent her entire working life serving the community.
“If elected, I’ll fight for the issues you care about,” she said.
Thank you to the many volunteers out in support of Nicole Werner - Liberal for Warrandyte. pic.twitter.com/dt77XSWsty
— Keith Wolahan MP (@keithwolahan) August 25, 2023
Ms Werner unsuccessfully campaigned for the Box Hill seat at the November 2022 state election, a key target seat for the Liberals in their push for government.
Ms Werner lost the seat to Labor’s Paul Hamer.
She suffered an 8.9 per cent swing against her in the primary vote and ended with 42.8 per cent of the vote after preferences.
Out on the booths for election day in Warrandyte. VOTE 1 Colleen Bolger and Victorian Socialists! ✊🚩 pic.twitter.com/1DbVhXQr8P
— Victorian Socialists (@vic_socialists) August 25, 2023
The Victorian Liberal Party has held the suburban seat in Melbourne northeast since 1988.
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