Labor declares victory in Werribee by-election after marathon count

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin has conceded defeat in the Werribee by-election after a closely contested race in Melbourne’s outer west.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen and Werribee ALP candidate John Lister. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin has conceded defeat in the Werribee by-election after a closely contested race in Melbourne’s outer west.

Labor will keep its iron grip on the seat it has held since 1979, despite a collapse in support that resulted in a massive swing of more than 16 per cent at Saturday’s by-election.

The by-election was triggered by the retirement of former Labor treasurer Tim Pallas, who won 45 per cent of the primary vote in 2022.

In contrast, Labor’s newest MP John Lister, a local teacher, has so far received 28.9 per cent of the primary vote.

Mr Lister narrowly beat the Liberal Party’s Steve Murphy by just a few hundred votes.

In his victory speech, Mr Lister thanked voters for their trust and acknowledged their concerns.

“We’ve heard the message from voters loud and clear. We need more, and the work hasn’t stopped and we will continue,” he said.

“What I can assure everyone who’s voted in this election is I will be in your corner every day fighting for what Werribee needs.”

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Battin said there was “a very strong message in this campaign and this election” for Labor.

“And that’s a message for the Allan Labor government. You can’t keep neglecting the west,” he said.

“It’s a very strong message from voters who have moved away from Labor.

“And I will assure all those out in Werribee, all those out in the west, that we will continue to fight and work with them.

“Moving forward as well, the whole of the west, we want to make sure that they’re all heard.”

Victorian government minister Gabrielle Williams said Mr Lister’s victory was decisive.

“We’re very pleased about that and we know that John is going to use his experience advocating for his local community over the course of the campaign, to take that strong voice for Werribee into the Victorian parliament,” she said.

Ms Williams said the party would also “take lessons from the result”.

“We know there’s more to do. We’re listening. We have been listening, and we are every much focused on continuing to do the work that Victorians are asking us to do, and that the people of Werribee have demanded what we do, and we have taken that very seriously,” she said.

It’s not clear whether Mr Lister will be sworn into Parliament next week.