Victorian election: Andrews faces nightmare in the upper house

MICRO parties have taken up to six seats from the Coalition in the upper house and Labor has fallen short of a majority.

VICTORIA’S premier-elect Daniel Andrews faces a nightmare scenario in the upper house with micro parties taking up to six seats from the Coalition and Labor falling short of a majority.

In another extraordinary outcome in an upper house, the Shooters Party could snare as many as three positions in country regions, the Sex Party could win a seat, Country Alliance is on target to win a position, Family First is still in the running for a seat and the DLP is optimistic.

The results in the Legislative Council will take days to finalise but the make-up of the 40 seat chamber will pose significant challenges for Labor’s Mr Andrews.

The Victorian upper house is elected along similar lines to the Senate, but with eight regions represented by five MPs each.

FULL COVERAGE: Victoria decides

The Coalition lost control of the upper house at the election, which was predicted.

What wasn’t predicted was the success of the micro parties, with so-called preferences whisperer Glenn Druery involved in some of the negotiations.

Josh Frydenberg, Tony Abbott’s parliamentary secretary, today said the Napthine government had failed to sell its strengths.

``Certainly the result is a wake-up call,’’ Mr Frydenberg told the ABC today.

Mr Andrews last night claimed victory about 10.15pm, promising to deliver on his agenda of job creation, education and the removal of train level crossings.

“Tonight you have changed our party, you have changed the government, now we will change our state,’’ Mr Andrews told his supporters.

“The people of Victoria have today said no to tired, negative politics.

“That work begins tomorrow because I will not accept four more years like the last four.’’

Mr Andrews hailed the performance of Labor state secretary Noah Carroll and his work behind the ALP’s extraordinarily successful, community-based campaign.

The Coalition defeat will spark bitter internal recriminations, with Nationals’ leader Peter Ryan questioning the efficacy of the Liberal campaign.

Dr Napthine accepted responsibility for the defeat and said he left behind a legacy of the nation’s strongest economy.

But he would not remain in parliament, declaring: “It is time for renewal, it is time for change.’’

“And we will be back at the next election.’’

This is expected to lead to a two-way contest between Planning Minister Matthew Guy and Treasurer Michael O’Brien.

The success of the Greens in the lower was the standout surprise of the election.

With Labor winning a majority in the 88-member lower house, the ALP was jubilant after cutting the Coalition down after one term.

The last time this happened was in 1955 after the great Labor split.

The Nationals lost at least one seat, the electorate of Shepparton in the state’s north, to a Labor-leading independent.