Victorian election 2022: A Labor backlash will force Dan Andrews to negotiate

A major backlash against Labor tonight could force Daniel Andrews to negotiate with regional independents, before the Greens. See what it will mean for farmers and the regions.

All eyes are on the number 45 tonight, the minimum seats Labor or the Liberal-Nationals need to hold a Lower House majority and govern in Victoria.

Up until now Labor Premier Daniel Andrews and his team have held 55 of the Lower House’s 88 seats, which is 10 more than the 45 needed to retain power.

Even if Labor loses more than 10 seats tonight, Premier Daniel Andrews and his team have a built-in safety buffer, in the form of two supportive independents.

Earlier this month Premier Daniel Andrews told media “no deal will be offered and no deal will be done” with minor parties or independents in the event of a hung parliament.

But you can bet at the first sign of any major backlash against Labor, the Premier will call on independents Suzanna Sheed in Shepparton and Mildura’s Ali Cupper for support to stay in power.

Shepparton independent MP Suzanna Sheed wants more money directed to flood recovery in return for her support for a minority government. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Labor once again relying on regional independent MPs, as they did during the former Bracks Government’s first term, could prove invaluable in getting the funds redirected from Melbourne’s “Big Builds” to desperately needed road and recovery work in regional Victoria.

Ms Sheed said she would call for “a parliamentary committee to ensure a full and complete flood recovery program across northern Victoria, so that we are not forgotten”, plus independent funding of integrity agencies and parliament.

Regional Victorians want more funding redirected from Labor’s “Big Builds” in Melbourne to rebuilding their roads and flood damaged towns.

If Mr Andrews is unable to cobble together a majority with two regional independents, he will have to turn to the Greens, who have already issued a list of five demands in return for their support:

END native forest logging across the state in 2023.

BAN onshore and offshore gas exploration and production.

CAP rent increases in line with wages and building more public & affordable housing.

PASS the Greens’ Strengthening Integrity Bill.

RAISE the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

It’s not hard to see Daniel Andrews meeting those demands to stay in power, as gas production has been all but minimal under Labor and the Premier announced in 2019 that he would phase out native forest logging by 2030.

But no-one should believe that the Greens will stop at just shutting down gas developments and the timber industry.

Greens policies include:

ESTABLISH the Great Forest National Park, adding to the 355,000ha of protected forests to an existing 170,000ha of parks and protected areas in Victoria’s central highlands.

REDUCE current levels of meat production in Victoria, which are unsustainable.

END animal and fish farming practices that are inconsistent with animals’ natural behavioural needs, and a phasing out of all intensive animal farming practices.

BAN the unsustainable commercial killing of kangaroos and other native wildlife.

BAN leg-hold traps and poison baits such as 1080.

END of recreational hunting on public land.

BAN recreational shooting of native water birds, except by First Nations people within the context of cultural practices.

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