By Parker McKenzie
Daniel Andrews will be Premier of Victoria for a historic third term, easily defeating the Liberal opposition despite a statewide swing against the Labor Party.
At the time of print, the Labor Party has won at least 52 seats, seven more than they needed to form a majority government and despite predictions of a tight contest.
In his election night victory speech, Premier Andrews said the last few years have been “incredibly challenging” and he would ”govern for all Victorians.”
“We’ve had to make some very difficult decisions, some very tough decisions, and Victorian families right across our state have had a very difficult time,” he said.
“This was a one in 100-year event and because of the tough decisions we made, and as important in some respects even more important, the fact Victorians stuck together and Victorians through kindness, compassion and connection and care, looked after each other.”
At the time of print, the Labor Party saw a 5.8 per cent swing against it statewide, however, the Liberal opposition failed to capitalise and saw a small swing against the party. The Liberal campaign focused on the premier’s perceived unpopularity which failed to connect with the voting public.
Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy, who has now steered the party to two consecutive defeats in state elections, said in a statement he will not remain as party leader after the result.
“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,” he said.
“I will not be a candidate for the position of leader.”
Early during the counting on election night, it looked as if the Greens and independents would see favourable results, with Greens leader Samantha Ratnam declaring the results a “greenslide.”
As postal and pre-polling votes were tallied, however, the result started leaning towards the Liberal and Labor Parties in inner-city seats, with the Greens only achieving a 0.2 per cent swing towards them and one extra seat at the time of print.
Independents and parties outside of the Labor and Liberal dichotomy captured 33.3 per cent of the vote at the time of print, a considerable increase compared to the 2018 state election, where they won 26.71 per cent of the first preference votes.
The Labor Party and Premier Andrews will serve a third consecutive term, the longest tenure since John Cain Jr. won three terms with the Labor Party in the 1980s.
