Labor’s Daniel Andrews returned as premier in 2022 Victoria state election, as Coalition vote stalls
Victoria #Victoria
Daniel Andrews has been returned for a third term as Victorian premier despite a swing against Labor in the state’s election.
While the party’s primary vote fell around 6% from the “Dan-slide” in 2018, Labor was still on track to record a comfortable majority.
On a historic night for Labor, the Greens looked set to be the other big winners, picking up at least two seats – Richmond and Northcote – to continue the momentum of their most successful ever federal election result in May.
The party could also potentially win a number of other seats, with counting likely to continue for days with record numbers of Victorians voting early or via postal ballots.
Greens leader Samantha Ratnam was ebullient in addressing a crowd in a bar in Collingwood.
“My friends I am so proud to be up here to tell you all that the Green-slide continues,” Ratnam said.
“Tonight we are on track to colour in the map of inner-city Melbourne green.”
Ratnam disputed the notion that the Liberals choosing to preference the Greens above Labor had caused the strong result, pointing to the party’s increased first preference vote.
While the Labor vote fell, the Liberal party first preference vote was also down, collapsing below 30%.
Those votes flowed to minor parties – including the Nationals – as well as independents.
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Whether or not Victorian parliament will gain a ‘teal’ independent might not be known for several days, but at least two were in strong positions, with Kate Lardner leading in the seat of Mornington, while Melissa Lowe looked competitive against former Liberal shadow attorney-general John Pesutto in Hawthorn.
One small positive for the Liberal party was the seat of Nepean, in Melbourne’s south-east, where the former tennis professional Sam Groth was on track to win.
But it seemed unlikely they were going to gain many seats, and far short of the 18 they had needed to form government.