Over the weekend, it was confirmed that the Victorian Labor government would remain in power, gaining as many as 16 additional seats.
‘We are the most progressive government in the nation, we are the most progressive state in the nation, we live our values, we keep our promises and we get things done’, said Premier the Hon Daniel Andrews MP.
In a stunning defeat, the Hon Matthew Guy MP and the Coalition lost numerous traditionally conservative and regional electorates, facing a swing of nearly 6%. The Greens also suffered a swing of 1.6%, following a campaign plagued by negative press.
Former Victorian premier and Liberal leader, the Hon Ted Baillieu, stated that ‘the campaign didn’t work. The policies didn’t work, the organisation, the administration didn’t work, the leadership didn’t work. We didn’t have any cut through. Across the board it didn’t work’.
The Federal Liberal Party has maintained that the state loss was not a reflection of its own support.
The Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, commented that ‘the state election was fought on state issues. Matthew Guy himself said that. The noise from Canberra didn’t help, but it wasn’t the determining factor in that election’.
Premier Andrews announced his new cabinet on Tuesday, half of which is comprised of women in a first for Victoria. Many have questioned the decision to promote yet to be sworn in Ms Melissa Horne straight to Cabinet, and the return to Cabinet of the Hon Adem Somyurek MLC, who faced bullying allegations in 2015.
After congratulating Premier Andrews on Wednesday, Mr Guy announced that he would be stepping down from his position as leader, thanking his party for their hard work. It is expected that the Liberal Party would meet next week to elect a new leader. It is anticipated that Shadow Treasurer, the Hon Michael O’Brien MP, will likely run for the leadership again, having been beaten by Mr Guy in 2014. Other contenders are possible, however it may come down to who holds on to their seat in determining any other candidates.
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