Labor win in Victoria seen as omen for Govt
SYDNEY: The Labor government in Victoria won an unexpectedly large majority in an election over the weekend that analysts say is a warning to the country’s ruling conservative government ahead of national polls due in six months.
Victoria is Australia’s second most populous state, and the poll is seen as a barometer of voter sentiment towards the nation’s conservative Liberal and National Government.
The governing coalition has been a minority government since October when it lost its oneseat majority after former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, ousted by conservatives in a partyroom coup, resigned.
In Victoria, the incumbent Labor Government campaigned on big infrastructure projects including rail, roads and schools, while the opposition Liberal Party focused on crime, and law and order.
Labor, which went into the election with a oneseat majority in the 88seat Victorian legislative assembly, is expected to take up to 55 seats once counting is finished, based on figures from the Victorian Electoral Commission.
With just over half the votes counted yesterday, the Victorian Electoral Commission website showed Labor leading their Liberal rivals by 42.8% to 30.4%.
On Saturday night the tally was decisive enough for Labor Premier Daniel Andrews to declare victory, although official results will not be announced until all votes are counted.
Andrews said yesterday his victory was a result of delivering on commitments.
‘‘Victorians would look at the results and be, well, from our point of view, be very pleasantly surprised at the magnitude,’’ Andrews said on ABC TV’s Insiders.
Andrews was wasting no time pushing on with his secondterm agenda. He expects to have a refreshed front bench sworn in sometime this week and will recall parliament before Christmas so the government can get off to a flying start in the new year, on legislation to increase nursetopatient ratios and achieve 50% renewable energy.
University of Sydney emeritus politics professor Rodney Tiffen said the loss would be a warning to the national Liberal party.
‘‘I would think it’s a very bad omen for the Liberals federally,’’ he said.
‘‘It continues a sense that they’re on a losing streak.’’
A federal election is due in Australia by midMay next year. — Reuters/AAP