Labor scrapes through to claim victory in Werribee byelection despite big swing against it
The Victorian Labor party is claiming a narrow victory in the Werribee byelection, with its former stronghold now held on a slim margin.
At last count and after preferences, the Labor candidate, John Lister, received 50.71% of the two-party preferred vote, compared with the Liberal party's Steve Murphy on 49.29%.
That followed a 16.5% slump in Labor's primary vote.
Labor has held Werribee, in Melbourne's west, since 1979, and the byelection was held after the resignation of former treasurer Tim Pallas.
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The party claimed the win on social media on Friday, congratulating Lister and describing him as the new Labor member.
'John has served Werribee as a teacher and a CFA volunteer – now, he'll represent the community he loves in Victoria's parliament,' Victorian Labor said.
The byelection was the first electoral test for the premier, Jacinta Allan, after she took over the top job from Daniel Andrews.
The deputy premier, Ben Carroll, said previously the party had heard voters 'loud and clear' over the slump in support.
Commentators have speculated whether the result could translate to a shift to the right in Victoria at the next federal election, which must be held by 17 May.
The vote in Werribee was held on the same day as a byelection in the inner eastern suburb of Prahran, which Liberal candidate Rachel Westaway won.
The seat had been held by the Greens since 2014, with the vote prompted by the resignation of Sam Hibbins.
The Greens said they were hurt by lost preferences after Labor chose not to run a candidate and by absentee votes not being allowed.
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