Sussan Ley at the ballot box on Saturday.
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Sophie Burge
As polls closed last night, expectations were already growing that Labor would secure a second term in Parliament.
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Not because the love was there, but because the LNP by almost all accounts, had run a terrible campaign.
And then there was the undeniable Trump factor.
Australians, in a carbon copy of the recent Canadian election, have made their feelings clear on the issue of Trumpian politics, electing a left wing government and showing their opposition leaders the door.
Even so, no-one predicted the sweeping, Australia-wide landslide to Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party.
Conservative politics is on the nose, but despite that, deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley held onto the seat of Farrer, albeit with a 9.10 per cent swing against her in first preference votes.
Ms Ley was unlikely to lose the seat she’s held for 21 years but it was a bittersweet win in the face of a very good campaign by Independent Michelle Milthorpe.
The swing also went against the ALP to the tune of 3.99 per cent as Mrs Milthorpe picked up 20 per cent of first preference votes.
Over the border, Independent Helen Haines has comfortably held onto her seat in Indi with a 2.46 per cent swing her way in the primary vote.
Independent Helen Haines has comfortably held Indi.
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Contributed
In Nicholls, incumbent Sam Birrell got over the line with 65.63 per cent of the primary vote, and without a single pledge to the Yarrawonga area.
The junior partner in the Liberal National coalition, the Nationals lost only one seat last night, to one of their own.
Nationals MP Andrew Gee ran as an Independent in the seat of Calare after quitting the party over its stance on the Voice to Parliament.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s victory speech was lauded by many as unifying and inspiring, but with no reference to farmers, water, food production or ageing, he still has a lot of work to do around here.
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