Liberal Party Claims Victory in Prahran By-Election

The Liberal Party is poised to secure victory in the Prahran by-election, according to projections by ABC’s chief elections analyst, Antony Green. Rachel Westaway, the Liberal candidate, currently leads with 51.6% of the two-candidate-preferred vote, leading the Greens’ Angelica Di Camillo by 954 votes with all polling day, pre-poll, and returned postal votes counted.

Breakdown of the Prahran By-Election

Despite the Greens winning the polling day vote, the Liberal Party recorded a majority with pre-poll votes and secured nearly two-thirds of the postal vote. Only a few thousand postal votes remain uncounted.

This win will return the seat to the Liberal Party for the first time since 2010.

Rachel Westaway’s Campaign Platform

During her campaign, Westaway emphasized a law-and-order stance and pledged to address social issues affecting the electorate, including crime, homelessness, and graffiti.

"I remember Prahran with what it once was like, and that was the Beverly Hills of Melbourne," Westaway told the ABC. "It was iconic. Everybody wanted to come to Chapel Street, which runs right through the electorate, but we’ve seen a decline."

She highlighted problems such as crime, homelessness, graffiti, and vacant shops as key issues to tackle.

Werribee By-Election Result Unclear

In contrast to Prahran, the Werribee by-election result is still uncertain. Labor recorded a majority of the polling day vote, but considering over half of all votes were pre-poll votes, the final outcome remains in doubt.

Labor suffered a double-digit swing against it, with both major parties finishing the night with less than 30% of the primary vote.

Historical Context of Werribee

The seat of Werribee is a well-established Labor stronghold, having been held by the party since 1979.

Implications for Party Prospects

These by-elections are crucial indicators for the performance of the state and federal Labor governments and the electoral prospects of the Liberal Party, currently out of power in Victoria since 2014.

New Opposition Leader Brad Battin’s Challenge

The by-elections represent the first major challenge for new opposition leader Brad Battin, who succeeded John Pesutto in December.

Conclusion

As results continue to be counted, these by-elections provide valuable insights into the political landscape of Victoria. The outcomes could signal significant shifts in party dynamics and influence future elections.