PREMIER Daniel Andrews has forgone celebratory beers after his Labor government was returned for a third term with a resounding election win.
But the crushing victory spelled the end of Matthew Guy’s second turn as Opposition Leader as he announced he wouldn’t put himself forward again for the role.
A sleep-deprived Mr Andrews, who made a catchphrase of getting on the beers during his media appearances during COVID-19 lockdowns, said he marked the election win with a few glasses of wine on Saturday night.
“I did not get on the beers but many others did, which I thoroughly endorse,” he said on Sunday morning.
The win gives Labor another four years in office after holding power in the state for 19 of the past 23 years.
“We are a progressive state, we are a thoughtful state, we are the centre of critical thinking, we are the centre of all the big ideas in our nation,” Mr Andrews said.
“Our politics may well be divided, but our community is united,” he said.
Labor was on track to win at least 50 seats, above the required majority of 45, while the Coalition was poised to secure 25 seats and the Greens at least four.
Several seats remained too close to call yesterday, but Labor could finish one ahead of its “Danslide” 2018 election victory result of 55 seats.
The result was Mr Guy’s second consecutive election loss to Mr Andrews.
The latest two-party preferred estimate had Labor leading the Coalition 54.1 per cent to 45.9 per cent, a 3 per cent swing towards the Liberal-Nationals.
Labor’s primary vote (37 per cent) suffered a statewide swing of almost 6 per cent, but the Liberals (29.7 per cent) also shed 0.7 per cent from 2018.
The Greens, Nationals and various micro parties have scooped up their primary votes.
The Greens were still in the race to win at least one extra inner-Melbourne seat, which leader Samantha Ratnam described as a “Greenslide”. The party was well ahead of Labor in Richmond yesterday and remained in the running in Northcote.
Teal independent Melissa Lowe had hoped to win the inner-Melbourne seat of Hawthorn against Liberal John Pesutto but she was behind by several hundred votes as postal ballots rolled in.
Labor gained Glen Waverley and the newly created seat Bayswater and was ahead in Hastings, but lost Nepean to the Liberals.
The Nationals also picked up Shepparton and Morwell from country independents, to gain nine seats in the Lower House.
