The Albanese Government has been returned to power in a landslide victory that saw Labor secure 82 seats to the Coalition’s 38 at the time of going to press yesterday.
Labor’s Rob Mitchell has been returned for McEwen but the previously thought safe Labor seat of Bendigo will come down to the wire as votes continue to be tallied.
Mitchell was returned with an unpredicted swing in his favour of 1.06 per cent. The seat had been seen as winnable by the Liberals with Opposition leader Peter Dutton paying more than one visit to the electorate alongside candidate Jason McClintock, but it was not to be.
At the time of going to press, Mitchell had 54.88 per cent of the two-party preferred vote (44,784), with McClintock at 45.12 per cent (36,817).
Mitchell said the result fell back to what Labor was selling versus what the Liberal Party was selling.
“Money doesn’t buy everything,” he said.
“At a time of global uncertainty, what we put forward was always a positive plan, where we talked about backing our people, trusting our values and building a future. They were just talking negatively about how bad everything was.
“At a time when things are rough, people don’t want to listen to that, they want to know what we can do to make a difference to people’s lives.
“What we’ve done in the past three years, is we’ve really turned infrastructure in Victoria around.”
Mitchell said it was a privilege to be elected for his sixth term.
“Every day I remind myself that I’m the 1081st person elected to the parliament and it reminds you how hard it is to get here and what a privilege it is,” he said.
“Peter Cleeland (the first Member for McEwen) always said to me ‘never forget just what a privilege it is to have that role and don’t waste it’.
“So I make sure I don’t take it for granted – it’s so hard to win and so easy to lose.”
McEwen comprises part of Hume Shire, part of Mitchell Shire, part of Nillumbik Shire, part of Whittlesea and part of Macedon Ranges Shire, including Gisborne, Macedon, Romsey, Lancefield and Woodend.
BENDIGO DOWN TO THE COUNT
The seat of Bendigo has been touted as ‘one of the surprises’ in this election as Labor incumbent Lisa Chesters and first-time Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean run a tight race.
At the time of going to press the seat was yet to be determined with Lethlean leading with 52.98 per cent (17,783) of the two-party preferred vote, and Chesters with 47.02 per cent (15,781).
Labor has held the seat of Bendigo since 1998 and it has long been considered a ‘safe Labor seat’ in regional Victoria.
The electorate runs as far north as Rochester, west to Carisbrook and south to the Macedon Ranges – Kyneton sitting at its southern edge.
Chesters has held Bendigo since 2013 and has a visible track-record. She has not seen a challenge quite like this year’s election.
Publican and businessman Lethlean has run a strong campaign with a fervent presence particularly in the city of Bendigo where he was born and raised. It is hard to miss Lethlean’s prominent billboards, roving utes, homes and businesses.
Issues voters face this time around is a rise in crime and cost-of-living pressures.
Nationals candidate for Bendigo Andrew Lethlean. 
Labor incumbent for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters. (left)
More to come.
