Preferences seal the win for Cheeseman

THE full results from the Victorian state election are almost in, with new South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman behind on primary votes but passing Andrew Katos from the Liberals on preferences.

According to the Victorian Electoral Commission, 93.27 percent of the total enrolment at the close of rolls in South Barwon had been rechecked as of Tuesday afternoon. Mr Katos had 37.61 percent of first-preference votes (18,175), ahead of Mr Cheeseman’s 37.24 percent (17,992).

The Labor contender is safely ahead in the two-party preferred vote, however, drawing 54.53 percent to Mr Katos’ 45.47 percent.

The Greens’ Marian Smedley was the next best supported candidate with 8.62 per cent of first preferences (4,162 votes), followed by independent Damien Cole (3,699 or 7.66 percent), Peter Oseckas from the Animal Justice Party (1,474 or 3.05 percent), Stephen Campbell from Labour DLP (1,458 or 3.02 percent), Robert Ripa from Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (1,002 or 2.07 per cent), and David Ball from the Victorian Socialists (355 or 0.73 per cent).

There were 2,273 informal votes – 4.49 percent of the total votes.

The final results have been declared for the neighbouring seat of Polwarth, with Liberal MP Richard Riordan easily holding the electorate with 51.15 percent of first preferences.

It was a similar story in Lara, Labor MP John Eren receiving 57.94 percent of first preferences and just under 70 percent of the two-party preferred vote.

In the upper house, votes in the Western Victoria Region are still being rechecked, but Labor has two indicatives quotas and the Liberals have one.