![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/05\/DSC_4150_81572.jpg\")
Ms Coker first thanked Mr Marles for his help before and during the campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve taken a couple of turns to actually win Corangamite, and to win again, hopefully this evening, is a testament to both of us because we\u2019ve been together on this journey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd on the way, what we\u2019ve done is we\u2019ve spoken to people, we\u2019ve listened to our communities, and we understand what you need to get ahead in your life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I really want to see is more care and compassion in government.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the Liberal post-election function at the Grovedale Hotel, Ms Asher spoke in front of a much smaller crowd of her supporters and volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019s our night tonight, but I really wanted to say thank you so much to all of you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn amazing, amazing effort from all of the volunteers who put on a very strong local campaign. I\u2019m very proud of what we did, we covered a lot
\nof ground.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also thanked her family, donors, and Liberal politicians including Sarah Henderson \u2013 \u201cwhat an amazing person, just an absolute machine; she has worked tirelessly for us\u201d \u2013 who was re-elected to the Senate in Victoria.<\/p>\n
Greens candidate Alex Marshall had an impressive showing with the biggest positive swing of all the Corangamite contenders, attracting 6.64 per cent more primary votes than last time for more than 15 per cent of first preferences.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/05\/AlexMarshall_25389.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
In Corio, Mr Marles had a 4.76 per cent drop compared to 2019 to record 42.84 per cent of the primary vote but surged further ahead of Liberal candidate Manish Patel on preferences, winning 63.57 per cent of the two-party preferred vote for an overall 3.25 per cent gain.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight, people around Australia and people here in Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Bellarine voted for a better future for our country,\u201d Mr Marles said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll around our region, people voted against more of the same from Scott Morrison and wanted to see a government in this country that actually has a plan for our nation\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The makeup of the government will depend on Labor\u2019s final number of seats \u2013 according to the Australian Electoral Commission on Tuesday this week, Labor is leading in 75, one short of a majority – and the number of crossbenchers, including several teal independents who defeated well-established Liberal MPs such as treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Tim Wilson.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LABOR\u2019S Libby Coker and Richard Marles held their seats as their party recorded a stunning victory at Saturday\u2019s federal election on the back of a \u201cteal wave\u201d that swept the Liberal Party from office. Ms Coker had a decisive win over Liberal candidate Stephanie Asher in Corangamite, picking up (as of late Sunday, with nearly […]<\/p>\n