Marles re-elected as Labor sweeps to historic win

RICHARD Marles has won the seat of Corio, securing a seventh consecutive term as the Albanese Government surged to a historic win.

Marles declared victory over Liberal candidate Darren Buller on election night, after a campaign that saw strong support swing to Labor nationally.

“Saturday was a great night for Labor around the country, and a great night for Labor in Geelong,” Marles said.

“This historic result is a credit to all of the volunteers who help us in Geelong and I want to sincerely thank them for their efforts knocking on doors, manning pre-poll booths, and helping out on election day itself.”

Marles held a joint election night event at the St Albans Football and Netball Club rooms with his Labor colleague from the neighbouring electorate of Corangamite, Libby Coker.

“Between Libby and I, we have represented Labor here for a number of years now – but this is the first time we’ve seen a Labor member elected three times in Corangamite, that’s a huge achievement for Libby Coker,” he said.

“As we move forward, I want to ensure the same journey is being had by everyone in Geelong, particularly in places like Newcomb and Whittington.”

Marles secured 63.23 per cent of the two-party preferred vote over Buller, a 0.74 per cent increase from the 2022 poll.

At the time of going to print, Labor had secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives, the most the party has ever won in a federal election.

As election night results rolled in on Saturday, it quickly became clear the Coalition was in deep trouble.

Within hours, Peter Dutton had lost his seat, the first major party leader to be ousted by voters in their own electorate since John Howard in 2007, and the Coalition’s primary vote was in freefall.

The result marks Labor’s strongest showing since Bob Hawke’s victories in the 1980s, and the first time since 2004 that an incumbent prime minister has led their party to back-to-back federal election wins.

In the wake of the Coalition’s collapse, speculation over the party’s leadership intensified.

With Dutton gone, senior figures including Sussan Ley, Dan Tehan and Angus Taylor are jostling for the leadership amid factional infighting.

Labor believes its messaging resonated particularly with suburban voters and working families.

“I think that particularly the needs-based funding for schools is so important for those areas, the increase in Medicare expenditure is going to be really important for the health of those areas and that is what I now look forward to helping deliver as part of the re-elected Albanese Labor Government,” Marles said.