AS Daniel Andrews strolled into the history books, Matthew Guy quietly made the call to walk away from the Liberal leadership after another Victorian election drubbing.<\/p>\n
Labor is on track to win more than 51 of the 88 seats in the lower house after Saturday’s poll, six more than the number required to govern in majority.<\/p>\n
The coalition\u00a0is projected to win at least 25 seats after starting the count with 27 and the Greens a minimum of four.<\/p>\n
Several seats remained too close to call as of printing, although Labor was predicted to win or was ahead in five of those.<\/p>\n
If it takes all five, Labor will finish one seat ahead of the \u2018Danslide\u2019 2018 election victory result despite a plunge in primary vote and double-digit swings against it\u00a0in Melbourne’s north and west.<\/p>\n
The result marks the second time Mr Guy has led the coalition to an election drubbing, spelling an end to his time in the top job.<\/p>\n
After making no mention of his future in Saturday night’s concession speech, the Liberal leader announced he would not continue in the role via a statement the next day.<\/p>\n
“As soon as it is clearer which Liberal Party candidates will form the next parliamentary party room, I will call them together to elect their new leadership team,” Mr Guy said.<\/p>\n
A sleep-deprived Mr Andrews fronted the cameras shortly before Mr Guy’s decision was revealed and vowed to govern for all Victorians after a bitter campaign.<\/p>\n
“Our politics may well be divided, but our community is united,” he said. “Whether you voted for us or not, we’ll work hard and get things done.”<\/p>\n
The Premier, who made a catchphrase of “get on the beers” during Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdowns, said he marked the election win with a few glasses of wine.<\/p>\n
“I did not get on the beers but many others did, which I thoroughly endorse,” he said.<\/p>\n
Victorian Labor’s grip on government will now extend for another four years after holding power for 19 of the last 23.<\/p>\n
The Premier equalled Steve Bracks and John Cain by leading the party to three successive state election triumphs.<\/p>\n
Mr Andrews, who is also set to become the state’s longest-serving Labor premier next year, said former\u00a0Liberal prime minister John Howard got it wrong when he branded Victoria the “Massachusetts of Australia” over its left-leaning tendencies.<\/p>\n
“Massachusetts is the Victoria of the United States, be very clear about that,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Premier confirmed Victorian parliament would return before the end of the year and hinted at potential election reform after ugly scenes at voting centres.<\/p>\n
The Greens, meanwhile, are likely to win at least one extra inner-Melbourne seat,\u00a0which leader Samantha Ratnam described as a “Greenslide”.<\/p>\n
The party is well ahead of Labor in Richmond but is expected to lose in Northcote after leading Labor on election night.<\/p>\n
Ms Ratnam said the Greens were still on track to double their representation in parliament and hold the\u00a0balance of power in the upper house.<\/p>\n
It appears the Liberals could fend off teal independent candidates across Melbourne after leadership possibility John Pesutto pulled ahead of\u00a0Melissa Lowe as postal ballots rolled in.<\/p>\n
Labor lost the Mornington Peninsula seat of Nepean to the Liberals, but gained\u00a0Glen Waverley and was ahead in Hastings.<\/p>\n
Covering up for the Liberals’ blushes, the Nationals picked up Shepparton, Mildura and Morwell in regional Victoria from country independents.<\/p>\n
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