In the closely contested race for the Werribee seat, Liberal candidate Steve Murphy is currently in the lead with just over 29% of the first preference votes, followed closely by Labor’s John Lister at more than 28%. Due to the tight margins, a final result is expected on Friday. The delay in vote counting, which paused at 12:45 AM, was exacerbated by a number of issues at the Victorian Electoral Commission’s early voting centre. Notably, counting began half an hour late, and there was a complaint regarding a leaking roof. Additionally, an election official was asked to leave a polling site after allegedly encouraging voters to support the Liberal party.
Premier Jacinta Allan addressed the Labor camp, emphasising the competitiveness of the race, stating that it was “too close to call.” The outcome is likely to hinge on postal votes, which can be admitted if sent by the election date but arrive before the deadline of February 14. With Labour having held the seat since 1976, the close results may indicate potential challenges for the party moving forward. Lister aims for increased investment in Werribee, while Murphy argues that significant change requires Labour’s removal. Greens candidate Angelica Di Camillo has conceded defeat amidst the nail-biting contest.