Labor Wins Werribee Byelection Amid Vote Swing

The Victorian Labor Party is poised to retain the Werribee seat in Melbourne's west despite a significant swing against them in the by-election. Labor candidate John Lister, a school teacher and CFA volunteer, leads with a 593-vote advantage over Liberal candidate Steve Murphy after further postal vote counts. This swing, resulting in a decrease from a 45% to less than 30% primary vote, indicates voter dissatisfaction with the current state government. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas have acknowledged the swing as 'unacceptable' and 'humbling', with Premier Jacinta Allan committing to better address residents' needs. The seat, historically held by Labor since 1976, was vacated by Tim Pallas and is seen as a wake-up call for the party. The final results reflect a broader sentiment of voters feeling neglected, necessitating a strategic response from the Labor government.