Labor’s Joanne Ryan is expected to retain the seat of Lalor in the federal election and will serve her fourth term in the House of Representatives.
At 67.7 per cent of votes counted, Ms Ryan leads by a steady 17,186 votes and maintains 44.1 percent of first preference selections.
Liberal candidate Ravi Gaddipati presently holds 17,068 votes (25.2 per cent).
Both the Labor and Liberal parties suffered swings of -7.5 per cent and -4.9 per cent respectively, to the Greens, United Australia party, Liberal Democrats, One Nation, Victorian Socialists, Federation Party and Independent candidates.
On a two party preferred basis, Ms Ryan, who has held the seat since 2013, leads with 62.7 per cent of votes and a 0.2 per cent swing to Labor.
Ms Ryan thanked Lalor voters in a Facebook post and declared she would do her best for “our community and for the country” every day.
“Thank you Lalor for re-electing me to represent you in Canberra. I am humbled and honoured,” Ms Ryan wrote.
The electorate of Lalor is considered a safe Labor seat, failing to the Liberal party once since its inception in 1949.
It includes the suburbs of Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Williams Landing and parts of Truganina and Point Cook.
The remainder of Point Cook and Truganina belong to the Gellibrand electorate, held by Labor’s Tim Watts since 2013.
At almost 70 per cent of votes counted, Mr Watts leads by 31,797 votes (62.0 per cent) on a two party preferred basis.
Liberal party’s Monica Clark gained 1.1 per cent swing but holds 19,527 votes (38.0 per cent).
More to come.
