Labor MP Mathew Hilakari has claimed victory in the new seat of Point Cook, despite a 3.2 per cent swing against Labor compared to previous elections in the former seat of Altona.
The victory in Point Cook was part of a broader Labor victory, with Labor winning 50 seats based on the two-candidate preferred count at the time of publication.
Following the retirement of former Altona MP Jill Hennessy, Mr Hilakari received 68.83 per cent of the two-candidate preferred votes, with 10,475 votes, while independent candidate for Point Cook Joe Garra received 4789 two-candidate preferred votes (31.37 per cent).
The ABC has predicted that Mr Hilakari received 59.6 per cent of the two-candidate preferred votes with 18,597 votes, while Liberal candidate for Point Cook Angela Newhouse obtained 40.4 per cent of the two-candidate preferred votes with 12,617 votes.
Mr Hilakari secured 12,653 first preference votes (40.54 per cent), while Liberal candidate for Point Cook Angela Newhouse obtained 7700 first preference votes (24.67 per cent), Joe Garra secured 2311 first-preference votes (7.4 per cent), Greens candidate Shamsher Khan received 2010 first preference votes (6.44 per cent) and Victorian Socialists candidate Alex McAulay received 1229 first preference votes (3.94 per cent).
In a Facebook post, Mr Hilakari said he was grateful to the community for showing their support for his campaign.
“Thank you to all the volunteers, friends, family and comrades and to everyone who donated their time to make sure that Labor is successful in Point Cook,” he said.
“It is a honour to be preselected for Labor as a candidate, and so much more of an honour to gain the support of the community.
“I’ll work hard to make sure our community gets the infrastructure and support that will make our community even better, and I’ll work hard for everyone across Point Cook.”
Mr Hilakari said he wished his fellow candidates the best moving forward.
“To the other candidates, putting yourself forward is a big deal, you put your life on hold to put yourself and your values and beliefs in front of the community to consider,” he said.
“It’s a brave thing to do, and after two weeks on prepoll together I’m glad to have made new friends who share a strong belief in wanting the best for our community.”
