By Deanne Jeffers
POLLS closed 6pm on Saturday, November 26 and Daniel Andrew’s Labor Party won its third term in majority government. Upon conceding defeat, Leader of the Liberal Party, Matthew Guy, announced he would step down as the head of the party.
National Party candidate Kim O’Keeffe was successful at reclaiming the seat of Shepparton District, securing 12,238, or almost one third of first-preference votes by Sunday.
Mrs O’Keeffe said she was “blown away,” by the result and the support of the community.
“There was no way of telling how it would go. The election was a three-horse race, and we all had a good chance. I’m just so thrilled with the outcome and to be able to continue representing Shepparton,” said Mrs O’Keeffe.
“I think that we had a really good campaign that was built on positivity and that the message resonated.”
She was elected against Liberal candidate Cheryl Hammer who won 7,780 first preference votes and Independent Member Suzanna Sheed, 11,227 first preference votes. Ms Sheed had held the safe Country/National Party seat since 2014.
As the incoming Member for Shepparton, Mrs O’Keeffe said she is looking forward to being sworn into parliament. On Monday she said she had hit the ground running, looking at her party’s promises as well as the Premier’s election campaign.
“As a member of the National party and the opposition, I’ll be making sure that all Victorians are looked after,” she said. “What is very good news is that the Premier said that he would support the Shepparton Bypass.”
Kim’s ‘plan for Shepparton’ includes advocating for investment in regional infrastructure and roads, tackling the health crisis and mental health workforce, boosting manufacturing in Victoria and restoring choice in education for Shepparton and Mooroopna.
Liberal MP Wendy Lovell, who was up for re-election in the Legislative Council, where she has represented the Northern Victorian Region since 2006, was also successful on Saturday.
