General News
21 December, 2022
Upper house results finalised
WESTERN Victoria will have three new MPs following the finalisation of upper house election results last week.
WESTERN Victoria will have three new MPs following the finalisation of upper house election results last week.
Labor’s Jacinta Ermacora and Gayle Tierney, Liberals Bev McArthur and Joe McCracken and Greens’ Sarah Mansfield will all serve as upper house MPs for Western Victoria.
Incumbent Western Victoria MPs Andy Meddick (Animal Justice Party) and Stuart Grimley (Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party) were unsuccessful in their re-election bids.
Incumbent Labor MP Jaala Pulford had announced her retirement prior to the election.
The re-election of Labor’s Gayle Tierney has one of the state’s political heavyweights returning for the Andrews Labor Government.
Ms Tierney was recently sworn in to the ministry with Training and Skills, Higher Education, and Agriculture among her portfolios.
“It will be my privilege to serve in these portfolios in the 60th Victorian Parliament,” she said.
“Thank you to my ministerial and electorate office staff, and most importantly, the constituents of Western Victoria.”
Liberal MP Bev McArthur also returns, with the popular firebrand vowing to bring the fight in opposition.
“Every parliament presents a new political moment in time. And as time goes, I fully intend to make the most of it,” she said.
“I am incredibly proud to be joined by new Liberal faces to the Legislative Council including my colleague Joe McCracken in Western Victoria Region.
“His effort has been extraordinary, and I know we are united in our desire to not only uphold Liberal values in this area, but to hold the Andrews Government to account.”
Mrs McArthur said holding the government to account “has never been more important”.
“The surging cost of living is a critical issue – and there is very little that the Premier has announced that will change that – other than to spend taxpayers’ money in household subsidies to mask the financial pain,” she said.
“Pothole-ridden roads and highways across the state need immediate attention. They are simply not safe and reducing 100km/hr speed limits to 40-60km/hr is not a solution.
“And to say our health system is in crisis is an understatement.
“There is so much to do, so much to fight for.”
Greens MP Sarah Mansfield said she was humbled to have been elected.
“This is a huge moment for us, and something many dedicated supporters in our region have worked for years to achieve,” she said.
“Across Western Victoria we increased our vote, and some districts saw incredible swings towards the Greens.
“The challenges we faced going into the election persist, and there is a need for urgent action on housing affordability, inequality, access to basic services, environmental protection, and the climate crisis.
“I do not underestimate the magnitude of the tasks ahead, but by working together with the community, we can achieve progressive outcomes for people and the environment in the next term of Parliament.”