Labor Secures Lead in Werribee By-Election Despite Significant Swing

Victorian Labor candidate John Lister extends his lead to 593 votes but faces a sharp decline in voter support compared to previous elections.

Labor's John Lister leads with 50.7% of the two-party preferred vote, ahead of Liberal candidate Steve Murphy at 49.3%.
The lead increased after counting an additional 2,300 postal votes, with 1,594 postal votes still unreturned.
Labor's primary vote dropped by 16.5%, marking the largest swing against the party under the current government.
The by-election was prompted by the retirement of long-serving Treasurer Tim Pallas, who previously held the seat with a comfortable margin.
Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged the sharp swing as a signal of voter dissatisfaction and pledged to address concerns in Melbourne's west.