“As soon as it is clearer which Liberal Party candidates will form the next parliamentary party room, I will call them together to elect their new leadership team,” he said on Sunday morning.
Primary Votes Fall, Again
Although Labor pulled off another win, as of midday Nov. 27, the primary votes for both major parties showed losses again, with Labor down 5.8 percent from the 2018 election to 37.1 percent, and the Coalition are down 0.1 percent to 35 percent. Meanwhile, the Greens are up 0.2 percent to 10.9 percent, and others up 5.7 percent to 17 percent.In a concession speech, Guy said there were “tremendous swings” towards the Coalition in Melbourne’s north and west, despite the commentary.
“Swings above 15, approaching 20 percent in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs,” he said.
The Liberals picked up Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula but lost nearby Hastings.
“I hope that the Labor Party, who will form the government, will heed that message, and will have a change in style, a change in attitude, a more approachable, focus more on uniting Victorians, not just dividing them. As has been the case.”
Guy added that his party will still hold the premier to account.
“We do not shy away from the important messages we have raised in this last term around health and the state of our health system,” Guy said.
“I am immensely proud of all of the Liberal National Party candidates around the state. Our time in the sun will come again.”
Federal Liberal Senator Jane Hume said while the Liberals had enjoyed some good swings, they were just in the wrong seats.
“There’s going to be some soul-searching … I think that there was a much better policy platform this election than there was at the last election,” Hume said on Sky News.
Future Leadership Unclear
Guy resigned as opposition leader after the coalition suffered an election thumping in 2018 before returning to the post in September 2021 after toppling Michael O'Brien.“I’ve never had to make one of those calls,” the Labor leader told reporters.
“It’s obviously difficult. I was grateful that he rang. I was very grateful that he wishes me and my family all the best. I wished him and his family all the best.”
Nationals MP Danny O'Brien said breaking up the coalition in the state should be looked at, with the junior partner set to pick up at least three seats.
“We haven’t had any conversations obviously on that. But I would have to say from my perspective ... it’s got to be on the table,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“We need to think about what the best is not just for us but for the Liberal Party, and obviously they’re going to go through a fair bit of soul-searching in coming days, and weeks and months.”
