Locals Say Western Melbourne a Hotbed of Drug Use, Violence, Burglaries

The seat of Werribee has been hit hard by cost of living but also frequent criminal activity.

A homeless person's bed on Watton Street in the outer western suburb of Werribee in Melbourne, Australia. Josh Spasaro/The Epoch Times

The massive swing away from Victoria Labor at the Werribee by-election on Feb. 8 came amid major concerns about cost of living and crime in the traditional Labor heartland seat.

Labor’s John Lister narrowly held on over his Liberal counterpart, Steve Murphy, despite 16.6 percent of voters turning away from the centre-left party on their primary vote.