Katie Hall and her supporters celebrate the win for Ms Hall and Labor. Photo supplied
By Benjamin Millar
Labor’s Katie Hall has been elected the new state member for Footscray, retaining the party’s stranglehold on a seat it has firmly held for almost a century.
Ms Hall takes over Footscray from the retiring Marsha Thomson, who has represented the area since 2006.
Footscray has traditionally been a very safe Labor seat – a 14.5 per cent swing away from the party was required to break its grip on a seat it has held since 1927.
Ms Hall, 36, entered the race for the seat promising to focus on protecting jobs, improving infrastructure, reigning in development and creating more open spaces.
Heritage and environmental issues are also high on her agenda, along with improvements to cycling and other infrastructure.
With 25 per cent of the vote counted by 9.30pm Saturday night, Katie Hall had taken 61 per cent of the first preference vote, Greens candidate Angus McAlpine 17 per cent, Liberal candidate Emete Joesika 15 per cent and Shan Sun of the Animal Justice Party 7 per cent.
Labor was well ahead, 83.5 per cent to 16.5 per cent, after preferences.
Katie Hall casts her vote in Footscray on Saturday. Photo via Twitter
”Being elected as Footscray’s voice in the Parliament is a great honour,” she told Star Weekly on Saturday night.
“My goal is to be an activist MP, to work with compassion and to deliver great outcomes for the inner-west.” Ms Hall said Labor has made some terrific commitments for the area, including a new Footscray Hospital, re-building Tweddle, school upgrades across the inner-west and airport rail via Sunshine.
“I can’t wait to get started on these projects. From Sunshine West to the Maribyrnong River, I’ll work tirelessly for the betterment of our community.”
The seat of Footscray includes the suburbs of Footscray, West Footscray, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Braybrook and parts of Sunshine and Sunshine West, as well as the industrial areas of Tottenham and Brooklyn.
Emete Joesika, the Liberal candidate for Footscray. Photo via FacebookAngus McAlpine, Greens candidate for Footscray. Photo via Facebook
Ballan’s favourite community festival is set to return for its 50th annual event on Sunday 15 March, celebrating local culture, creativity, and community. The Ballan…
It might’ve been an exciting moment for many residents in Melbourne’s west, but for Maidstone couple Josh Preston and Sophia Tremethick, the opening of the new Footscray Hospital last Wednesday…
Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 535864 Fresh off hosting the annual East Meets West Lunar New Year Festival, Footscray’s Byron Plaza will stage another Asian cultural celebration next month…
Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 502789 Property developer Pelligra has formally joined the Brooklyn Recycling Group (BRG) under Victoria’s first statutory Better Environment Plan (BEP). As a major landholder…
Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 245950 A car theft syndicate has been busted after police charged its alleged ringleaders and recovered stolen vehicles and key reprogramming devices amid high…
Footscray’s Con Goulas has been remembered as a giant of Melbourne’s seafood industry and the Greek community following his death last week aged 91. The founder of Conway Fish Trading,…
Security guards will continue to patrol the Footscray CBD until June after Maribyrnong council voted in favour of extending the controversial program at its meeting on 17 February. Cries of…
Altona Sports has ticked off its first goal of earning promotion and will now go for glory in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant, division 4, section 1 competition. Altona Sports…
Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 432421 Williamstown amateur historian Barb McNeill is Star Weekly’s history columnist. This week she recounts a drama-filled visit to Australia by Prince Alfred, the…
Ballan’s favourite community festival is set to return for its 50th annual event on Sunday 15 March, celebrating local culture, creativity, and community. The Ballan Autumn Festival is one of…
Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 532910 Newport Rams are hoping to be better for the run after a nervous start to the Baseball Victoria summer league women’s premier 1…
