By Matthew Sims
Star Weekly has looked back through the archives for 2022 and selected some of our favourite stories of the year, including our wrap of the 2022 state election in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay.
An increase of support for Greens candidates across inner-city seats has extended as far west as Footscray, with Labor MP Katie Hall predicted to retain the seat despite a 13.6 per cent swing to the Greens.
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne has also been re-elected, while Labor’s Mathew Hilakari will represent the new seat of Point Cook and former Tarneit MP Sarah Connolly will represent the new seat of Laverton.
Ms Hall secured 54.56 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote with 17,354 votes, while Greens candidate Elena Pereyra obtained 14,451 two-candidate-preferred votes (45.44 per cent).
Ms Hall received 14,078 first preference votes (44.24 per cent), while Ms Pereyra secured 7061 first preference votes (22.19 per cent), Liberal candidate Emete Joesika received 5456 first preference votes (17.14 per cent) and Victorian Socialists candidate Jorge Jorquera obtained 3160 first preference votes (9.93 per cent).
In the new seat of Point Cook, Labor’s Mathew Hilakari has been predicted to win, despite a 3.2 per cent swing against Labor.
Mr Hilakari secured 12,657 first preference votes (40.59 per cent), while Liberal candidate Angela Newhouse received 7705 first preference votes (24.71 per cent), independent candidate Joe Garra obtained 2309 first preference votes (7.4 per cent) and Greens candidate Shamsher Khan received 2009 first preference votes (6.44 per cent).
The Victorian Electoral Commission has begun a recount for the two-candidate preferred vote for Point Cook.
“I’ll work hard to make sure our community gets the infrastructure and support that will make our community even better,” Mr Hilakari said in a Facebook post.
Ms Newhouse said she was disappointed the Liberals’ pledges to duplicate Point Cook Road, an eco-tourism wetlands centre, and a bike and pedestrian bridge along Queen Street were unlikely to go ahead after failing to attract matching pledges from Labor.
Labor’s Melissa Horne has retained the seat of Williamstown despite a 9.55 per cent swing against Labor.
Ms Horne received 62.52 per cent of the two-candidate preferred votes, with 20,771 votes, while Liberal candidate Daria Kellander received 12,452 two-candidate preferred votes (37.48 per cent).
Ms Horne said it was an “honour” to be re-elected by the people of Williamstown.
Ms Kellander said she would continue to fight for the west.
“Our need for better infrastructure, better healthcare, and more jobs in the west won’t change,” she said.
On a two-candidate-preferred basis, Ms Connolly secured 68.43 per cent of the vote in Laverton, with a total of 15,530, while Mr Reddy amassed 7166 votes or 31.57 per cent of the vote.
