Katie Hall wins Footscray as Labor retains power

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 Facebook
Angus McAlpine, Greens candidate for Footscray. Photo via Facebook