Labor MPs are expected to be returned in seats across the west, including in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay electorates, according to a Monash University political expert.
Dr Zareh Ghazarian said voters in the west are concerned about issues such as access to services, facilities and infrastructure amid rapid housing and population growth.
He said they are also focussed on broader issues such as healthcare, education and transport service provision – all of which he said have dominated the election campaign so far.
Dr Ghazarian said while there is some anti-Labor sentiment in the community, he doesn’t believe there will be a big enough swing against Labor for the party to lose the election.
“It still looks like this is Labor’s election to lose,” he said.
Dr Ghazarian said the seat of Point Cook, formerly known as Altona, should be “easily retained” by Labor.
“The margin is such that Labor should be able to hold on,” he said.
“If Labor starts losing seats like Point Cook, then it’s unlikely to win government because that should be a safe seat.”
Dr Ghazarian said Footscray is also a “ultra safe seat” for Labor to retain, with a 28.7 per cent margin in favour of Labor.
“For voters in an ultra safe seat, it probably wouldn’t be the case that they would have the major party leaders announce major announcements in their electorate,” he said.
Dr Ghazarian said it was interesting the Liberals and Nationals weren’t using the pandemic as a talking point.
“That’s the great unknown in this election,” he said.
“The extent to which people will be thinking about rewarding or punishing candidates based on their views of the pandemic management, and the handling of the pandemic.”
Dr Ghazarian said after looking at the results of the federal election, where voters moved away from the major parties and towards minor parties and independent candidates, there could be a challenge to both the coalition’s and Labor’s primary votes.
