Australia's Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews speaks at a press conference in Melbourne on July 16, 2021. AFP SYDNEY - The progressive government of Australia's Victoria state won re-election on Saturday, clearing the way for spending on infrastructure, education and healthcare.
After eight years in power in the country's second most populous state, centre-left Labor was tipped to defeat its Liberal-National coalition opposition, and the government, led by Daniel Andrews, was comfortably returned at Saturday's poll.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC predicted that Labor would win 49 seats in the state's lower house, and the Liberal-National coalition to take 24 seats with 67 percent of the vote.
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There are forty-five seats needed to form a majority government in the 88 seat Victorian legislative assembly.
Andrews told ABC television on Sunday morning that he was humbled and so grateful that Victorians have re-elected a majority Labor government.
Labor won just under two-thirds of seats in a landslide four years ago, but polling in the final days of the campaign suggested a tighter race.
Both sides pledged millions to spruce up the state's infrastructure, education and healthcare system as a result of the campaign.
Labor has pledged to build a rail loop project for the state capital Melbourne, which local media estimates will cost about A $125 billion $85 billion, but the coalition, led by Matthew Guy, vows to shelve it if elected.
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Guy conceded that his conservative coalition had a lot of work to do after the third straight election loss to Andrews, the Guardian reported on Sunday.
Melbourne, a city of 5 million people, spent more time in the COVID 19 lockdowns than any other city in the world. The premier talked about the unprecedented time in the state's history on Sunday.
Andrews told reporters in Melbourne that you don't get to choose the challenges you face.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a Labor politician, said Andrews deserved a pat on the back of the election win. He told reporters in Canberra that he congratulates Dan Andrews and his entire team.