Tim Bull has maintained his popularity in Gippsland East, the sitting local Nationals member earning a third term advocating for his region with a comfortable State Election victory.
With Labor claiming a one-sided victory across the state, the Nationals held firm in regional seats with Mr Bull earning 57.48 per cent of the first preference vote in the Gippsland East electorate after 76.17 per cent of votes had been counted early yesterday morning.
The Gippsland East result somewhat mirrors Mr Bull’s victory four years ago when Labor ousted the Coalition to take power. It was a slight drop from the 60.36 per cent of first preference votes Mr Bull earned in 2014, however showed the National Party’s strength within the region.
Mr Bull’s third term will be his toughest yet such is Labor’s stranglehold with a majority of around 60 seats. The Coalition will likely have less than 25 seats after the final votes are counted with many tight results not expected to be known until later in the week.
Mr Bull’s stiffest opposition came from Labor candidate, Mark Reeves, who had gathered 21.55 per cent of the vote, followed by Liberal Democratic candidate, Sonia Buckley, who was supported with 6.03 per cent after drawing the first place on the ballot paper.
The next best performed was Greens candidate, Deb Foskey (5.82 per cent) followed by Independents Matt Stephenson (4.10 per cent), George Neophytou (3.28 per cent) and Ben Garrett (1.75 per cent).
Mr Reeves helped the Labor party improve its percentage in the region fractionally, however for Dr Foskey the Greens slipped more than two per cent.
At the time of going to press, Mr Bull’s had improved his two-party preferred standing.
Speaking on Sunday morning with three quarters of the total votes counted, Mr Bull said he was “very humbled” to have increased his two-party preferred standing.
“With over 76 per cent of the vote counted in Gippsland East, it is humbling to have increased my two-party preferred vote at yesterday’s state election, against a state-wide swing,” Mr Bull said.
“It is very much a bittersweet situation with the state-wide result and there are a number of seats still in the balance where some good friends and colleagues appear to have lost their positions.
“I wish to congratulate all the candidates who stood in Gippsland East for the friendly way the campaign unfolded, which showed politics and elections can be conducted in good spirit by those participating, outside the keyboard warriors of social media.
“This is a great region and I look forward to being its representative in the Legislative Assembly of the State Parliament for a further four years.”
Labor candidate, Mark Reeves, congratulated Mr Bull on his victory and said he hopes the sitting member will continue to deliver on the high expectations of the local community.
“A great outcome for Labor in Victoria. Not the swing many hoped for in Gippsland East,” Mr Reeves said.
“I wish everyone well and thank the many, many friends and supporters who voted for me and the cause, handed out ‘how to vote’ cards on booths, managed rosters, mentored and supported me, erected corflutes and gave good wishes and thumbs up.
“He (Mr Bull) has a tough road to hoe and us in East Gippsland will be holding him to account and as the local representative for our region we’ll continue to have high expectations.
“I also thank all those who supported not only myself over the campaign, but those who put in many hours supporting other candidates and lastly, but most importantly, my wife, children and extended family for their ongoing love and support.”
PICTURED: Nationals member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, casts his vote in the State Election on Saturday. Mr Bull comfortably held onto his seat in the Gippsland East electorate, however it was a difficult day for the Liberals/Nationals Coalition with the Labor Party increasing its majority.