By Marcus Uhe
Gary Maas has maintained Labor’s stronghold over Narre Warren South with a commanding victory in the polls in Saturday’s state election, based on counted votes on Monday morning, 28 November.
With 49.1 per cent of first preference votes, Mr Maas narrowly missed out on winning on first preferences over the Liberal candidate Annette Samuel (28.9 per cent), before winning 58.6 per cent after preferences were distributed.
Mr Maas made a short post in his Facebook page on Sunday night, thanking his supporters for voting Labor once again.
“Thank-you Narre Warren South,” Mr Maas said.
“In time, I will have more to say about our emphatic Labor victory in yesterday’s Victorian State election.
“For now I’ll just say that I am humbled to represent our great community of Narre Warren South for a second term. Thank-you for the greatest of gifts to represent you again.”
Labor was the party of choice at all 13 polling booths across the electorate.
His 17 per cent margin after preferences were distributed was a slight fall from the 20.8 he claimed in 2018, but enough to ensure Narre Warren South remains a Labor seat since its inception in 2002.
The result maintained Labor’s stranglehold over Melbourne’s other South East, with Cranbourne, Dandenong and Narre Warren North also remaining red, as the party romped to victory across the state.
As of Monday morning, Jordan Crugnale’s seat of Bass remains too close to call, as does the newly-formed seat of Pakenham, while former Gembrook MP Brad Battin claimed the new seat of Berwick to ensure Liberal representation in the area.
