Elsie Lange
Labor MP Mary-Anne Thomas said she was feeling “humble, proud, grateful” to have been re-elected to the seat of Macedon on Saturday, despite suffering a swing against her.
With 73 per cent of votes counted as of noon Sunday, the health minister led Liberal candidate Dominic Bonanno 60.9 per cent to 39.06 per cent on two party preferred terms – representing a 2.3 per cent swing in the Liberals’ favour.
Ms Thomas’ primary vote fell 6 per cent compared to the 2018 election, while the Liberals experienced a 1.5 per cent dip.
She said Labor’s plan would deliver for the people of Macedon, and she would rally to ensure her election commitments – including a half a million dollar upgrade at Romsey’s Lions Park reserve and $1.5 million for Kyneton Netball Club – would be funded in the state budget.
“I love what I do, people in this electorate give me enormous energy. Their trust and confidence in me gives me enormous energy and I will work hard for them,” she said.
Addressing the decline in primary votes for both major parties, she said there had been a “relentless campaign” against Labor by elements of the media, right wing groups and extremists, as well as some residual frustration over the pandemic.
“Obviously I also understand that if people are choosing not to vote for me, I need to understand why,” she said.
“I think you can’t escape the impact of the last couple of years – COVID-19 has been really hard… it had a real impact on the quality of our lives.
“And indeed the decisions that were taken by the government to protect the lives of people were acutely felt by many others in our community.”
Eighteen-year-old Greens candidate Marley McRae McLeod, who received 11.9 per cent of the primary vote, said it was the “people-powered movement” of the campaign which led to a 2 per cent swing to the party.
Independent candidate Huntly Barton received 5.6 per cent of the primary vote, and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation’s Amanda Evezard secured 3.3 per cent of the primary vote.
Ms Thomas said she would continue to balance her responsibilities as health minister with her role as the member for Macedon.
“You can’t be a minister in a government unless you’re a good local member first, so being a good local member is always my top priority,” she said.
“I do that by and through the great networks that I’ve built up across the electorate in each of our towns.”
