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Jubilant Greens cheer a ‘greenslide’ in Melbourne as left party leader leads rowdy celebrations – but they will NOT keep the balance of power
- The Victorian Greens appear to have won at least two additional seats in the election
- The small party has retained the Brunswick, Melbourne and Prahran seats
- But they are also projects to win the Northcote and Richmond seats
The Greens are celebrating a Victorian election greenslide as the left-wing minor party wins at least two seats in Melbourne’s inner city.
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews returned to power in Saturday’s election, with voters winning him a historic third term in the majority government.
But Greens leader Samantha Ratnam also had cause to celebrate, telling supporters: ‘Melbourne is going green!!’
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam (pictured) arrives at the Collingwood Town Hall voting center in Melbourne on Saturday
The party was expected to take Northcote and Richmond seats from 9:30 p.m., according to ABC figures, and was ahead in Pascoe Vale from 9:30 p.m.
They also retained the seats of Brunswick, Melbourne and Prahran.
Ms Ratnam told supporters the ‘greenslide continues’ – a reference to the party picking up a slew of seats in May’s federal election.
The Greens held on to three seats with Sam Hibbins winning in Prahran, mother of three Ellen Sandell in Melbourne and Dr. Tim Read in Brunswick.
But Gabrille de Veitri for the Greens has ousted Labor in the trendy seat of Richmond, while newcomer Lauren O’Dwyer’s campaign has been weighed down by questions about her claim to Aboriginal heritage.
While in Northcote the ABC is projecting, Campbell Gome will remove Kat Theophanous from the ALP after just one term.
More to follow