The Victorian Electoral Commission has begun to announce results for the local government elections.
With the Victorian Electoral Commission now announcing final results across the state for October's local government elections, we can now take a look at some of the state's more interesting contests and see who's won and lost.
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Greens win 28 seats
The Greens have won a total of 28 seats statewide, the same amount they held pre-election but a decrease on the 36 they won at the 2020 elections.
In a statement, the party said:
"The Greens have elected 28 councillors at the 2024 local government election as the Greens overall vote has increased across the state.
The Greens have had a pleasing result in Merri-Bek where their vote nearly doubled and they’ve won 4 out of 9 council seats, as well as picking up 3 council seats on Maribyong on Darebin and electing councillors for the first time in regional areas like Bass Coast and Mount Alexander.
Despite an increase in the Greens vote, the number of councillors elected is not representative because of the move to single member wards.
Since single member wards were first announced by Labor, the Greens have warned that the system would be undemocratic by distorting the will of communities.
The Greens say that despite Labor moving to this system which was intended to wipe out minor parties and independents, the Greens result has held strong and Labor’s vote has trended backwards 5% on average in inner city areas."
Last updated at 12:30pm on 12 November 2024.
Libertarian elected in Wodonga
Libertarian Party councillor Olga Quilty has been re-elected in Wodonga City Council, with the VEC officially declaring she has won Marimba Park Ward.
Meanwhile, her husband, former state MP and former councillor Tim Quilty, was unsuccessful in Huon Creek Ward.
Last updated at 11:55am on 11 November 2024.
Greens councillor quits party after losing seat
Stonnington deputy mayor Mike Scott, who lost his re-election bid in Greville Ward, has quit the party.
In a statement on Facebook, he said:
"I wanted to let you know that I have resigned from the Greens, effective immediately.
In my opinion, the current culture and leadership tone has changed and no longer align with my values or goals for positive influence. The people in positions of power (both branch and state) continue to be a destabilising factor. I no longer feel welcome and therefore it’s time for me to move on."
"I'm grateful for the friendships and experiences I’ve gained over the past decade, which have strengthened my compassion and advocacy for the community I remain part of and committed to. I am a better environment, climate and social activist because of you.
I have turned off comments and will not be making any further public statements on my decision."
Last updated at 11:41am on 11 November 2024.
More Yarra results out
It's Monday, and the VEC is back releasing results.
First up - in Yarra's Langridge Ward, Yarra For All candidate Evangeline Aston has been confirmed elected with 55.51% of the two-candidate-preferred vote against Greens candidate Harrison Watt.
Over in Curtain Ward, Greens mayor Edward Crossland has been re-elected despite a strong challenge from Yarra For All's Alan Tse.
Last updated at 11:30am on 11 November 2024.
Socialist Alliance councillor loses seat
Socialist Alliance councillor Sarah Hathway has been defeated in Greater Geelong's Corio Ward, finishing with 19.3% of first preferences and 23.9% on a four-candidate-preferred basis.
Like defeated Victorian Socialists councillor Jorge Jorquera in Maribyrnong, it was always going to be a tough fight for Hathway in a new single-member ward. She was elected to council after a countback in 2023, replacing Kylie Grzybek.
This leaves Socialist Alliance with one councillor statewide.
You can see full results on the VEC website.
Last updated at 5:09pm on 9 November 2024.
Former Greens mayor defeated
Greens councillor Angelica Panopoulos, who was the youngest-ever Merri-bek mayor when she served for the 2022-23 term, has lost in Harmony Park Ward.
A two-candidate-preferred count shows Labor candidate Helen Politis defeating her with 52.8% of the vote.
Meanwhile, Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton has been officially confirmed as re-elected, winning 51.86% of the vote on a three-candidate-preferred basis. Her party will have a loss of one seat in Merri-bek from where they were before the election, with countback-winning councillor Monica Harte not seeking re-election and the other three Socialist Alliance candidates unable to pick up a seat.
Last updated at 12:32pm on 9 November 2024.
Merri-bek Labor councillor defeated
Incumbent Merri-bek Labor councillor Lambros Tapinos has been defeated in Brunswick West Ward.
Results seen by 6 News shows Greens candidate Ella Svensson winning with 52.58% of the two-candidate-preferred vote.
Last updated at 3:22pm on 8 November 2024.
First Greens councillor in Campaspe
Zoe Cook has become the first-ever Greens councillor elected to Campaspe Shire Council, elected to the ninth and final seat in the unsubdivided council.
Seven of the successful candidates are independents, while Independent National councillor Rob Amos was also re-elected.
The Greens did not contest Campaspe in 2020.
Last updated at 1:59pm on 8 November 2024.
Socialist councillor defeated
Victorian Socialists councillor Jorge Jorquera has been defeated in Maribyrnong's Burndap Ward.
Preference distributions seen by 6 News show Jorquera was the fifth excluded candidate (ie he made the four-candidate-preferred count), with independent Mohamed Semra winning the seat.
It was always going to be a tough re-election battle after the switch from multi-member to single-member wards - a factor that could also hurt the Greens in certain areas.
Although Owen Cosgriff was elected to Greater Bendigo's Whipstick Ward last night, we're hearing that may be the only Victorian Socialists win, and the party is out of contention in other key races.
Last updated at 1:56pm on 8 November 2024.
Yarra results announceed
Results for the hotly-contested Yarra City Council have started to be announced.
Meca Ho has won Melba Ward with 53.14% of the two-candidate-preferred vote against Labor's Sarah Witty, and Yarra For All-affiliated Sharon Harrison has won Boulevard Ward.
Stephen Jolly's already-projected re-election has been confirmed, with the longtime councillor winning 51% of the primary vote.
Last updated at 12:49pm on 8 November 2024.
Greens win second Boroondara ward
We've just heard that Greens candidate John Friend-Pereira has won Solway Ward by 530 votes, defeating three independent candidates and Independent Liberal candidate Zachary Townend.
It's the second win for the Greens on that council, after Wes Gault comfortably retained Glenferrie Ward following his election in 2020.
Solway was held by retiring independent Garry Thompson, who was a Liberal at the 2020 election but left the party in mid-2021.
Last updated at 12:19pm on 8 November 2024.
Independent Libertarian elected in Cardinia
Trudi Paton, a member of the Libertarian Party running without party endorsement, has been elected to Westernport Ward on Cardinia Shire Council.
Paton has defeated Independent Liberal councillor Kaye Cameron with around 53% of the vote in a two-person contest.
There's a number of Independent Libertarians running statewide despite the party making endorsements.
Last updated at 12:13pm on 8 November 2024.
Greens gone in Surf Coast
The Greens have lost representation on Surf Coast Shire Council, with incumbent councillor Kate Gazzard finishing fourth (and last) in three-member Otway Range Ward, behind three independents.
The minor party also contested Torquay Ward and Winchelsea Ward, but despite some strong vote totals (including finishing third in both of those wards) were defeated during preference distribution.
The Back to Basics Team has won three seats. The winners includes incumbent Paul Barker, who was endorsed by the Libertarian Party, and Joel Grist, a Libertarian member but not endorsed by the party.
Last updated at 12:09pm on 8 November 2024.