Liberals Win Nepean By-election By 50.5% To 49.5%

The Liberal Party won the Nepean by-election with a very small margin of 50.5% compared to One Nation's 49.5%. This is the first electoral test for the new Liberal leader.
By Newsroom | Politics, Victoria |

Victorian Liberal Party has narrowly secured the Nepean by-election, successfully fending off a significant challenge from One Nation. The result marks the first electoral test for new Liberal leader Jess Wilson.

The Liberal coalition holds a wafer-thin 50.5 per cent lead on a two-party preferred basis, with One Nation trailing at 49.5 per cent. This outcome, declared on Saturday, saw the One Nation candidate, Darren Hercus, concede the race shortly before the official Liberal victory announcement.

The absence of a Labor candidate in the Nepean contest apparently reshaped the political dynamics, allowing One Nation to emerge as the primary challenger. Labor's primary vote in the by-election stood at 25.5 per cent, just ahead of One Nation's 24.5 per cent.

Liberal candidate Anthony Marsh celebrated the win alongside leader Jess Wilson. Marsh, a former Liberal president, had been granted an exemption from party rules to run for the Liberals, a move that apparently caused some internal friction. His motivations for joining One Nation initially, citing pressures on his business, were noted.

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Despite the win, the Liberal primary vote saw a reduction. Tracee Hutchison, an independent candidate, also garnered a notable portion of the vote with 21.3 per cent. One Nation saw a substantial swing in support, registering a 24.7 per cent increase.

Looking ahead, former Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger suggested that the Nepean result might not be indicative of future contests, pointing to an upcoming by-election in Farrer. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson had campaigned for Hercus, though she was not present on polling day.

Background Context:

The Nepean seat became vacant following the resignation of Liberal member Sam Groth in February, who stated intentions to pursue other opportunities. His decision to step down reportedly followed perceived internal party pressures. Groth's shift to One Nation was initially framed by personal business pressures, including land tax, workers' compensation, and rates. The by-election, therefore, represented a critical juncture for the Liberal Party under new leadership and a significant test of One Nation's growing electoral presence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won the Nepean by-election on Saturday?
The Victorian Liberal Party won the Nepean by-election. They got 50.5% of the vote, just slightly more than One Nation, who received 49.5%.
Q: Why was the Nepean by-election held?
The seat became empty when the previous Liberal member, Sam Groth, resigned in February. He wanted to do other things and felt pressure within his party.
Q: How did One Nation do in the Nepean by-election?
One Nation was the main challenger to the Liberals. Their candidate, Darren Hercus, received 49.5% of the vote, which was a big increase in support for the party.
Q: Was the Labor party involved in the Nepean by-election?
There was no Labor candidate in this by-election. This allowed One Nation to become the main opponent for the Liberals. Labor's vote was 25.5%.