The Liberal Party has suffered significant losses in Victoria during the 2025 federal election, with key Melbourne seats swinging decisively to Labor. This shift has dealt a severe blow to the Coalition’s hopes of regaining power.
Major Upsets in Deakin and Menzies
Michael Sukkar, the Liberal frontbencher and Shadow Minister for Housing, has lost his seat of Deakin. Sukkar had held Deakin since 2013, but a combination of electoral redistribution and changing voter sentiments led to his defeat. The seat, which had a razor-thin margin of 0.02% following boundary changes, was always going to be a battleground. Labor’s Matt Gregg capitalised on the momentum, securing a victory that underscores the electorate’s shift.
Similarly, Keith Wolahan, the Liberal MP for Menzies, has been unseated. Wolahan’s seat underwent significant boundary changes, turning it into a notionally Labor seat with a 0.4% margin. Despite efforts to retain the seat, the swing towards Labor proved insurmountable.
Victoria, traditionally a stronghold for the Labor Party, has reaffirmed its allegiance with a nearly 2% swing against the Liberals. Labor now holds 23 of the state’s 38 seats, while the Coalition’s representation has dwindled to just six. This outcome has surpassed even the most optimistic projections for Labor and has left the Liberals grappling with the scale of their defeat.
Implications for the Coalition
The loss of Deakin and Menzies is particularly damaging for the Liberal Party, as both seats were considered crucial for any path back to government. The defeats of prominent figures like Sukkar and Wolahan signal a broader rejection of the Coalition’s platform in urban and suburban areas, raising questions about the party’s future direction and leadership.
Labor’s Historic Victory
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party is on track to secure a commanding majority, with projections indicating a win of around 90 seats. This landslide victory not only cements Labor’s dominance in Victoria but also reflects a nationwide endorsement of their policies and leadership. The results from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs have been instrumental in this outcome, highlighting the electorate’s desire for continued progressive governance.
As the final votes are tallied, the political landscape in Victoria has undergone a seismic shift, with Labor’s resurgence reshaping the state’s representation in Canberra and challenging the Liberal Party to reassess its strategy and appeal to voters.
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