Australia: Victorian Labor wins election in landslide victory, will deliver $6.4 million in LGBTI initiatives

Victorians have voted Labor back into government as part of a landslide victory, with experts forecasting that 55 seats will likely go to Labor in the state’s lower house. Only 90 minutes into the election on Saturday morning, ABC’s election analyst Antony Green declared a Labor win, with the ABC’s election computer showing a 4.8 per cent swing towards Labor.

In Victoria’s upper house, the ABC’s election computer calculated that Labor would increase its numbers from 14 to 19, while the Liberals’ numbers were forecast to decrease from 14 to 9.

At Labor’s election night function in Mulgrave, re-elected Premier Daniel Andrews declared Victorian Labor to be “the most progressive government in the nation”, according to ABC.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy reportedly described the election results as “looking like a bloodbath”.

As part of its pre-election promise, Victorian Labor committed to $6.4 million into support services and initiatives for the LGBTI community.

Chief among these was a new ‘Melbourne Pride’ celebration in 2021, to mark the 40th anniversary of Victoria decriminalising homosexuality.

In a statement, Labor said the street party would take place on Smith Street and Gertrude Street in Fitzroy, and involve the surrounding pubs, bars, and restaurants in a European-style street celebration similar to those held in London, New York, and Berlin.

Read more via Star Observer