By Callum Ludwig
Australia is set to be led through the next term by the Australian Labor party after their triumph in the 2022 Federal election, but Casey swung the way of the Coalition with a narrow victory for Liberal candidate Aaron Violi over Labor’s Bill Brindle.
As of Monday 23 May, Mr Violi leads in Casey by 2270 votes and a 51.5 per cent preference. It represents a 3.2 per cent swing to the ALP from the 2019 election but would still require a dramatic shift to see Mr Brindle become the new Casey MP.
Mr Brindle said Labor’s promises for Casey are set to be carried out following the overall victory.
“The rail-trail linking Yarra Glen and TarraWarra, the community battery for the 250 homes in Yarra Junction and the solar emergency array at Monbulk are all locked in and happening,” he said.
“There were a few things that I wanted to advocate if I made it in, but that is not to be now, and it’s on Aaron’s shoulders if he wants to push for that stuff now.”
Mr Brindle received 25 per cent of the first preference vote, behind Mr Violi’s 36 per cent, both seeing a downturn from the 2019 election while the Green’s Jenny Game followed the pair had received 12.8 per cent at a 1.9 per cent rise.
Mr Brindle was supportive of Mr Violi and said he called to congratulate him.
“I think he’ll be a very good local member, and he’s a very decent human being. I wished him the best and think Casey is in good hands,” he said.
“For him, I would imagine that negotiating with a government on the same side would be probably been easier than negotiating from the opposite side of the aisle, and Aaron will have to organise the local support to make sure that their voice is heard.”
Mr Violi made a number of promises to Casey throughout his campaign, such as upgrades for numerous sporting clubs and other recreational areas, wineries, breweries and distilleries, sealing of multiple roads and the Resilient Yarra Ranges Project which will now have to be approved by a Federal Labor Government to deliver.
Mr Brindle said it’s an endless list of things that need to be done in Casey, and we have to start now.
“If it is an important local issue then I think it’s MPs jobs to get in there and raise the voices of local people so they are heard whether it be an emergency, health or mental health services, my goodness there’s so many more things to be done,” he said.
“They’re all basic things to build better communities and a good base on which people can then go forth and build their lives and make their own money. We’ve lost aspects of that in this country over the past probably two or three decades.”
The Liberal Party’s hold over the seat will extend to 42 years by the time of the 2025 election.
Mr Brindle said his expectations were low in the lead up to the count, and he can’t see himself running again.
“I’m a glass half empty type of guy when it comes to politics, even though we did start to see some really good results coming in. I think it was the Lilydale pre-poll that brought us undone, that’s a margin of votes we just haven’t caught up to yet,” he said.
“It takes an awful lot out of you mate, it really does. It’s a grinding reality that most people don’t see and I’ve had two runs. We got close, and I’m glad I had the opportunity even if there were a few things I would’ve done differently in hindsight.”
