By CASEY NEILL
Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus won the seat for the fourth time at the 2 July Federal Election.
With 78.3 per cent of the 76,638 votes cast in the electorate counted, the ALP candidate had received 44.66 per cent of first preferences, up 3.33 per cent compared to the 2013 election.
His Liberal opponent Garry Spencer achieved 40.63 per cent of first preferences – a 0.42 per cent increase.
Once preferences were distributed and two candidates remained in the race, Mr Dreyfus held 55.81 per cent of the vote and Mr Spencer 44.19 per cent – a 1.95 per cent swing to the ALP.
“I am honoured and humbled to be returned as the representative for the great electorate of Isaacs,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“It has been a long election campaign and I look forward to keeping up the fight to make sure that the interests of our community are looked after.”
He said local residents cared about funding for schools and healthcare “and this showed through in the results on election day”.
“I thank local residents for their support on Saturday and I look forward to continuing to fight to make our great community even better,” he said.
Mr Spencer said that largely thanks to the State Government’s plan to elevate the rail line in Noble Park, the swing in Isaacs “was 1.76 per cent less than the national average and more than 3 per cent less than neighbouring electorates”.
“On rail corridor booths, the swing was 3.7 per cent less than the national average,” he said.
“I would sincerely like to express my appreciation to those people who voted for and supported me and the Liberal Party at the election.
“I want to thank my team for doing a great job and being very generous with their time and energy.
“I congratulate Mark Dreyfus on winning his fourth election in Isaacs.”
Just over 72 per cent of people registered to vote in Isaacs cast ballot papers.
Almost 3000 of those failed to do so correctly, but this represented a 0.92 per cent decrease in informal votes.
Mr Dreyfus picked up most of his votes in the Noble Park, Carrum Downs, Chelsea Heights and Patterson Lakes areas of the electorate.
Most of Mr Spencer’s support came from the Springvale South, Keysborough, Mentone and Parkdale areas.
Animal Justice Party candidate Elizabeth Johnston was the first preference for 4.72 per cent of Isaacs voters.
Green Alex Breskin picked up 9.98 per cent of the primary vote, a 2.92 per cent increase for the party from the last election.
