Politics · Australia · 4 hrs ago
Victorian Labor to leave preferences open in Prahran and Caulfield
At this month’s Victorian election, Labor will leave preferences open in Prahran and Caulfield, meaning it will not tell voters which candidates to rank after its own.
In Prahran, the decision could make it harder for the Greens to win back the seat from Liberal MP Rachel Westaway, who holds it by 1.3%.
The Greens are running Angelica Di Camillo again after losing Prahran at a 2025 byelection, and say they are confident they can regain it.
The Coalition plans to preference One Nation above Labor, though it has not said One Nation will be second on its list.
Labor says it will put One Nation last, while the Coalition says it will place Labor, the Greens and the Victorian Socialists at the bottom.
Preference choices could affect contests in several seats, including Prahran and Greens-held campaign targets such as Richmond, Pascoe Vale and Preston.
The election is taking place this month, but the sources do not give further details about what happens next.
Victorian Labor will leave its preference decisions open in Prahran and Caulfield at this month’s election.
The move could deprive the Greens of preferences they need to win Prahran back from the Liberals.
The Victorian Coalition and One Nation plan to preference each other above Labor.
Labor says it is taking a principled stand on preferences and will put One Nation last.
- Who
- Victorian Labor, the Victorian Coalition and One Nation are making preference decisions; the Greens could be affected in Prahran.
- What
- Labor will run open tickets in Prahran and Caulfield, while the Coalition and One Nation plan to preference each other above Labor.
- When
- At this month’s Victorian election.
- Where
- Prahran and Caulfield, Victoria.
- Why
- The local Labor campaigns requested open tickets; Labor says its position is a principled stand on preferences.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
At the Nepean byelection, the Liberals placed One Nation candidate Darren Hercus third on the ballot behind the Libertarian candidate.
The Greens lost Prahran to Liberal candidate Rachel Westaway, who now holds the seat on a 1.3% margin.
Labor sources confirmed the party would run open tickets in Prahran and Caulfield.
Victoria will hold an election, with Labor, the Coalition and One Nation taking different preference positions.
- Open tickets
- Labor will run them in Prahran and Caulfield.
- Prahran margin
- Liberal Rachel Westaway holds the seat by 1.3%.
- Caulfield margin
- Liberal deputy leader David Southwick holds the seat by 2.1%.
- Labor candidates
- Meghan Hopper in Prahran; Mikaela Stafrace in Caulfield.
- Greens candidate
- Angelica Di Camillo is running again in Prahran.
What people are saying
will be putting Labor, the Greens, the Socialists at the bottom of the ticket, and all other parties above that.
principled stand
Jess Wilson has made it clear, because they want to form government with One Nation, they are also going to preference with One Nation. It’s all nudge-nudge wink-wink, we can all see it.
We want them gone. That’s why we put them last