One Nation has its eyes on success in the seat of Nepean ahead of the November state election, despite the Victorian Liberal Party gliding to victory in yesterday's byelection.
Liberal candidate Anthony Marsh rose to the top of the ballot on the Mornington Peninsula yesterday but suffered a haircut on the primary vote, with One Nation candidate Darren Hercus picking up one in four first-preference votes.
The former Mornington Shire Council Mayor succeeds former deputy Liberal leader and ex-pro tennis player Sam Groth, who retired from politics in February.
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With almost 80 per cent of the vote now counted, Marsh has picked up 38.5 per cent of the first preference vote.
That represents an almost 10 per cent slump in first preference support for the Liberals compared with the last election.
Most of those votes went to One Nation candidate Darren Hercus and Independent Tracee Hutchison, who each saw first preference swings of more than 20 per cent towards them.
But it wasn't enough to tip the Liberals from the seat, who led by more than 10,000 votes once preferences were distributed.
"It is the honour of my life to be standing here in front of you as the next member for Nepean," Marsh told Liberal Party supporters after a clear result was declared around 9pm.
"It's been a hard-fought campaign, I think we're day 67 in and to stand in a room full of blue after what was an incredible day, I am so honoured and privileged again to be in this role."
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The by-election had been regarded as Wilson's first test ahead of the state election in November.
"I say thank you to the residents down here on the peninsula for putting your trust in Anthony and in me," Wilson told supporters last night.
"I will not let you down, I will fight for you every day.
"I have met thousands of you over the past few weeks. I have looked you in the eye and I have said 'as your next premier, I will deliver for you'."
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The by-election was also touted as a major litmus test for One Nation, which has gained a large groundswell of voter support in the last six months owing to a strong appetite for change.
Pauline Hanson is yet to comment on last night's performance, but data shows around one in four Nepean voters put One Nation first on their ballot yesterday.
There'll be no break from campaigning, with Hercus and Hutchison both vowing to contest the seat when voters return to the polls for the state election.
"Twenty-four, 25 per cent, that's huge," Hercus said.
"It's a big swing. The Liberal Party have done well but we're in the game now. We're a serious contender."
Marsh said elections were a competition.
"I take nothing for granted, I'll fight each and every day between now and November," Marsh said.
Federal counterparts in Farrer were watching the vote closely ahead of their own by-election next weekend.
Speaking to Weekend Today, former Nationals leader David Littleproud said it was difficult to draw comparisons from the strong Liberal result in Nepean.
"It will be a challenge, I think federal and state issues are different," Littleproud said of the Farrer by-election.
"By-elections send very different messages to general elections, but every election sends a very strong message for everyone to learn from, as it was for the Liberals in this state seat as well."
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