By CHRISTIANE BARRO,
politics editor

Despite a statewide swing to Labor, the party's greatest achievement in Victoria has been holding on to what it already has.

The party might yet manage to keep its eastern Melbourne seat of Chisholm, and looks like it has fended off strong Greens challenges in several inner-city seats, especially Batman.

While Labor does not look likely to take any seats off the Liberal Party, it has an outside chance in the Liberal-held seat of La Trobe. The seat is expected to be retained by the Liberal incumbent, Jason Wood.  

In Dunkley, Labor's Peta Murphy has just over 50 per cent of the two-party preferred vote and appears unlikely to have enough support to defeat Liberal Chris Crewther.

Chisholm has been in play since the resignation of popular Labor member and former Speaker, Anna Burke.  The long-running union dispute involving the United Firefighters Union and the Country Fire Authority may have also helped the Liberals’ chances.

In his speech on election night, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised the Liberal candidate, Julia Banks, for her success, though the seat remains officially undecided.

The ABC reported that Ms Banks was less than 100 votes ahead of Labor candidate Stephanie Perri on Sunday afternoon, with about 70 per cent of the vote counted.

The Liberals also retained the Bellarine Peninsula seat of Corangamite, despite a swing against sitting MP Sarah Henderson. Again the CFA dispute didn’t help Labor’s campaign.

The Greens are still fighting in Batman, where Alex Bhathal hopes to unseat Labor’s David Feeney. Mr Feeney leads the two-party preferred vote by less than 1 per cent and is expected to win. 

Independent Cathy McGowan has retained Indi, easily seeing off a challenge from former Liberal member Sophie Mirabella and the Nationals’ Marty Corboy.  In the event of a hung parliament, Ms McGowan may have an important role to play.

The Nationals have won back Murray after the retirement of Liberal member Sharman Stone. The successful candidate, Damian Drum, will vacate his Upper House seat in the Victorian Parliament for a new one in Canberra.  

How the Labor campaign went

Labor has done well in its safe seats. For example, in Calwell, MP Maria Vamvakinou had a positive swing of 8.9 per cent.

Labor will continue to hold the federal seat of Bruce, where Julian Hill will replace retired Labor MP Alan Griffin after receiving 45 per cent of the primary vote.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten received 51.2 per cent of first preferences in his seat of Maribyrnong.

Labor frontbencher Brendon O’Connor received a strong 12.2 per cent swing in his seat of Gorton.

Labor MP Lisa Chesters retains the marginal seat of Bendigo, with a 2.1 per cent swing toward her.

Labor has maintained its hold over Holt, with MP Anthony Byrne receiving 54.5 per cent of votes and a 6.3 per cent swing towards him.

Labor MP Rob Mitchell has retained McEwen, historically one of Victoria’s most marginal electorates, after receiving 45.8 per cent of primary votes and an 8.2 per cent swing towards him.

Labor MP Mark Dreyfus has retained Isaacs with 44.7 per cent of primary votes.

With nearly 60 per cent of votes counted, Labor MP Clare O’Neil keeps her seat in Hotham, in front of Liberal candidate George Hua.

Labor MP Michael Danby retains Melbourne Ports, after controversially directing preferences to the Liberals ahead of the Greens.

Labor has also held Ballarat, Corio, Gellibrand, Lalor and Wills.

The Coalition's candidates

Most significantly, the Liberal Party has held its marginal seat of Corangamite and La Trobe, and looks likely to hold Dunkley.

In its safer seats the party has done well. For example, in Goldstein prominent candidate Tim Wilson received 55.7 per cent of primary votes, compared to 22.3 per cent for Labor’s Matthew Ross Coote, after 72 per cent votes had been counted.

In Kooyong, Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg has been re-elected for a third term after gaining 57.7 per cent of the primary vote. Labor candidate Marg D’Arcy received 20.4 per cent with 69 per cent of votes counted.

Liberal MP Kevin Andrews has been re-elected to the seat of Menzies for his ninth term, despite a massive 8 per cent swing against him.

Liberal MP Alan Tudge has retained Aston with 50.9 per cent, with 76.3 per cent counted.

Michael Sukkar holds Deakin, with 49.4 per cent of primary votes.

With 51.5 per cent, Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer has retained Higgins despite a 2.9 per cent swing away from the party.

Flinders, Casey, Kooyong, Menzies, McMillan and Wannon were all held by the Liberals.

The National Party has increased its representation in Victoria.

Darren Chester has retained the federal seat for Gippsland with 57.2 per cent and a 3.4 per cent swing towards him, with 85 per cent of votes counted.

The Nationals also holds Mallee, which Andrew Broad has represented since 2013. His primary vote is 64.6 per cent, after 81.6 per cent of votes had been counted.

Joining them is Mr Drum, who has been elected to represent Murray after fending off a Liberal opponent.

The Greens and independents

Adam Bandt has succeeded in representing the Greens for his third term as the member for Melbourne.

Independent Cathy McGowan retains her seat of Indi, and remains the only Victorian independent to hold a seat in the House of Representatives. 

Senate

The most significant result is the probable arrival of Derryn Hinch as a senator. Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party representative Ricky Muir has not been returned. The Greens are likely to win two seats, with Labor and the Coalition picking up at least four each. The results for the other two Senate spots are unclear. 

First Published in UniPollWatch.