In an unexpected development, the Victorian Labor Party has opted to steer clear of the imminent byelection in the inner-Melbourne electorate of Prahran. The poll was necessitated by the abrupt departure of former Greens MP Sam Hibbins, who resigned from parliament amid swirling controversy.
Labor’s Prahran Pullout: Strategic Retreat or Missed Opportunity?
Labor’s decision to abstain from contesting Prahran has raised eyebrows among political pundits and local constituents alike. Insiders suggest that the party’s administrative committee, scheduled to convene on Tuesday evening, will formalize the resolution to withhold fielding a candidate.
The choice to forgo participation is ostensibly rooted in pragmatic calculations. A senior Labor source outlined the reasoning, pointing out that the party hasn’t tasted victory in Prahran since 2006. Surpassing either the Greens or Liberals in first-preference votes, they argue, would necessitate an exorbitant campaign expenditure of up to $500,000 – a price deemed unjustifiable in the lead-up to the 2026 state election.
“The funds would be better spent on four or five target seats in that poll,”
– A senior Labor source
Moreover, concerns have been voiced that the byelection could prove to be an unwelcome distraction for the government. A suboptimal performance at the ballot box might fuel the narrative that Labor is losing ground, an optics nightmare the party is keen to dodge.
Greens Confident Despite Candidate Controversy
On the Greens’ side of the aisle, the mood remains buoyant notwithstanding the cloud of scandal enveloping their outgoing MP. Hibbins’ ignominious exit, precipitated by his breach of party rules through a “consensual relationship” with a staff member, sent shockwaves through political circles a mere three weeks ago.
To compound matters, fresh allegations emerged on Monday, with reports surfacing of a woman’s claim that Hibbins made an unwanted advance toward her during her stint as a university intern in his office back in 2016. While Hibbins has vehemently refuted the “sequence and detail of the events” as alleged, the controversy is likely to cast a pall over the Greens’ campaign.
“Clearly he has misrepresented the facts. We were not aware of all the details that were in that ABC report,”
– Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell
Nevertheless, Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell remains sanguine about her party’s prospects, expressing confidence that they will retain their grip on Prahran. Sandell highlighted the electorate’s appetite for a representative who will “take on the old parties on the issues that are important, such as cost of living, housing, and climate action.”
Liberals Poised to Pounce?
Meanwhile, the Victorian Liberals have signaled their intent to mount a robust challenge, though their candidate is yet to be anointed. Murmurs suggest that the vacancy has piqued the interest of several local female members, setting the stage for a potentially intriguing contest.
The Battle for Prahran: A High-Stakes Affair
As the byelection looms, the absence of a Labor contender has dramatically redrawn the battlefield lines. The Greens, still reeling from the Hibbins debacle, must now gird themselves for a head-to-head showdown with the Liberals, who spy an opportunity to wrest control of the coveted inner-city seat.
Yet the specter of Sam Hibbins’ alleged improprieties refuses to dissipate, threatening to overshadow the campaign and undermine the Greens’ claim to the moral high ground. As the saga unfolds, Prahran voters will be left to ponder: amid the muck-raking and mud-slinging, which party will emerge triumphant, and at what cost to the democratic process?
Only one thing is certain – the battle for Prahran promises to be a bruising affair, with far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Victoria. As Labor watches from the sidelines, the Greens and Liberals will duke it out in a high-stakes game of electoral chess, each move fraught with peril and the potential to reshape the fortunes of both parties.
In the final analysis, it will be the people of Prahran who will render their verdict, weighing the competing visions and track records of the contenders. And as the votes are tallied and the dust settles, one thing will become abundantly clear: in the rough-and-tumble world of Victorian politics, no seat is ever truly safe, and no scandal is ever truly forgotten.
