Counting is underway in the Melbourne by-election, with the race between Labor and the Greens tight.
The Greens and Labor have made last-ditch pitches to voters as counting is set to get under way in the Melbourne by-election.
Preferences will almost certainly decide whether the Greens’ Cathy Oke or fellow Melbourne city councillor, Labor’s Jennifer Kanis, replace ALP veteran Bronwyn Pike in the seat.
The Liberal Party is not running a candidate; it garnered more than a quarter of Melbourne primary votes at the 2010 state poll. The Greens won almost 32 per cent of primary votes at the last state election, while Labor managed more than 35 per cent.
Ms Oke is the favourite and will become the Greens’ first lower house MP in the Victorian parliament if she wins the by-election.
Labor has held the seat, which includes Carlton, Flemington, North Melbourne and the Docklands, for more than a century.
Ms Oke said she hoped her efforts in running a positive campaign focused on local issues would pay off.
