Victoria Abolishes Group Voting Tickets, Threatening MP Seats
Prominent Members of Parliament (MPs) including Georgie Purcell, along with representatives from microparties, face a significant challenge in retaining their seats in Victoria’s upper house following a parliamentary vote to abolish group voting tickets (GVTs). The Victorian Legislative Council was the last remaining upper house in Australia to utilize the GVT system, allowing voters to select one party above the line on the ballot, with preferences then allocated by the party itself if it faced elimination during counting.
Key Vote and System Change
The electoral amendment (miscellaneous matters) bill 2026 passed the upper house on Tuesday night with a 33-4 vote, effectively prohibiting the use of GVTs in the upcoming November state election. Instead, voters will now be required to number at least five parties above the line in order of preference.
Criticism and Reform Justification
The GVT system has long been criticized by experts, such as election analyst Antony Green, for facilitating backroom deals and enabling candidates to be elected with minimal primary votes. Green stated that the reform aims to shift the electoral system to one that rewards parties receiving direct votes, rather than those relying on strategic preference arrangements. He highlighted that approximately 20 candidates have been elected with less than 6% of the vote – some as low as 1% – defeating candidates with considerably more votes due to these preference deals.
MP Reactions and Future Prospects
The four MPs who opposed the bill – Purcell (Animal Justice), Rachel Payne (Legalise Cannabis), David Limbrick (Libertarian), and Jeff Bourman (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) – are expected to struggle in the new electoral landscape. Ben Raue, an electoral analyst and founder of the Tally Room, predicts that these parties, which have historically benefited from GVTs, will encounter considerable difficulty electing candidates. Georgie Purcell acknowledged that the changes “significantly decrease” her chances of re-election but vowed to run a strong campaign. David Limbrick, a critic of the government’s Covid-19 measures, described his party as “underdogs” and expressed confidence in their ability to defy expectations.