ONE of the west’s two Liberal upper house MPs should be feeling “extremely vulnerable” as a result of Geoff Shaw’s resignation from the party, says the state member for Williamstown.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said Andrew Elsbury, who was No.2 on the Liberal ticket at the last state election, should be feeling insecure.
“It’s worth noting that the Liberal National Coalition hold the upper house of Parliament with essentially a one-seat majority; 21 out of 40 seats are held by Liberal and Nationals.
“So that second upper house seat that’s held in the western region of Melbourne, which they won at the last election in 2010, is quite critical for them to hold if they want to be re-elected in 2014 and hold any sort of power in the upper house.
“Andrew Elsbury’s seat has now become extremely vulnerable . . . he came in in 2010 and will rely on the Liberal Party vote holding up in the western region of Melbourne.
“Because they won that upper seat and a few others off Labor in 2010 they now control the upper and lower houses of the Victorian Parliament and, therefore, any legislation that they introduce can be passed on every single occasion without amendment.”
Mr Elsbury acknowledged the dynamics had changed.
“It’s 21 to 19, so all it takes is one person to go over the side and you have a dead heat.
“One person not turning up: not a big deal but still not happy. It’s created a new dynamic for legislation going through the lower house.
“Having an independent [Mr Shaw] means there is another person in the Parliament who needs to be worked with to get legislation through.
“If you look at the majority of legislation it gets through without any problems.”
Mr Elsbury laughed off suggestions that he should be feeling worried.
“A man who lost 13 per cent at the last election saying I’m vulnerable? OK.”
