By Belinda Nolan
ELEVENTH hour promises could be behind Labor’s dip in popularity in the West, according to Derrimut MP Telmo Languiller.
Funding announcements for projects such as grade separations at Brimbank’s notorious level crossings and road announcements came too late to sway voters, Mr Languiller believes.
In a candid interview with Star, Mr Languiller admitted that many residents had been frustrated by the slow pace of pledges and had been unaware of Labor’s last-ditch election promises.
“Things like the St Albans level crossing and Anderson Road, we made those announcements during the month of the election,” Mr Languiller said.
“On election day I spoke with lots of people but many hadn’t heard about the announcements.
“On reflection and with the benefit of hindsight we probably left it too late.”
All of Labor’s western suburbs MPs retained their seats but recorded significant swings against them.
With a recount underway Mr Languiller had polled 49.9 per cent of the first preference votes, down 13.5 per cent on the last election, while Footscray MP Marsha Thomson, Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins and Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz also took a dive.
Mr Languiller told Star western MPs would move swiftly to analyse the election fallout in a bid to learn from their mistakes.
