Victorian council election results 2024 LIVE updates: Labor majority in Darebin, women dominate in Stonnington

Big news from the inner-city council of Moonee Valley, where incumbent Labor Mayor Pierce Tyson has conceded defeat to fellow incumbent Samantha Byrne, an independent.

The council has been rife with drama over the past year with a recent Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission report finding former mayor Cam Nation, who quit the council in April, was given cocaine for favours and workshopped a bribery scheme to pay unnamed councillors in exchange for votes.

Before that, former councillor Jacob Bettio alleged that Tyson demanded a late-night urine test from him at his home after cocaine was found in the men’s bathroom at Moonee Valley City Council’s chambers. Bettio denied using cocaine.

Tyson, who was one the youngest mayors in Melbourne and was recently in the running for preselection for Bill Shorten’s safe federal seat of Maribyrnong, posted a concession statement to Instagram a short time ago reflecting on the gig.

“I’m extraordinarily proud of what we’ve achieved over the last two years – expanding our services, including funding the rebuild of nearly half of our kindergartens, doing our bit for climate action, supporting our most vulnerable residents and getting airport rail back on track,” he said.

“It hasn’t been easy. As one of the youngest mayors in Australia, leading a councillor group with now-public challenges, sometimes it’s felt like I’ve been holding council together with sticky tape, glue and a whole lot of willpower.

“I’m still hopeful though that I’m leaving our city with a progressive majority on council for the first time in a decade.

“Although it may surprise some, I’ve always known this election would be a challenge. I’ve never sought to shy away from doing what is right, and putting forward a proactive, progressive agenda. It’s getting harder to fight the good fight – but it’s needed more than ever.”

We reported last week on the early voting trends in Moonee Valley. We are awaiting finalised results from the VEC.