Labor concedes defeat in Vic election

Labor's 11-year reign in Victoria is over after Premier John Brumby conceded defeat,
two days after the party was battered at the polls.
A stoic Mr Brumby fronted a large press pack and a room full of family, staff and
cabinet colleagues late on Monday to declare that Labor's hopes of a historic fourth
term were over.
In a speech interrupted only once as he reined in his emotions, Mr Brumby said it
had become apparent that Labor could not salvage power, even as the crucial 45th
seat the opposition needs to govern hung in the balance.
"Although the seat of Bentleigh is still not declared it would take an extraordinary
shift in those preferences, something like 70-30 with the remaining votes to be
counted, and so therefore the most likely outcome of this election is a coalition
victory of 45-43," he said.
"Obviously the election result is very disappointing for me personally and I know
for the cabinet and the caucus and for the Labor party."
Just over an hour after Mr Brumby conceded defeat, coalition leader Ted Baillieu
visited governor David de Kretser to be installed as the new premier.
Mr Baillieu had earlier held a two-hour meeting of his shadow cabinet to prepare for
government.
He said his first priority was to provide "stable, disciplined, responsible
government".
It's a devastating blow for Mr Brumby, 57, who has now twice failed at the ballot
box, first as opposition leader in 1996.
The politician of almost 30 years was handed the leadership from predecessor Steve
Bracks in July 2007 and was desperate to be elected premier in his own right.
In a speech that lasted about 20 minutes, Mr Brumby took no questions and his future
remains unknown.
It is likely he will step down from the leadership but he has previously committed
to see out his four-year term representing the seat of Broadmeadows.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews is touted as a likely successor to lead Labor in
opposition.