Millicent Spencer
Reason Party Leader Fiona Patten has conceded her upper house seat of Northern Metropolitan Melbourne to former Labor MP Adem Somyurek.
Ms Patten held the seat for eight years and said the result was “disappointing”.
“It’s been such an uplifting, enlightening privilege to serve the voters of this vast and diverse population, and to have achieved progressive change,” she said.
“I certainly won’t die wondering.”
Ms Patten said she was proud of the legislative changes her team achieved including passing assisted dying legislation, extending protection for minors in state care, legislating exclusion zones around abortion clinics, and advocating for drug law reforms by pushing for medically supervised injecting rooms.
“Politics and public policy have always been for me about evidence and first principles including equality of opportunity, accountability, transparency, effectiveness, and compassion,” she said.
“These are the things I think about most when I reflect on my involvement in the Parliament.
“Victoria now leads the nation in progressive politics and with assisted dying and safe access zones in particular, has initiated national change.”
Mr Somyurek said he is feeling good about his new appointment and hopes to represent the “forgotten people” of the north.
“The seats I targeted were Broadmeadows, Kalkallo, Greenvale, and Thomastown… I am keen to represent those forgotten people,” he said.
“The Labor DLP is the party of the outer suburbs that gives a voice to working families.
Mr Somyurek said his experience as a parliamentarian will stand him in good stead to represent his electorate. He was forced to quit the Labor Party in 2020 following allegations of branch stacking.
“I know the Labor government, and I know Daniel Andrews,” he said.
“These are the attributes that will be important.”
Mr Somyurek said although he has always been part of a major party he is looking forward to the challenge of being on his own in the chamber.
“I am feeling delighted and rejuvenated,” he said.
“My number one priority is to hold the Andrews government to account.”
Millicent Spencer
