LABOR’S Andy Richards has conceded to Liberal MP Andrew Katos in the battle for South Barwon.
The Geelong councillor tweeted this afternoon that he had phoned Mr Katos to congratulate him on holding the seat.
Counting continues but Cr Richards is set to record a smaller swing to Labor than the state average.
Mr Katos has yet to publically claim victory in the seat he has held since 2010 when he defeated Labor’s Michael Crutchfield.
Mr Katos remains the region’s only Liberal MP in the lower house after voters returned Labor MPs John Eren in Lara and Lisa Neville in Bellarine and voted in Christine Couzens in Geelong after the retirement of Ian Trezise.
Cr Richards will resume his role on Geelong’s council with colleague Ron Nelson, a Liberal who lost his bid to oust Ms Neville.
