Vic upper house will represent diversity

Eleven parties will be represented in Victoria's upper house, and newly-elected MPs believe this will mean a diverse range of views are heard.

Senator Derryn Hinch in the Senate chamber

Derryn Hinch is seeking a security briefing on amended legislation to fast track medical transfers of asylum seekers. Source: AAP

Victoria's upper house will represent the diverse views of the community following the election of 11 parties to the chamber, new MPs say.

Senator Derryn Hinch's Justice Party, the Reason Party and Animal Justice Party were among the minor political groups to secure seats in the November 24 state election, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Labor took 18 of the 40 seats, while the Liberal-Nationals coalition has 11 seats - 10 Liberal and one National.

The Victorian Greens took just one for leader Samantha Ratnam, while the remainder were filled by a mix of crossbenchers.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten retained the seat for the Northern Metropolitan region, despite it being at risk due to preference details by minor parties.

"There's going to be eleven different parties represented in the legislative council, so there's going to be a very diverse range of views being represented there which I think is probably absolutely in line with the community," she told ABC radio on Wednesday.

Animal Justice Party's Andy Meddick, new upper house member for Western Victoria, denied he is from a "single-issue" party and said he would be committed to addressing health and community issues.

"The issues surrounding animals are not single issue by any stretch of the imagination. They are many and varied," he told ABC radio.

"But also you have to remember it doesn't matter what area you come from, if you are a minor party. You are a member of the community."

Mr Meddick also hopes to ban poison 1080 across Victoria and battery hen cages, and work with farmers to reduce livestock production.

"We will begin advocacy for them (farmers) for a transition package to move away from a reliance on animal agriculture and into plant-based agriculture," he said.

Former journalist Senator Hinch has spoken of his pride after three of his party's candidates were elected to the upper house.

"It is an enormous honour and responsibility for a fledgling political party that did not exist three years ago," he said on Tuesday.

Parliament will return for a one-day sitting on December 19, with the re-elected Andrews Labor government occupying 55 of 88 lower house seats.

The Liberal-Nationals are down to just 27 seats combined.


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Source: AAP



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