Liberal Jason Wood wins La Trobe thanks to big swing against Labor's Laura Smyth

With 71.4 per cent of the vote counted, Wood was toasting his victory at the Fountain Gate Hotel tonight, thanks to a 5.2 per cent swing to the Liberals. The former police officer, who lost the seat to Ms Smyth in 2010, who needed a 1.7 per cent swing to win, said it felt "surreal" to be re-elected. "My first goal is to make sure that, as a matter of urgency, that our election promises are met," Mr Wood said. "I can't thank enough the people who got behind me, and the Liberal Party again, and want them to know that I don't take their support for granted."

Mr Wood's parents, Bob and Jan, were at the Fountain Gate Hotel to share his victory with him and his supporters. His promises for La Trobe included $2.4 million for a bushfire and rehabilitation program, $1 million for a crisis centre in Officer to help at-risk young people and $1.5 million for a specialist blind school at Monash University's Berwick campus. Mr Wood won this seat in 2004, but was defeated by Labor's Laura Smyth in 2010. Ms Smyth said she was proud of Labor's investment in education and mental health care during her time as MP.