Wannon MP Dan Tehan to keep education portfolio after election win

It was not expected the Coalition would win, with pre-election polls predicting a Labor victory.

The incumbent MP secured victory on Saturday night with more than 46,000 first preference votes, and increased his margin to 10 per cent.

Labor candidate Maurice Billi secured 23,472 first preference votes, or 26.23 per cent, followed by independent candidate Alex Dyson at 10.35 per cent, United Australia Party candidate Joshua Wallace at 6.01 per cent and Greens candidate Zephlyn Taylor at 5.99 per cent.

"Scott Morrison did an extraordinary job leading us," Mr Tehan said.

"It was a wonderful team effort."

Mr Tehan said voters did not warm to Labor leader Bill Shorten's policies.

"I think it was a huge rejection of Bill Shorten and his big government approach," he said.

"His big-taxing and big-spending approach did not appeal (to voters).

"I think the Australian people thought 'that's not the way we operate' and they did not care for class warfare - dividing young and old Australians, those who run businesses against those who work in businesses."

He said his immediate priority for the electorate was to see infrastructure upgrades commence.

"We have committed $140 million for local roads," he said.

"I want to see Dan Andrews get to work and start spending that money on our roads. They are State Government roads and we are giving them the money. Now we want them to get to work. It's a big investment and they need to match it in the upcoming budget and get on and start the work."

Mr Tehan, who first won Wannon in 2010, said he expected to stay on as Education Minister.

"The PM made it clear during the campaign he would like me to continue on," he said.

"Ultimately that is a decision for him, but he was clear on that. I'm happy to serve wherever I am asked.

"This will now be my fourth term in parliament. As a cabinet minister I have to make sure we work very closely as a team to ensure we will deliver."

He agreed Australians were sick of instability with leadership spills, and said he wanted Mr Morrison to be the leader at the next election.

"I've always believed that someone who is voted in as Prime Minister should remain PM," he said.

"I will work everyday to ensure Scott Morrison is PM at the next election."

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