The Victorian Greens says it is planning an aggressive campaign to gain more seats at the 2018 state election after its victory in Saturday's Northcote by-election.
Greens candidate Lidia Thorpe won more than 45 per cent of the primary vote to end Labor's 90-year strong-hold of the electorate, and become the first Aboriginal woman to hold a seat in Victoria's Parliament.
The Greens now have three seats in the Victorian Lower House and five in the Upper House.
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said with an extra member in Parliament, the party was well placed to push its progressive policy agenda.
"This campaign has created huge momentum for our 2018 state election campaign," she said.
"We'll be campaigning to win the seats of Brunswick and Richmond, retaining the seats of Melbourne, Prahran and Northcote and retaining all our Upper House representation."
Ms Ratnam said the Greens would continue to campaign strongly for the creation of a Great Forest National Park in the state's central highlands, as well as more investment in public transport and improvements to public housing ahead of next year's poll.
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Labor's loss in Northcote was "a smashing", and showed voters were sick of Premier Daniel Andrews.
The Liberals did not run a candidate in the by-election.
Mr Guy also backed comments made by Victorian Liberals state director Nick Demiris, who said the party may not run candidates in traditionally left-leaning, inner-city Melbourne seats.
"Let me be very clear, the Liberal Party is no longer a preference machine for the Labor party in inner city seats," he said.
"We're not there to roll up and get these people elected."
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the Government was putting the loss behind it.
"It is obviously extremely disappointing that we didn't win the seat of Northcote," she said.
"What is absolutely critical going forward over the next 12 months is that we need to continue getting on with the job in terms of delivering … things that matter to communities."
