Cassandra Fernando has successfully secured her second term as the Member for Holt in the May 2025 Federal Election, achieving a significant victory over her Liberal opponent, Annette Samuel. According to the final results from the Australian Electoral Commission, Fernando garnered 64.03 percent of the two-candidate-preferred vote, while Samuel received 35.97 percent. This result reflects a swing of 6.92 percent towards the Labor Party.
On first preferences, Fernando dominated the field, amassing 44,686 votes, which accounted for 45.03 percent of the primary votes among six candidates. This figure surpasses her previous election results from 2022 and underscores the support she has within her constituency. Her re-election is part of a broader victory for Federal Labor in the southeastern seats, which also saw substantial swings in Bruce, Hotham, and Isaacs.
As the election approached, Fernando participated in a questionnaire with Star News, identifying the three most pressing issues within the Holt electorate: the cost of living, mortgage stress, and local infrastructure. Her campaign was strategically focused on addressing these themes.
To tackle living costs and mortgage stress, Fernando promoted Federal Labor’s initiatives designed to alleviate household financial pressures. These included measures for income tax relief, support for energy bills, and expanded Medicare services. Infrastructure emerged as a cornerstone of her local advocacy efforts. Fernando successfully lobbied for significant funding to address traffic congestion, securing commitments such as $100 million for improvements to the Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Clyde-Five Ways Road, and Pattersons Road roundabout. Additionally, she obtained $41.75 million for the Thompsons and Berwick-Cranbourne roundabout, $30 million to duplicate a section of Evans Road at Cranbourne West, and $10 million for planning to upgrade the Western Port Highway.
Fernando’s advocacy also contributed to the funding of a new stadium at Casey Fields, which received $10.68 million, as well as a new Medicare Mental Health Centre in Cranbourne and grants for six community language schools in Holt.
Celebrating her electoral victory on election night, Fernando expressed gratitude to her team of volunteers and supporters, highlighting the campaign’s foundational principles of “fairness, equality, and more importantly, compassion.” She emphasized the belief that everyone, regardless of background, deserves an equal opportunity for success.
In discussions with Star News, Fernando noted the challenges of balancing her campaign with her pregnancy. She praised her team’s organization and commitment to ensuring her health was prioritized throughout the campaign. “We were staunch in what we wanted to do and to do it in a way that wouldn’t cause me any health issues,” she stated.
Looking ahead to her next three years in office, Fernando reiterated her dedication to enhancing local infrastructure, identifying it as a primary focus. “That’s one of my big priorities: infrastructure,” she affirmed, signaling her commitment to driving progress in the Holt electorate.
