Victoria has been dominated by Liberal and anti-Labor parties for most of its electoral history. It is only in the last twenty years that Labor has become competitive in the state.
The state was sufficiently anti-Labor that there was a competitive electoral market for many non-labor parties such as the Conservative Party, the Reform Party, the Country Party, the UAP, the Electoral Reform Party (which held a minority government for a few days) and the Liberal and Country party. The latter held government for 27 years until the Liberals were able to win government on their own in 1972.
The state was sufficiently anti-Labor that there was a competitive electoral market for many non-labor parties such as the Conservative Party, the Reform Party, the Country Party, the UAP, the Electoral Reform Party (which held a minority government for a few days) and the Liberal and Country party. The latter held government for 27 years until the Liberals were able to win government on their own in 1972.Econamau, Costar and Strangio write:
Labor's historical inability to win elections and form governments has been a major feature of Victorian politics. From 1902, the year when the party's organisation was finalised, to 1982, Labor had only been in government a total of 102 months. Of these brief periods in office Labor had formed a majority government only once.Arguably the internal party conflicts with Bob Santamaria made Labor uncompetitive - however - they were uncompetitive before the mid-1950s as well. Ultimately it was electorally futile for the Democratic Labor Party as it did not win a single seat in Victorian parliament either. Victoria had adopted single seat districts with preferential voting for the Assembly and Council. At the national government level in the House this voting method has entrenched a party duopoly.
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