[2] Regardless of who won in Frankston East, neither the Coalition nor Labor could form a government without the support of the independents, leaving them in a position to effectively choose the next premier.

[2] Independent MPs Russell Savage, Craig Ingram and Susan Davies adopted a united stand and released a charter of their demands which the parties would need to accept to further negotiate.

[3] The votes that were cast in Frankston East on the day of the election and McLellan's death had been destroyed without being counted.

Although this allowed Labor to form government by one seat, Kennett's supporters urged the Coalition to force a last-ditch confidence vote on the floor of the Assembly.

They believed that Savage, Davies and Ingram would be forced to publicly support Premier Jeff Kennett.