'We are in': Derryn Hinch claims victory in race for Victorian Senate seat

Victorian broadcaster and media personality Derryn Hinch looks set to be elected to the Senate.

Mr Hinch is yet to reach the required quota for one of the 12 available Senate seats in Victoria, but took to Twitter to claim victory. 

Mr Hinch, 72, will make his political debut on the back of the Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party platform of tough sanctions for sex offenders and criminals.

Mr Hinch was one of 116 candidates seeking election in the state. 

Mr Hinch’s chances of election were significantly boosted when he drew the favourable first spot on the ballot paper, and by preference deals negotiated with both minor and major parties.

Mr Hinch has served two stints in prison and another in home detention for revealing the criminal histories of convicted sex offenders.

In 1985, Mr Hinch was fined $10,000 and jailed for 12 days after naming a pedophile priest who was running a youth camp, despite the priest having been previously convicted of indecent assault with a minor.

At the time, the broadcaster and self-described “Human Headline” said naming the man was “the thing I'm most proud of in my life”.

In 2011, he was convicted for breaching two suppression orders by naming two sex offenders and sentenced to five months in home detention.

Just two years later, Mr Hinch again drew the ire of the courts, this time by revealing details of the criminal history of Adrian Bayley, the murderer of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher.

Mr Hinch opted not to pay a fine “on principle”, and instead served a full term of 50 days in prison.

Only criminal convictions which carry a jail term of more than 12 months bar candidates from election to parliament.

Mr Hinch was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in 2007, and was saved by a liver transplant in 2011.

Before the election, Mr Hinch told 9NEWS he had never dreamed of entering politics throughout his media career.

He said he was confident he would be up to the rigours of a six-year Senate term.

“I’ve been chasing politicians and cornering them for 50 years,” Mr Hinch said.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead.”

Derryn Hinch's Justice Party has nominated candidates in all states in today’s election.

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