Commitments are made,elders honoured and everyone is very optimistic about the future,even if they don’t have any reason to be.
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy is joined by Georgie Crozier and David Southwick at the launch of his party's election campaign.
On Sunday,both major parties pulled off highly stage-managed campaign launches that even the pickiest mother-in-law would consider a success. Well,except for the cast of lobster-dressed protesters that met guests at the Liberal Party’s Port Melbourne bash.
Just as happy couples want their special day to reflect their personalities,parties use campaign launches to emphasise their brand and what they have to offer.
Labor selected the once-marginal Labor-held electorate of Cranbourne to hold its launch. It’s a growth area where voters recorded a swing away from Labor at the May federal election and could be vulnerable for the Andrews government on November 26.
The launch was heavy on personal stories,both that of Daniel Andrews as well as workers and carers spruiking Labor’s policies.
Premier Daniel Andrews has formally launched Labor's campaign ahead of the state election on November 26.
Putting Andrews at the centre of Labor’s re-election bid suggests the government is confident it can remain on the treasury benches.
Even Labor insiders acknowledge he is a polarising figure,yet it is his story,his family,and his leadership credentials that are on display.
As far as policies go,Labor was almost singularly focused on its plan to bring back the State Electricity Commission.
Pollsters report the policy is popular with Victorians,even in Liberal-held seats,primarily because voters loathe electricity companies – and their profits – even more than they hate politicians.
Closer to the city,in Port Melbourne,the Coalition (featuring just two Nationals MPs) was also keen to spruik its latest energy policy to cover the electricity supply charge on power bills and encourage new conventional onshore gas production which would be quarantined for use in Victoria.
Despite this new policy offering,the Coalition’s made it clear it wants the election to be a referendum on Andrews and his handling of the pandemic – a narrative overlooked at Labor’s launch.
The biggest cheers at the opposition’s rally were reserved for calls of electoral retribution for lengthy lockdowns,hotel quarantine failures and curfews.
With less than a fortnight to go,the Coalition remains the underdog,and it’s unlikely an obsessive focus on the past will be enough to launch it into office,but the launch still offered some optimism.
Gone was the stuffy conference centre vibe and ageing membership. In a surprise to everyone,including several MPs,the crowd was enthusiastic and young.
The venue,a function space in Port Melbourne’s industrial precinct,suggested this was a party realising it needs to look beyond the top end of town.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and his colleagues,including star candidate Sam Groth,stressed this was an election the Coalition simply couldn’t lose.
Polling indicates this won’t be the case,but the launch suggests there is some optimism at least.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights..