Labor and the Coalition want to create the impression that tough decisions are being taken,but a closer look shows they’re both taking a buy-now-pay-later approach to budget management.
Both Labor and the Coalition would raid Victoria’s rainy-day fund to scrape together a budget surplus in the next term of government.
Over the course of the campaign there have been donation scandals,a court injunction,questions about cash for political allies and accusations of political interference.
The politicisation of integrity processes means Victorians have no real confidence that power is being exercised in their interest.
Despite being a micro-party,the Victorian Socialists are campaigning with militant efficiency this state election.
The number of older Victorians renting or paying off mortgages is rising rapidly and politicians aren’t offering a solution.
Labor is calling in big party names to help its candidate in Melton,as the powerful United Firefighters Union begins a mega offensive backing independent contender Dr Ian Birchall.
Too many election promises haven’t made the distinction between helping those in acute need and helping those who are merely stressed and inconvenienced.
We find ourselves on the eve of a state election in which public debt is worrying a lot of Victorians,but the major parties are turning the other way and vowing to spend more.
Resignations undermine efforts to recruit tens of thousands of doctors,nurses and midwives needed to relieve stress on the overburdened health system and staff new hospitals.
Experts say there are two glaring omissions among the billion-dollar election promises - a failure of much-needed reform and lack of crucial investment in preventive health.