Vic pollies off and racing early

Victorian Premier John Brumby got off to a false start in the race to the polls,
endeavouring to talk himself hoarse a day before the official campaign launch on
Melbourne Cup day.
The election writs will not be issued until 6pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, but that didn't
stop Mr Brumby turning up at Government House first thing Monday for pre-poll
formalities, seen by the opposition as a media stunt.
Hours later he was in the regional city of Geelong with battle-ready Education
Minister Bronwyn Pike, whose knife-edge seat of Melbourne is under threat from the
Greens.
Together they pledged $194 million for trades training, including a promise to build
two new tech schools and 20 trades classrooms.
Mr Brumby said he was keen to make training the first announcement of the campaign
because it fitted with Labor's election slogan, "for the times ahead".
"Today is about the times ahead, today is about equipping the younger generation and
... this election which we embark upon today is all about who will keep the jobs
moving for our state, and who will govern for the times ahead."
During a 10-minute presidential style pitch to voters, Mr Brumby trumpeted the
government's economic record keeping the state out of recession during the global
financial crisis.
He also spruiked Labor's investment in schools, hospitals, police and green energy,
saying the election would be tight but the ALP had the experience and leadership to
win.
On the other side of Melbourne, Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu was in the
government's most marginal seat of Mount Waverley, pledging to upgrade the local
police station to a 24-hour operation.
The Liberals need a swing of 0.33 per cent to wrest the seat from Labor minister
Maxine Morand.
Mr Baillieu said the government had failed to properly police Victoria's streets and
the coalition had the support to win Mount Waverley and other seats.
He suggested the premier's election jumping-of-the-gun was a publicity stunt.
"John Brumby should indicate whether the caretaker period has commenced or, if it
hasn't, whether this morning was just for the publicity," he said.
Mr Baillieu was again forced to answer questions about the abrupt withdrawal of
Seymour candidate Mike Laker, who quit after being embroiled in a race row. The
opposition leader said his departure was for family reasons.
Meanwhile, Mr Brumby and Ms Pike were quizzed about Labor's so-called dirt unit and
its smearing of Melbourne Greens candidate Brian Walters.
Lawyer Mr Walters has been accused of being a hypocrite and anti-semite for
representing an alleged Nazi war criminal and a brown coal mining company.
Ms Pike said she rejected claims he was an anti-semite but stood by her comments he
was a hypocrite for representing an industry he publicly criticised.
Mr Walters said as a barrister he was compelled to accept cases in his field and
rejecting a brief would breach the profession's code of ethics.



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