Mr Campbell, who turns 22 next week, was unveiled as The Greens’ candidate for South West Coast for the November poll and will go up against the incumbent, Denis Napthine, who hold’s the seat by a margin of 7.89 per cent. 

He is the only other candidate to challenge the Premier so far. 

It is his first foray into politics and Mr Campbell said he decided to stand because he still believed politics could be a force for good. 

“When governments make decisions, they have to be equitable and fair to all Victorians,” Mr Campbell told The Standard yesterday.

Mr Campbell has been living in Warrnambool for the past year-and-a-half and is studying education at Warrnambool’s Deakin University. 

He said he was looking forward to getting out and selling the green message. 

“We need to ensure that we do our best to act in a sustainable way, with our agricultural land, with our energy and with our water,” he said.  “This region has a real problem with year 12 retention rates, so we need to further invest in our education system to help fix that problem.  As a community we need to respond to the threats of unconventional gas and to ensure investment in sustainable and efficient industries such as agriculture, renewable energy and public transport.

“The Green’s have a strong focus on public transport, which in a region like this is really important. We need to ensure people in smaller towns have ready access to health and education via public transport.” 

Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber was in Warrnambool yesterday to congratulate Mr Campbell on his pre-selection and said South West Coast was “extremely fortunate” to have such an excellent candidate. 

“He brings the energy of youth and the optimism we need in state parliament,” Mr Barber said.  “He has a strong intelligence and a keen sense of empathy and justice to his role as candidate. 

“Thomas is committed to and wants only the very best for his home electorate and for Victoria.”