EDITORIAL: WHENEVER reporters mention the upcoming state election to Peter Ryan, the Deputy Premier invariably mentions how many days it is to that crucial evening.
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For those not counting, it’s 134.
Despite the race between Premier Denis Napthine and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews being exceptionally tight, attention seems to be off Spring Street at the moment.
Surprisingly, all eyes are on the federal Senate.
Who would have thought? Following a landslide election victory last year, Prime Minister Tony Abbott probably anticipated a comfortable first term.
Clive Palmer has put paid to that concept, consuming hundreds of newspaper column centimetres and countless minutes on television news bulletins each evening.
But a federal election is more than two years away.
The PM is unlikely to call a double dissolution, despite what his ministers threaten, because the result may not be any more amenable than the Parliament he’s dealing with now.
For the average voter, the main game should be who controls Spring Street come November 30.
Victoria has a budget surplus and a state government that needs to win favour after a turbulent four years in office.
It also has a state opposition on the cusp of returning to power after such a short period in the political wilderness.
Both will want to curry favour with only four months to go before Victorians go to the polling booths.
So where are the south-west’s mayors? Our local government leaders need to be out pushing for electoral pledges in the lead-up to November.
Today the mayors have announced a united campaign to fix the Warrnambool-Geelong rail service, which is a great start but more needs to be done.
There’s no shortage of areas in need of improvement.
The state government should be commended for its six new passing lanes along the region’s main link but there are still too many potholes between Colac and Heywood.
As Mr Ryan will attest, there are not that many days to go so it’s time to get cracking.