Vic parliament to return before Christmas

Tara Cosoleto and Mibenge Nsenduluka | November 22, 2022

Victoria’s next government will return to parliament before Christmas regardless of which party wins the state election. 

Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday followed Liberal Leader Matthew Guy’s commitment to bring elected officials back to Spring Street before the end of the year.

“Parliament sat before Christmas after the ’14 election under a Labor government and after the ’18 election,” Mr Andrews told reporters on Tuesday.

“If we’re successful on Saturday, then it will be our intention for the parliament to sit again this year.”

The premier made the commitment while promising government ownership of a re-booted State Electricity Commission would be enshrined into the state’s constitution. 

Speaking at Yallourn in the state’s east, Mr Andrews said he would safeguard the commission from privatisation. 

“The last thing we want to do is build this up, make it better than it’s ever been – for people, not profit – to then have a future Liberal government,” he said. 

“They simply wouldn’t be able to resist selling off such a big and successful entity and turning it again into a profit centre for multinational companies.”

Mr Andrews denied it was hypocritical to criticise the coalition after Labor Premier Joan Kirner sold a 51 per cent stake in the Loy Yang B power station in the 1990s. 

Once the commission is enshrined in the constitution, the premier said it would take a special majority for a future government to remove it.

The government has made a big push this election about how it would re-establish state-owned energy, mostly from renewable sources.

Labor has pledged an initial investment of $1 billion to deliver 4.5 gigawatts of power through renewables, creating 59,000 jobs and at least 6000 apprenticeships. 

But the coalition has rejected Labor’s claims that re-booting the commission would cut residents’ power bills, saying it will only lead to more state debt.

Rebooting the SEC and the coalition’s gas reserve plan were focuses of Tuesday evening’s leaders debate at Box Hill Town Hall, along with integrity, health and the state’s mounting debt.

The people’s forum of 100 undecided voters gave Mr Andrews a narrow edge, scoring the debate 38 per cent to 34 per cent in his favour with 28 per cent undecided.

It came after Mr Guy announced a $5 million overhaul of Federation Square to transform undecked railway land into new urban parkland.

He said Federation East had been a wasteland for 20 years and likened the new project to parkland on the Brisbane River.

“It’s going to be my mission in government to make Melbourne the world’s most liveable city,” he told reporters.

The promises followed a new opinion poll shows Labor has lost skin among voters.

The Resolve Strategic poll published in The Age on Tuesday signals the government led by Mr Andrews could lose between eight and 12 seats in Saturday’s vote.

On the primary vote measure, the coalition has drawn level with Labor with 36 per cent apiece.

On a two-party preferred basis, Labor is ahead on 53 per cent compared to 47 per cent for Mr Guy’s opposition.

While the figures show the coalition has closed or narrowed the gap with Labor, Mr Andrews could still be returned as premier albeit with a reduced majority or even as the leader of a minority government.

The premier on Tuesday maintained he would not do deals with the Greens or independents if he is elected in minority.