Steven Marshall keeps familiar faces in new shadow cabinet as former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett reveals why Liberals lost election

ON the day Jeff Kennett gave his post mortem on why the Liberals lost the state election, Steven Marshall has announced a virtually unchanged frontbench line-up.

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett: “I am saddened for what happened to Steven (Marsha

OPPOSITION Leader Steven Marshall has announced a frontbench line-up that is little changed from the team he took to the state election.

His deputy Vickie Chapman retains the transport and infrastructure portfolio and Upper House Opposition Leader David Ridgway keeps agriculture.

Opposition treasury spokesman Iain Evans continues in the role and former leader Martin Hamilton-Smith keeps charge of the industry portfolios.

Rob Lucas remains in health, David Pisoni in education, Stephen Wade in justice and Dan van Holst Pellekaan in police.

Earlier, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said a higher force, personal attacks and the media cost the Liberals the state election.

Mr Kennett — the self-described “poor old pensioner” who advised Mr Marshall — is in Adelaide today in his role as chairman of beyondblue

He declined to elaborate on the advice he gave Mr Marshall in the losing election campaign, but rejected suggestions the Liberals adopted a “small target” strategy.

“I think he put forward a reformist plan, and that is what your state needs,” he said.

“Time is not on your side. The election is over and it is no use complaining, and I hope Jay and his team will not see the fineness of the result as a reason not to reform.”

Mr Kennett referred to his own two narrow election losses, in 1985 and 1988, as tough learning experiences, saying his subsequent landslide in 1992 gave him a mandate to hit the ground running and swiftly implement a range of powerful reforms.

“It is a funny thing about life — while I am not heavily religious, I strongly believe things happen for a reason,” he said.

“After 1985 and 1988, we had earned our stripes and were fully prepared for strong legislative change.

“I am saddened for what happened to Steven (Marshall) — he is an honourable man — and Labor ran a very personal attack campaign on the individual in the last 10 days of the campaign that, while legitimate because it is not illegal, you have to question.”

Mr Kennett also said widespread media predictions of a Liberal landslide would have made many people comfortable to stick with Labor while expecting a Liberal win.

He noted that his own ignominious defeat as Premier in 1999, when polls predicted an easy win, may be blamed on a media-fuelled swing back to Labor at the last minute.

“I called a press conference late in the campaign and said we could lose, and the media laughed at me,” he said.

“There was an expectation we would be returned with an increased majority and, just like in SA where people thought the Liberals would win easily, a lot of voters decided if that was the case their vote might stay with Labor to reduce the majority.”

Mr Kennett said he spoke to Mr Marshall during the campaign but stated: “I am only a poor old pensioner, who cares about my advice?”

He also noted the recent chaos of Labor minority governments in Tasmania and federally, which eventually saw big swings to the Liberals, while he wished the incoming Labor Government best wishes in reforming the economy.