Matt Johnston: Matt Guy manages to disarm Daniel Andrews with a smile

Daniel Andrews may be a seasoned political brawler, but Matt Guy more than held his own in the only debate of the state election campaign.

MATT Guy once joked he always felt as though he was arriving at political fights against Labor armed with a knife, only to find his opponents carrying guns.

During the first and only debate of this state election campaign, the Opposition Leader took on the role of a pacifist carrying garlands of flowers.

And it seemed to work.

Premier Daniel Andrews is a seasoned political brawler and attempted to goad his opponent repeatedly.

In stark difference to shrill 2018 Guy, the Liberal leader didn’t get sucked in and, to borrow a phrase from rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, chose to disarm Andrews with a smile.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy presented himself as a viable alternative with a positive plan. Picture: Ian Currie

At times the Premier looked mildly flustered that Guy wasn’t taking the bait, including when arguing about IBAC powers.

Both leaders are expert political performers, and Andrews is one of the shrewdest communicators this state has seen.

And yet Guy more than held his own in this debate, sticking doggedly to the plans he was presenting.

Guy kept a strong focus on health and cost of living where he could, while voicing concerns about debt and division.

Andrews went straight to infrastructure, cost of living, and a promise to revive the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.

Of course, debates between political leaders where the audience is in charge means the questions are as important as the answers or pre-scripted messages.

At time Daniel Andrews looked mildly flustered. Picture: Ian Currie

The first few questions thrown at Andrews and Guy were about debt, health spending and pandemic recovery.

They then went to big- picture concerns about the state’s future.

That’s not to say there weren’t Labor-friendly topics lobbed, including questions about climate change and Liberal preselections, but the vibe in a civil and well-behaved room seemed anxious.

Perhaps this is just a symptom of the mood in Victoria at the moment, but this wasn’t what Andrews would have hoped for.

The opportunity from each leader to ask one another a question was illustrative of this, when Guy chose to ask about Andrews’ leadership, while the Premier tried to explain what he had done for health workers.

This small sample of undecided Victorians showed the search for answers many voters are seeking at this election.

They were assessing whether they should stick with what they know, or whether they should give Guy a go.

Unlike in 2018, the Opposition Leader presented himself as a viable alternative with a positive plan.

It may not be enough on Saturday, but it was the best he could have hoped for.

WINNER: MATT GUY