Daniel Andrews, Matthew Guy reveal why they should be Premier in 2022

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy have revealed why they should be elected in 2022, what they’ll focus on, and issues they think matter most to Victorians.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will go head to head in the next state election.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy have revealed why they should be elected in 2022, what they’ll focus on, and issues they think matter most to Victorians.

DAN ANDREWS

Why should you be elected Premier in 2022?

I made a commitment to the Victorian people that a government I lead will get things done and deliver on its promises.

Since then, we haven’t wasted a day since working to do the things we said we would.

Whether it’s removing level crossings, the Metro Tunnel, the North East Link, the Big Housing Build or a once in a generation project like the Suburban Rail Loop – we’re committed to doing the big things Victorians need their government to do.

It’s been a privilege to also deliver big reforms – like establishing the Family Violence and Mental Health Royal Commissions and accepting every recommendation.

Or supporting more people into the jobs they want – through apprenticeships on projects like the Suburban Rail Loop, free TAFE and setting kids up for life with Three Year Old Kinder.

The last couple of years have been incredibly challenging for all Victorians, we’ve all been asked to do things we’ve never done before.

Victorians have responded to those challenges in the most incredible way – by coming forward to get vaccinated in such huge numbers that we’re now one of the most vaccinated places in the world.

The work to recover and to deliver Victorians the big projects and reforms they need is far from over. There’s more to build, more jobs to create and more promises to deliver on.

My commitment to the Victorian people remains the same — we do what we say we will and get things done. Our track record shows we have and will continue to deliver on it.

I’ll be on the ballot because I’ve never been more fired up to get things done and to make sure that Victoria continues to lead our nation.

Premier Daniel Andrews says he has demonstrated his willingness to make tough calls. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

What have you got wrong, and what would you change since the 2018 election?

I’ve never been someone who looks back. With the benefit of hindsight you might go and do some things differently, but none of us have the opportunity to do that.

What is most important, particularly in challenging times, is to make the tough decisions that you think are for the best, not focus on what is popular.

A critical part of that is listening to advice and throughout the pandemic I think I have demonstrated my willingness to listen to experts and make tough calls.

Being Premier comes with huge responsibility and I’ve worked every day to make decisions – tough or otherwise – that get the best outcomes and are in the best interests of all Victorians.

What will you be focusing on during the election campaign, and what are the issues you think will matter most to Victorians in 2022 and beyond?

Victorians will make their own judgements about what matters to them. What I will do is put forward a positive plan that sees us continue to deliver for all of them.

Including delivering on mental health and family violence reform, creating jobs and skills, upgrading schools and hospitals and getting rid of more level crossings.

All of these things are critical to families in the centre of Melbourne, the suburbs and regional communities.

It’s also about keeping Victoria strong, keeping Victoria safe and making sure that we can look to the future with a sense of confidence and optimism.

Victoria is at its best when we’re leading the nation and we’ve achieved some amazing things despite really challenging circumstances these last couple of years.

I will put forward an equally optimistic plan at the end of 2022 and we’ll give Victorians what they are fundamentally entitled to – a clear choice.

It will be a plan for jobs and services, tackling big reform and making sure that we’ve got a bright future for our kids and our grandkids – and if re-elected, we’ll deliver that plan off the back of a proven track record.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy are getting set to battle for the role of Victorian Premier. Picture: AAP

MATTHEW GUY

Why should you be elected Premier in 2022?

There are millions of Victorians who are desperate for a choice and a serious contest at the next election. I can assure them they have one.

My team is ready to rebuild our state and be there for those Victorians who have struggled through endless lockdowns, the longest lockdowns in the world.

Those Victorians, like Renae and myself, know the stress of dealing with the pain of kids losing out from endless home learning and having no contact with their friends. Those kids who have missed out on birthdays, formals, school camps, and just growing up.

Victorians are yearning for a government that will unite us, not endlessly divide us. To bring people with them, not cast out fellow Victorians. To educate, not berate.

I want Victorians to know this: I’m on your side.

I’m on the side of families trying to get on with their lives. I’m on the side of small business owners and their staff. I’m on the side of kids struggling to catch-up on schooling.

I’m on the side of Victorians suffering under this state’s mental health crisis. I’m on the side of patients stuck on growing hospital waiting lists.

I’m on your side and I am here to give you hope.

Imagine a government that doesn’t treat Covid as a political football, shifting the blame. A government I lead would take responsibility for its actions.

We need to get Victoria back on track and get people back in jobs and businesses opening their doors. We need to implement a recovery and rebuild plan, not just a plan for more lockdowns and no hope.

What have you got wrong, and what would you change since the 2018 election?

I believe a lot of leaders are better because they’ve had an election loss, when they’ve experienced that humility. It might have been better if Daniel Andrews had lost his first election. He might be a different politician. It does centre you. It makes you listen more. It makes you respect what people are telling you a lot more. It’s a humbling experience. It changes you as a leader and I’ve learned a lot from that.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says he wants Victorians to know he’s on their side. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

What will you be focusing on during the election campaign, and what are the issues you think will matter most to Victorians in 2022 and beyond?

Between today and the election in 12 months’ time, I’ll be laying out our plan to stop Victoria being left behind.

This government has become tired, arrogant and out of touch. Imagine if they got even more power.

My commitment is to bring communities and families back together.

We will save and create jobs and keep people safe and healthy.

This state needs real solutions, with no excuses.

Victorians deserve proper budget management, because every dollar wasted by the government is a dollar not being spent supporting people and small businesses.

We will get Labor’s infrastructure blowouts under control and stop Labor’s wasteful advertising and self-promotion spending, redirecting it to where it can make real differences in people’s everyday lives.

We will stop Labor’s house tax increase, get the economy growing again, implement family support plans and a significant mental health assistance program.

We will provide genuine and real solutions to Victoria’s deepening hospital crisis.

We will make sure Covid is properly managed, without lockdowns.

Over the next 365 days, our plan will be backed by an increasing number of very specific policies.

Just this week, we announced that if elected, we will establish Australia’s very first dedicated infectious disease response centre – 400 new beds, 300 new nurses, PPE equipment sourced from Australia, a centre that will keep us prepared for what may come.

Instead of more spin and broken promises, we need a comprehensive healthcare system to contain future infectious diseases so we can recover and rebuild in confidence.