A day out on the campaign trail with Denis Napthine
REPORTER Kylie Adoranti spent a day out on the hustings with Premier and Liberal leader Denis Napthine.
Victoria State Election
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POUNDING the pavement is business as usual for Victorian Premier Denis Napthine whether it’s on the campaign trail or walking pet pooch Lord Liam.
The veterinarian-turned-public servant rescued the whippet from the pound after being alerted to its plight by the owner, who lived in Dr Napthine’s electorate of South West Coast. The owner was no longer able to care for the dog, so asked the Premier to take care of him.
“I’ve inherited the whippet as part of constituent duties,” Dr Napthine said.
RELATED: Rebecca David on the campaign trail with Labor leader Daniel Andrews
The Premier usually starts his day walking Lord Liam near the Port Fairy home he shares with wife Peggy.
But on the day I tagged along with Dr Napthine, October 28, he did not walk his furry friend. He was staying at his other home in Kensington.
He woke at 6am, had breakfast and was then briefed by government advisers about the news of the day and other things that may have popped up overnight. By 7am, a government car had arrived to take Dr Napthine to Seaford Railway Station for an 8am start.
It was windy at the station but this didn’t seem to faze Dr Napthine, who was speaking to commuters waiting for their city train. He was met by Carrum MP Donna Bauer and PTV chief executive Mark Wild.
Dr Napthine was explained if the Coalition Government was re-elected, extra myki readers and barriers would be installed at the other end of the station. In the middle of all the serious talk, a teenager interrupted and asked the Premier for a selfie, to which he happily obliged.
There was no time to waste. The next activity was a meet and greet down Station St, Seaford.
No business or cafe was spared in Dr Napthine’s quest to talk to every person in the seaside town. There were handshakes, photos, friendly conversations and tours of offices and shops.
All the workers recognised Dr Napthine — some even surprised to see him walk in and casually start chatting with them.
“Oh wow, hello,” one of the workers said in astonishment.
After the street walk, Dr Napthine, flanked by two security guards and joined by his media adviser, got into the car and travelled to the next stop — Kananook Primary School.
Dr Napthine was there to announce a $1 million upgrade to the school if his government was re-elected.
He was a natural with the youngsters, who were about to start their cooking class.
Dr Napthine asked the children if they knew where the oranges they were about to cook with came from. When none were able to answer, he told them that “they were probably grown in Mildura”.
The next location was Mordialloc Railway Station. Dr Napthine met Mordialloc MP Lorraine Wreford for an election promise announcement. Dr Napthine told a waiting journalist that if re-elected, his government would provide additional car parking spaces at the station as well as at Parkdale Railway Station.
After walking around the station and getting his picture taken by press photographers, Dr Napthine and I went to a cafe in Chelsea to have a discussion about his time as leader of the state.
He listed several things he regarded as Coalition government achievements.
“The most important thing we can deliver is a sound economy. It is one of the great strengths of the Liberal Government; is that we deliver a triple A budget.”
He said the government was fixing schools and building new schools in growth areas and was also undertaking the “biggest build of hospitals” in Victoria’s history such as Monash Children’s Hospital and Monash Heart Hospital and had rebuilt the Box Hill Hospital.
“Fixing the budget and making it strong, fixing our services and making them the best in Australia and building the infrastructure we need for the future of our children and grandchildren. That is what good government is about and what I’m keen to do.”
He said the government was “unashamedly tough on crime” and had overhauled the parole system, abolished suspended sentences and home detention and had introduced a mandatory 10-year jail sentence for those who committed the coward punch.
Another street walk was in order when our chat had finished. Dr Napthine went into a shop and introduced himself and Ms Wreford. “We’re from the Liberal Party, the good guys”, he said.
A shop assistant, who had just met Dr Napthine, told me he thought the Premier was a nice guy but had no idea when the election was.
Two elderly women named Mary and Margaret, told the Premier to “keep up the good work” and that he was welcomed to come back to Chelsea anytime.
Another woman named Fathia said the Premier “seemed like a really nice man” and that “he looks a lot slimmer in real life than what he does on TV.”
There was no time for a lunch break. Next stop was Mentone Park Primary School, where Dr Napthine made a re-election promise of mental health funding for young people.
There was one more stop left to go in the south east suburbs — Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. The Premier said the Endeavour Hills bus service would be extended if re-elected. The Premier made his way back to the city for an event. He said he would finish work around 10pm.
From announcements to meeting and greeting people, Dr Napthine said there was one main highlight of his career.
“Meeting people is just fantastic.”
“I never cease to be amazed by the people I meet, who are doing terrific things. It always cheers me up and gladdens my heart,” he said.
Dr Napthine has been in politics for 26 years. He said he loved being a veterinarian, which probably explained why he decided to take on someone’s dog instead of leaving him at the kennel.
Reporter Rebecca David spent a day on the campaign trail with Labor leader Daniel Andrews, read the story here.
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