Every time you knock our state, it’s a vote for Dan Andrews

The loudest voices that try to demonise Victoria will not quell its ascendance. They only will alienate further a growing force.

The loudest voices that try to demonise our state will not quell its ascendance. They only will alienate further a growing force. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

An exciting political contest occurred in Victoria this week. A prominent leader was rolled and replaced by vote. It was a tense and significant moment, but the results are in: my husband’s darts club has a new treasurer.

Oh, and the state Liberals elected a new leader.

Seriously, though, what can Matthew Guy bring to the role and how can he win the next state election?

First, a genuflection to the great many out there who passionately want to see Victoria’s Premier, Daniel Andrews, defeated. The media types in this group devote much passion to the cause in their television shows and columns, and their fans love it, too. The only technical hitch is many of these dedicated believers will be denied their chance to vote at the next state election because they do not reside in Victoria. They declare solemnly and often, to anyone who will listen, that they are so glad they don’t live in Victoria, as though those who do live here do not do so by choice.

Matthew Guy leaves a Liberal leadership spill at Liberal Party Headquarters after defeating Michael O'Brien. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

This column, then, is dedicated to these poor souls who are trapped in a cruel situation where they vehemently hate a geographical location in which they do not live and suffer the reign of a premier who isn’t theirs. Their pain has been long term, too; Andrews has been Labor leader since 2010 and Premier of Victoria since 2014, when he won with a majority of 15 seats.

If Guy is to save these people, and the nation, from another Labor term in Victoria, he needs to make some changes.

Stop the politics of exaggerated catastrophe

Victorians are sick of hearing their beloved state run down in hyperbolic terms, especially in the Sydney-based media. We are also sick of the snide and insulting headlines that result. Guy and his chief sidekick, Tim “Chicken Little” Smith, need to stop squawking at top volume to all and sundry about how terrible things are here because, quite simply, it is not true.

Of course, Covid hit us hard, but we will bounce back. We have the infrastructure, the institutions, the history, the people, the culture and the social cohesion. Melbourne started out as a gold rush town, has had phenomenal growth in the past decade and our best days may lie just ahead.

Tell the Feds to back off
Possibly the worst thing any federal Liberal could do is to comment negatively on Victoria in an attempt to help their state counterparts. It causes resentment and alienation from the Liberal brand in the swinging voter.

One example that comes to mind is the time back in 2018 when Peter Dutton claimed on Sydney radio: “People don’t see this in NSW, in Queensland, but the reality is people are scared to go out at restaurants of a night-time because they’re followed home by these gangs, home invasions, and cars are stolen.” This absurd comment from a Queenslander who wouldn’t know the first thing about our restaurants was received as an insult.

Another example is the emotive criticism levelled against the state by Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison during our terrible troubles last year. When people are down, they don’t like being kicked; in our darkest hour, the federal Treasurer and the Prime Minister made us feel like pariahs. Federal Liberal types must realise it is not possible to bully, berate, badger and humiliate a population into voting a certain way.

Nail the “walking dead” into their coffins

There is no need to name names; we all know who these people are simply because they are impossible to avoid. These gentlemen consider themselves Liberal royalty and appear to share their outlandish views on radio, TV and in the papers at every opportunity. Typically, they say things like Victoria is the sinkhole of Australia, a rust-bucket state, a failed economy where everyone is in despair because they are ruled by a communist dictatorship. Every time they open their mouths, the Labor vote goes up a few per cent.

Hone a positive sales pitch for voters

Imagine you are in the market for a new car. You drive your old car to a showroom and the salesperson comes out and screams: “Oh my god! Look at your car; isn’t it absolutely terrible! How can you possibly drive it, it is so awful, what is wrong with you? Do you have Stockholm syndrome?” This negative sales pitch is destined to repel a potential buyer.

Pre-Covid, Melbourne was the fastest growing city in Australia. Its geography allows for exponential growth, even in inner areas. During the lockdowns, some fled – most to the regions, some for interstate. But statistically this is insignificant. In due course Victoria will resume its march onwards and upwards. Conservative politicians need to understand us and appeal to us. The loudest voices that try to demonise our state will not quell its ascendance. They only will alienate further a growing force.