Baillieu tackles Brumby during debate

OPPOSITION Leader Ted Baillieu showed some much-needed political backbone last night

OPPOSITION Leader Ted Baillieu showed some much-needed political backbone last night.

He took an aggressive stance against Premier John Brumby during their only debate of the election campaign.

Mr Baillieu spent the first half of the hour-long debate, televised on the ABC, attacking Mr Brumby, interjecting and speaking over the top of him. He argued Victoria was beset with problems and voters should not give Labor a fourth term on November 27.

"After 11 years, Mr Brumby is asking Victorians to give him 15 years," the Opposition Leader said. "Victorians need change. Things are getting worse, not better."

Mr Brumby focused on his government's achievements, including the state's economic credentials, and said the election would be about "who could keep the jobs coming".

He became more relaxed and performed better as the debate progressed, at one point echoing his former chief of staff, Julia Gillard, by saying he was "passionate about education" and every child deserved the best start in life.

The no-frills debate focused mainly on government accountability, spin, political advertising and law and order issues. Health, education and public transport were glaring omissions.

Both leaders dodged questions about preferencing the Greens.

"We know from the last three elections that the Greens have done a deal with Labor," Mr Baillieu said. "There is only one question for Mr Brumby to answer.

"Has he done a deal with the Greens? Will Mr Brumby preference the Greens in the interest of saving his job?"

The Premier reiterated his plea to Liberal voters not to give their preferences to Greens as they did at the federal election, helping to elect Greens MP Adam Bandt in the seat of Melbourne.

Mr Brumby clearly did not want to keep talking about the Greens, stating: "We don't want to dwell on that all night."

Mr Baillieu committed to follow Queensland and ban smoking in public places if health authorities suggested it.

He also promised to reform question time in parliament.

The nature of the questions meant Mr Brumby had to defend his government's spending on media advisers, political advertising, the crisis in the child protection system and the controversial desalination plant.

He counter-attacked by reiterating the big policy announcements made in recent days, including committing to create 300,000 jobs as well as spending hundreds of millions of dollars on social justice initiatives.

Mr Baillieu was left to talk about his vision for the state.

The Opposition Leader, who led the Coalition to the ballot box in 2006, asked voters not to give Labor a forth term. "My training and my life is focused on the future," he said.

"I see problems; I want to fix them. There is nothing better than building the future and sharing it with others. That's the change I want to bring to all Victorians."

The Premier ended the debate by admitting his government "can do better".

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: JAMES MASSOLA