ALP plays rough with opponents in city by-election

ON the gentrified streets of Carlton, Labor candidate Jennifer Kanis is fighting a war on many fronts.

Labor Candidate for Melbourne Jennifer Kanis

ON the gentrified streets of Carlton, Labor candidate Jennifer Kanis is fighting a war on many fronts: Greens opponent Cathy Oke, the Baillieu government and the unpredictability of a 16-candidate by-election.

Victorian Labor leader Daniel Andrews described the Greens as inward-looking, self-indulgent, evangelical idealists who were "on another planet", as Labor strategists nationally contemplate an all-out assault on the Greens.

Ms Kanis, who is battling to hold Melbourne for Labor at a by-election on July 21 in the state seat best-disposed towards the Greens, said the war of words was no more than Labor "asserting who we are".

"I think that is an important thing to do and maybe something we haven't done so well in the past," she said.

"We're a party of government, the party that looks after the more vulnerable people in our society and we're a party that also looks after jobs.

"We have a proud history and connection still with the union movement and I think those things define who and what the Labor Party is."

With Labor bleeding votes to the Greens, Ms Kanis conceded the two parties "say some things that are quite similar", but Labor was set apart by "the capacity to deliver results".

Ms Kanis and Ms Oke have been Melbourne city councillors and their relationship has been friendly. "We've got along fine, we've been good colleagues on council matters," Ms Kanis said.

But during the campaign the Greens had made "irresponsible" uncosted promises, such as better public transport, that were "more like a dream . . . It's great to have a dream, but I think you really need to be able to deliver on what you say you are going to do," Ms Kanis said. "They're not talking about how they will pay for those things."

She said Melbourne voters had more to say about the Baillieu government, which is not standing a candidate in Melbourne, than the Labor v Greens stoush: "People are talking to me about Ted Baillieu and they're not talking to me about the Greens." Ms Kanis said the issues that resonated most in Melbourne were cuts to TAFE, other education concerns, job cuts and public housing concerns.

"If they want real change on those things, then they need a change of government and the Greens aren't going to deliver that," she said.