Victorian election 2022: Labor, Coalition make final bids before polling day

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy made their final appeals to regional Victoria this week. See what was announced.

A $50 million bushfire risk reduction package will be announced by the Coalition today, with millions of Victorians set to cast their ballots on Saturday.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy made their final appeals to regional Victoria this week, with both visiting areas with familial links.

Today, Mr Guy will pledge $50 million to fund the undergrounding of powerlines and vegetation clearing in bushfire and storm-affected areas.

The Opposition Leader told The Weekly Times that Energy Safe Victoria found that vegetation surrounding powerlines posed a significant risk during scorching summers.

“This bushfire risk reduction package is all about fairness,” Mr Guy said. “There are many examples of powerlines across regional Victoria that risk life and property each summer and the Labor government have ignored this risk summer after summer.

Opposition energy spokesman David Southwick said a Coalition government would commission Vic Grid and Energy Safe Victoria to consult with major energy distributors and local councils to determine the most dangerous powerlines in the state.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In the final week of campaigning, Mr Andrews visited northeast Victoria and Mr Guy toured Gippsland as polls projected a third term for Labor.

Stopping by a Milawa winery, the Premier announced a $30 million ag package, including $5 million for the state’s Wine to the World program and a $10 million grant to upgrade Victorian distilleries.

“These grants are a practical thing we can do to help address the skills shortages that we have,” Mr Andrews said. “They come with the context of free TAFE, which has been so, so powerful and important — 122,000 Victorians sharing just $300 million in fees that didn't have to be paid."

Also announced by Labor this week was $3 million for on-farm safety - $900,000 of which will be directed to the National Centre for Farmer Health.

Labor also pledged $1 million for research into 1080 pesticide alternatives and $160,000 for a feasibility study into a Horticulture Centre of Excellence.

Questions over the need for further road funding to repair flood-ravaged roads were directed at the Premier during his trip to north-east Victoria.

“We’ve repaired some 75,000 potholes,” he told The Weekly Times.

“If more money is required (for roads) then of course we stand ready to provide.”

Mr Guy told The Weekly Times that the results of the Labor government's under-investment in road funding was plain to see.

“Just drive down to southwest Victoria, or northeast Victoria or Gippsland. This is a Premier that has underfunded country roads for eight years,” he said.