Jacinta Allan's door-knocking campaign hit an awkward hurdle after a resident called her out for ignoring a sign on her property. Allan was campaigning in Jackass Flat, in central Victoria, going door-to-door with a staff member and handing out flyers.
Resident Corina Brewster told 7News the Premier ignored her 'no door knockers' sign and attempted to strike up a conversation. 'She said "Oh hi, I'm Jacinta Allan" and I said "Yeah and I have a no door-knocker sign on my door",' Ms Brewster said. 'She asked if I had any questions and I said I won't be going there at all.'
Ms Brewster said the Premier also raised her policy of discounted car registrations, but she replied: 'That's on the internet, I can look that up.' When asked whether she would vote for the Premier, Ms Brewster gave a blunt response: 'God no - I don't like her.'
For residents who were not home, including Peter Doyle, Ms Allan left handwritten-style notes inviting them to get in touch. The Victorian Premier has had the door shut on her face while going door knocking in a 'desperate' bid to save her seat ahead months before the state election. The campaigning comes amid reports Labor insiders fear Allan's once-safe Bendigo East seat could now be under threat.
Mr Doyle said the Premier must be getting desperate. 'Today I have been door knocking in Jackass Flat and having a chat with locals about the things that matter most to them and their families - and I would love to hear from you too,' the note read. 'Please give me a call on 5443 2144 to have a chat about the things that matter to you or if you need any help with a State Government matter.'
The early campaigning comes amid reports that internal polling has raised concerns Allan could struggle to hold onto her seat at the November state election. The move follows prominent Bendigo publican Andrew Lethlean announcing in April that he would seek Victorian Nationals preselection to challenge Allan in Bendigo East.
Allan, who has held Bendigo East since 1999, retained the seat with a comfortable 10.8 per cent margin at the last election, but Labor insiders now reportedly believe it could be in play. Allan was ranked Australia's most disliked premier in a recent Freshwater Strategy poll commissioned by the Herald Sun, recording a net approval rating of -32.
Allan said she was unconcerned by the Nationals' challenge. 'Bendigo knows that it's only Labor governments that make this investment, and we know this because the National Party is the junior part of the Coalition,' she told the Herald Sun. 'They've never delivered anything to Bendigo and they've always been too weak to fight for Bendigo and the things that matter for Bendigo families.'
It comes as the state's net debt is forecast to reach $175.6 billion by the end of the next financial year and climb to $199.3 billion by mid-2030. Annual interest repayments are also expected to rise to $11.8 billion by that point - equivalent to more than $32 million a day.
Despite the mounting debt burden, Allan unveiled billions of dollars in spending in the state's June Budget, including measures such as free and half-price public transport and discounted car registration. Victorians needed to understand the real-life consequences of rising debt, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said. 'Next year Victorians will be paying an interest bill that could pay for police, ambos and kindergartens and leave spare cash left over,' she told reporters.
The Coalition has committed to cutting five taxes and reducing debt if it returns to power for the first time since 2014. However, Ms Wilson is yet to outline where the savings would come from, beyond pledging to cut funding tied to the state's treaty process with Aboriginal people.
