Vic: Baillieu rallies troops ahead of state poll

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2006
Vic: Baillieu rallies troops ahead of state poll

By Nick Lenaghan

MELBOURNE, Aug 19 AAP - Victorian Liberal leader Ted Baillieu has challenged the Bracks
government to stop wasting taxpayer money on government advertising for two months prior
to the November 25 state election.

Mr Baillieu laid down the challenge as he rallied party faithful at a statewide assembly
of Liberals today, saying money saved could be spent on health.

Many of Mr Baillieu's campaign themes are already familiar - he criticises government
waste and mismanagement and contrasts it with Liberal election promises, spearheaded by
a focus on education.

A Liberal blueblood and former party president, Mr Baillieu upped the ante today, daring
state Labor to pull all government advertising in the 60 days before the state ballot.

Mr Baillieu said the government was using publicly-funded advertising to promote itself
instead of delivering services.

"There's one thing the government has never delayed," Mr Baillieu said.

"It's never ever delayed the roll-out of its advertising.

"I've got a simple message to the premier (Steve Bracks).

"Stop the ads, premier. Stop the waste now. Stop conning Victorians. Stop the taxpayer-funded
self-promotion."

Mr Baillieu called for the 60-day moratorium on government advertising to begin on
September 26 and wants the money saved to be spent on reducing hospital waiting lists.

Education remains the centrepiece of Mr Baillieu's promise to restore high standards
across state services, which he says have become mediocre under Labor.

A $250 million pledge to clear the backlog in school maintenance over four years was added today.

It comes on top of earlier commitments to open five new technical colleges and four
new selective entry secondary schools for high achieving students.

Just three months away from the election and trailing Labor in the polls, Mr Baillieu
said the Liberals had a "fabulous opportunity" - not a "big task" as some would say -
to reclaim office.

And he sought to allay concerns in some quarters of party over his progressive views
on social issues, such as his support for law reform on abortion and gay civil unions.

"I am as steeped as you can get in the ways of this party and that's what I intend
to keep with me on daily basis," he said.

Mr Baillieu said he had sensed a new "zing" in the party since he took over the leadership
earlier this year.

"Let's put some sting in the zing and give Victorians what they want," he said.

Meanwhile federal Treasurer Peter Costello, who also addressed today's state council,
brushed off suggestions he was only lukewarm about Mr Baillieu's leadership so far.

Instead Mr Costello turned the attack on Labor, which controls 62 of the 88 lower house
seats, after reports it was preparing for a major cabinet reshuffle if it retains government

"Victorians will think that's a little bit arrogant. Normally you win an election before
you announce your post-election reshuffle," he told reporters.

Later, Deputy Premier John Thwaites dismissed Mr Baillieu's challenge and said the
bulk of government advertising was made up of road and work safety messages aimed at keeping
people out of hospitals.

Later, Deputy Premier John Thwaites dismissed Mr Baillieu's challenge and pointed out
the bulk of government advertising is made up of road and work safety messages aimed at
keeping people out of hospitals.

AAP nl/arb/sd

KEYWORD: LIBS VIC NIGHTLEAD

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