Australian Opposition leader Bill Shorten says it's clear the federal Budget had an impact on the Victorian election result.
Labor has seized control of Victoria, with voters turfing out the Napthine Liberal Government after just one term.
While the Victorian Coalition had reportedly described Prime Minister Tony Abbott during thecampaign as "box-office poison", federal operatives were out yesterday insisting the election was largely fought on state issues.
Shorten said Daniel Andrews and the Victorian Labor Party had run a strong campaign, with state issues "very much front and centre". But he insisted that Abbott, who was absent from the final weeks of the campaign, and the federal Budget were factors in making Denis Napthine and the Liberal-Nationals Coalition the first one-term Government in Victoria in more than half a century. "If Tony Abbott and his Coalition team in Canberra with his unfair Budget and broken promises are in denial about one of the factors in this election, well that would be a dreadful mistake." Liberal frontbencher Andrew Robb said: "I don't accept that we had a big influence ... this was a state election overwhelmingly fought on state issues."
Andrews does not need to look far to see how dangerous it can be for governments that don't get moving. The Coalition Victorian Government lost two years because of inertia in former Premier Ted Baillieu's office and, to voters, it never recovered.
Ripping up the East West Link road tunnel project contracts without having to pay A$1.1 billion compensation to the builders and returning A$3 billion to canberra will be hard. The Napthine Government tried to ensure the contracts for the road tunnel were legally binding.
Winners and losers
Winners Labor leader Daniel Andrews (pictured) to become Victoria's 48th Premier. Greens' Ellen Sandell wins the minor party's first lower house seat of Melbourne, upsetting Labor's Jennifer Kanis. Labor deputy leader James Merlino claims victory in the marginal seat of Monbulk.
Losers Liberals suffer historic loss, becoming first one-term government since 1955. Nationals look like losing three seats, including Shepparton, which was supposed to be one of its safest seats.
