The enthusiasm of Graham, our Online editor, for a Liberal win in Victoria is reflected in his writing today. He is, after all, one of the flock.

Like all commentators on matters political, they are not able to assess the feelings and thinking of voters on the day and even though politics in this country is a sad reflection on the very poor quality of politicians we have inherited in 2010, possibly the worst collection in our history, there are factors which will not be evident until the vote is cast.

Some examples. Any activity between here and Saturday could move a voter to change his preferences, so volatile is the current climate. I mean, independents are voting independently, God forbid. Is the party system on the wane? Let’s hope so.

Currently the hot topic is the NBN, a Labor party policy that was applauded when introduced, but which on further inspection is something that is not affordable and can be bettered both in infrastructure and access cost. It is an obvious overkill, hence the arrogant refusal by Gillard to expose the politicians to the workings of the Labor figures, which I would guess are very mushy figures, indeed

Of course, the 'boat people' is an open wound, blatant stupidity evident in the way it has been handled.

But perhaps the most dangerous for Labor, in spite of the rise in the polls which I do not believe, (news groups having their own special agendas, exampled by Fox, The Australian, et al), is the over exposure and the drawling voice of the feckless Gillard on the hustings, to many, the kiss of death.
Always anxious for a public viewing, anywhere, Gillard, is perhaps the one politician with the capability of boring the public to death with her unfashionable matronly clobber and monotonal voice but not clever enough to assess her own image or how she is viewed would be wise to stick to Labor pre-selected cheer squads or activities organised by some sycophantic female journalists., still thick on the ground in 2010.

Suffice to say that Victorian policies are irrelevant

The Liberals are right not to allocate preferences to the Greens. Applying preferences based on long term strategic analysis at the expense of principles is also easily discerned by voters who are becoming more intolerant of this sort of politicking.

"The problem for the Libs is that they need some of this protest vote to come to them to get the extra that they need to turn a near loss into a win."

That is probably the biggest motivator in not preferencing the Greens (other than ideological differences). Disaffected labor voters will generally not vote Liberal under any circumstances (although this was not the case in parts of QLD after the Rudd factor, but VIC is different).

"And how can they do this? They have to take away the potential for the Greens to hold the balance of power in the next parliament. As the Greens need Liberal preferences to win any seats, denying them those preferences has that effect."

At least that fits in with the ideological objectives of which Labor and Liberal share much more (in part) than with the Greens.

The real test will be if the Victorian people believe that the Federal Election outcome is working with a minority government. And if the voters believe in any possible advantages of a minority government ie.will a hybrid deliver better government, provide a basis for positive reforms and create a more open and consultative government.

If there is a perception that the Federal outcome is unworkable or is a failure, the protest vote will be minimal and it will come down to Liberal vs Labor.

However, more people are voting Greens for their own sake. They are not all protest votes but come about due to renewed interest in the environment and social wellbeing on a number of fronts.

Interest in egalitarianism and disparity, in reaction to the overly economic rational policies, is growing. There is growing discontent with corporatism and any party ignores it at their peril.

However, more people are voting Greens for their own sake. They are not all protest votes but come about due to renewed interest in the environment and social wellbeing on a number of fronts.

Interest in egalitarianism and disparity, in reaction to the overly economic rational policies, is growing. There is growing discontent with corporatism and any party ignores it at their peril.

Well said Pelican

As the Labour Party lunges to the conservative right of the political spectrum, more and more thinking voters with left leanings are turning to The Greens as their party of choice.
I am not surprised that the Liberal Party would prefer a Labor majority government to a Labor minority government relying on Greens support. The controllers of the Liberal Party, the big end of town, feel they can work quite well with Labor governments, they find them rather pliable when it come to serving their interests.

I agree Paul. People are starting to wake up.

Looks like the polls show the Libs are in to win - as much as anyone can trust polls, but it does show a swing.

It will be interesting to see it the swing is due to mainly state matters (any Victorians here) or if there is any influence from what is happening at Federal level.