I'm with the 75% who believe Labor will win. As the survey indicates, the options are abysmal for any chance of a government that is not self serving and subservient to sectional interests.

A winnable alternative to that outlook, is not on the horizon. Nothing changes under the sun.

Labor tipped to win? Victorians are either masochists or total loons. Mind you, we South Australians are still waiting to see what difference there is between the 16 year old Labor government and its Liberal replacement. Nothing is the expectation. They made a big song and dance about getting trams to turn right at North Terrace - something Labor couldn't do - but they threw in the towel on that last week. It seems to make bugger all difference who you vote for these days, or if you even bother to vote at all. Politics seems to be something that no longer includes the electorate.

I would tend to agree with Dan that highlighting Labor's corruption and incompetence at law and order is not going to get much traction, as it is pretty much standard for every labor government.

Good read Graham and possibly close to the money. However, as Donal Trump proved nothing the polls may or may not indicate is necessarily the way the election will follow.

The libs need a circuit breaker to swing the undecided swing voters to their side. And that circuit breaker is likely to be power prices and a new source of power.

Someone somewhere has to come to grips with the reality of climate change which cannot be ignored And with that in mind, someone with a little testicular fortitude needs to advocate for nuclear power, not just any nuclear power but walk away safe MSR thorium. And with it clean, walk away safe carbon-free power for as little as 2 cents per KwH.

With that rolled out as a leading economy going from strength to strength its industrial arm once again resuscitated and leading the way. This is our future and as soon as the dolts in charge of the economy get it and crack with it the quicker well become the third largest economy once more.

Same old, same old, and the usual blame shifting finger pointing negative finger pointing campaign won't cut unless there is a genuine competition of ideas and some new bold initiatives and futuristic vision.
Alan B.

Dear Grahamy,

You talk about the 'tribes' but from my experience that doesn't have as much weight here, certainly in this election.

There are many things I take issue with the Andrew's government over and the rampant sell off of public assets is pretty high on the list.

But so many people I have spoken to regard him as 'a bloke who is just getting on with it'. A close family friend who is in civil construction was mightily pissed off when the East West link was pulled by Labour when they came to power.

But this friend literally hasn't stopped since with construction projects including windfarms have seen him pulling 50 to 60 hour weeks for years with little slow down in sight. He sheepishly confided with me a little while ago that Andrews had his vote.

I was recently at a Landcare meeting talking to a bunch of farmers about the election and I get the sense that most of them were swinging toward Labour for very pragmatic reasons.

I would rather not see him have the balance of power in the upper house but from where I am sitting there is a lot of appetite for a change of government.

Rather NOT a lot of appetite.

Dear Graham,

We live in Matthew Guy's electorate. It's a safe Liberal
seat so no surprises there how it's going to go. Still,
talking to family, friends and colleagues, many people
although they're critical of many things that the Andrews
government has done - they do seem to hesitate when it
comes to Matthew Guy. Many are very critical about his
past record when he was known as "Mr Skyscraper," and
approved so many high-rise developments in Melbourne.
Predicting anything in elections though is risky. It
will be interesting to see which way Victorians will
go on Saturday.

Victorians have "rejected the low road of fear and
division" by voting Labor back into government
Premier Daniel Andrews said as the Liberal/National
opposition will wonder where it all went wrong in a
state election that some have described as a blood
bath.

Calls for the resignations of Mathew Guy and the state's
Liberal Party President - Kroger
were already being heard on the TV programs last night,
especially, from former Premier Jeff Kennett.
Mr Guy campaigned hard on law and order and was accused
of seeking to gain political advantage from the Bourke
Street tragedy. The Liberal's message did not resonate
well in Victoria and to add insult to injury the
Liberal Party is in further danger of losing several seats
it previously regarded as safe. According to political
commentators the Coalition's losses across the state
will make it harder for it to win government in 2022
and the Opposition leader must take some of the blame.

Antony Green, ABC election analyst declared a Labor win
within 90 minutes of counting getting underway last night.

Premier Daniel Andrews stated that "Victorians overwhelmingly
endorsed a positive and optimistic plan for our state."
"They endorsed the removal of 75 level crossings, proper
funding of our hospitals and schools, more jobs and funding
TAFE properly and the biggest infrastructure agenda in road
and rail in this state's history."

It appears that people need to have their concerns addressed,
and that personal attacks, and fear-mongering are outmoded
tactics that no longer work, including a disunified
and a party fighting amongst themselves.
These are all things that political parties need to look at
and learn from - prior to the next election. We shall have to
wait and see if old habits die hard - or whether change
can come about as a result of these election results.

Does this have much in the way of federal implications? Or are Victorians now clear about the direness between state and federal issues?

Dear Aidan,

Undoubtedly the internal problems of the Liberal Party
in Canberra would have influenced some voters in
Victoria and the tactics of the Victorian Liberal
Party by focusing on fear and division also did not
resonate well. Labor in Victoria focused on their
delivery on promises and not cutting essential
services which made for a more optimistic and positive
plan for the state. There's a lesson there for both
political parties. Voters are sick and tired of the
outmoded political finger-pointing strategies of the
past. They no longer work. At least not in Victoria.

Dear GrahamY,

You wrote;

"Law and order and cultural issues are likely to alienate some traditional Labor and swinging voters in the outer suburban ring. This is where the nationalists, who are the heartland of conservative politics, live, and where the election is likely to be won."

Looks like the opposite happened. The 'Liberal Heartland' turned out not to be the 'Conservative' heartland that the Duttons and the Hunts had believed. They were proper Liberals who rejected what Guy and Morrison and the rightwing mainstream press were selling. They will not be hard to get back as long as there is capacity to change direction within the Liberals. The question is more about how hard internally the battle will be.

The sooner you lot realise that action on climate change had become mainstream politics now the more chance you will have of recapturing some of the center. But do it quick because your ideologues are causing you to be left behind.