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.