Milanda Rout, Victorian political reporter
VICTORIAN Premier John Brumby has sought to reassure voters that Labor has the "right plans" to address problems in transport, law and order and health in the wake of an alarming Newspoll which showed support for the decade old government is in decline.
He said that next week's state budget would be a "positive" one with lots of new initiatives in key areas like community safety and transport.
Mr Brumby shrugged off the fact that he was the only Premier in the Labor Government's history to receive a negative satisfaction rating in the Newspoll, saying that he was not worried despite not been tested at the ballot box.
"I have had plenty of tests in polls over the years in Federal and State parliament, but we will wait and see later in the year," he said. "I always said you would see the polls come closer this year that generally happens in election year.
"But we have a very positive few months ahead of us and we have got a budget next week which I think will be a very positive budget".
Mr Brumby said Victoria's economy is travelling well and "continues to be the most liveable" state in Australia. "We are a popular place to be," he said. "What Victorians want, they want to know is that the government is making necessary decisions to secure our future".
He said that this meant a continuing investment in police, education and transport and he believed his government "had the right plans for the state" to address the issues of concern for voters.
Mr Brumby said they had made a big investment in transport but the private operator of the train system had to "lift their game".
"The plans that we will be announcing, the new initiatives in these areas, will secure the future of our state," he said.
Victorians go to the polls in November.
The Australian
