Vic premier’s last-ditch attempt to win

As Victorians head to the polls in record numbers, Premier Daniel Andrews has vowed to ease cost of living pressures and fix the healthcare crisis in a last-ditch attempt to gain support.

At last half of the roughly four million voters enrolled across the state cast their ballots early, with the remainder expected to flock to polling centres on Saturday.

If re-elected, Mr Andrews has pledged to cut electricity bills by bringing back the government-owned State Electricity Commission, and has promised to implement free kindergarten for Victorian families.

“We’re about a positive and optimistic plan for the future,” he told Seven’s Sunrise on Saturday.

“People talk a lot about cost of living. If you don’t have a job, cost of living is really challenging and my political opponents are going to cut jobs because they’re going to cut projects.”

Victoria’s healthcare crisis has become a key focus in the lead-up to the election as the state’s triple zero emergency system buckles under pressure and ambulance wait times increase.

Labor has promised overall healthcare reform, including $6b to construct or upgrade several hospitals, including up to $1b for Maroondah Hospital, $675m for West Gippsland Hospital and $560m for Monash Medical Centre.

The coalition says it would invest $10b in upgrades and projects, including $2.4b to repair The Alfred, $750m for a new Mildura hospital and $550m to rebuild Caulfield Hospital.

A Newspoll published on Friday night showed Labor on track to return despite a swing of almost three per cent.

Labor leads the coalition 54.5 per cent to 45.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, according to the poll published by The Australian.