By LIAM DURKIN
WHAT a difference a few weeks can make.
Traralgon could be home to the next Victorian Premier, with latest poll numbers indicating Liberal leader John Pesutto has edged ahead of incumbent Jacinta Allan for the first time.
In figures released by the Resolve Political Monitor, Mr Pesutto holds an ever-so-slight lead over Ms Allan by one per cent in the preferred Premier stakes.
The opposition leader was ahead on 30 per cent to Ms Allan’s 29 when the Express went to press on Monday afternoon.
Speaking exclusively with the Express, Mr Pesutto said he wasn’t taking anything for granted.
“I’m very conscious that my colleagues and I will continue and need to continue to work very hard to earn the trust and confidence of the Victorian people,” he said.
“Polls will come and go and there’s a long way to the next election, but we’re focussed on Victorian households and businesses who are doing it tough under Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.
“As the alternative Premier, I have a responsibility to hold the government to account but also to outline our positive vision for our state’s future.
“Victorians are clearly fed up with a decade of Labor government that has seen record debt, over $40 billion wasted on cost blowouts on major projects, falling education and health outcomes, and crumbling roads.”
Granted poll numbers can be largely fabricated, the Resolve Political Monitor is used monthly on behalf of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, two mastheads generally considered to be the epitome of reasonable and accurate analysis.
The result comes just weeks after Mr Pesutto’s leadership came under fire, as his defamation case against former Liberal colleague Moira Deeming dragged on.
Mr Pesutto had faced a potential leadership spill, but emerged relatively unscathed.
With the next state election not due until November 2026, neither party leader appears to have too much cause for concern or optimism this far out.
Ms Allan quickly deflected the subject when asked by reporters in Melbourne last week, while closer to home, Member for Eastern Victoria and Labor Minister Harriet Shing did not wish to comment when asked by the Express.
The Coalition would need to defy recent history if it is to win the next election, having been absolutely annihilated by former Premier Daniel Andrews the last three times Victorians cast their vote.
However, with Mr Andrews now out of the picture following his unexpected resignation last year, the Liberals could see a clearer path to government.
Mr Pesutto was born in Traralgon and attended school at Lavalla Catholic College. He also played soccer for Olympians and Traralgon City in his younger days.
He admitted ‘future Premier’ was not a job spoken about in his careers class.
“Whilst admittedly I was not the best-behaved student for much of adolescence (having way too much fun), I did get serious about my studies in years 11 and 12,” he said.
“By that stage I was increasingly passionate about public service and the responsibilities that go with it, and I was ably encouraged by my teachers to pursue that course.”
Regardless of how the next state election goes, Mr Pesutto may wish to take advice from one of the great Traralgon events – the race to Spring Street is a marathon, not a sprint.
