EDITORIAL: The decline of Victoria has been a tragedy

Victoria is a great State.

It has a capital city to be proud of, with a rich history, beautiful parks and gardens, premium sporting events and facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, while a network of charming and historic towns dot the interior.

So the decline in Victoria since Labor was elected under Daniel Andrews in 2014 is nothing short of tragic.

Through hard-core ideological politics which should never be part of a State’s governing framework, Victoria has been driven downwards.

There’s the underperforming economy. Australian Bureau of Statistics data last week showed the national unemployment rate sat at 4.4 per cent in June, while Victoria’s rate was the nation’s worst at 5 per cent.

Independent economist Saul Eslake said last week the Victorian economy was a drag on the national economy. Household disposable income per head in Victoria was now lower than Tasmania and only ahead of South Australia.

Then there is crime, widely perceived to be running out of control.

Last month Victoria Police said the overall crime rate had increased by 26 per cent over the past three years.

It said children remained “heavily over-represented” in serious and violent crimes such as robberies, carjackings and home invasions.

There have allegations of rampant corruption on State infrastructure projects.

Add cost of living, housing availability and affordability and it is no wonder the tide turned against the Government of Jacinta Allan.

A Newspoll released on Monday showed a record 71 per cent of Victorian voters dissatisfied with Ms Allan’s performance.

The Coalition’s primary vote was put at 31 per cent, Labor 28, One Nation 19 and the Greens 13.

The Coalition was leading Labor on a two-party preferred basis, 52-48 per cent. This compares with a 53-47 per cent lead for Labor in June last year.

The numbers reflect how the self-interested protection by Labor of its supporters in the union movement has had a devastating impact on ordinary Victorians.

Many outside the State have watched on and scratched their heads as the Labor dominance rolled through the Andrews years unpunished by voters and on into the Allan Government.

Much of this can be put down to the weakness of the Victorian Opposition through that time. And Victorians have been paying the price.

It is often said the voters don’t get it wrong. That Labor has governed for so long might be an example of one of the occasions they did.

Ms Allan’s replacement as Premier, Ben Carroll, has immediately tried to distance himself from his predecessors. “I am not Daniel Andrews, I am not Jacinta Allan,” Mr Carroll said. “I will do things differently.”

Mr Carroll pledged to deliver “a new direction” on integrity, community safety and the economy and his Government would focus on “the basics”.

He also announced he would call a royal commission into the State’s construction sector.

It was a promising start. Victorians will be able to judge his progress or otherwise in the election in November. Let’s hope they get it right this time.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore