VIC: Kennett picks a footy final election date

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-1999
VIC: Kennett picks a footy final election date

Victorians head to the polls on September 18, the Saturday before the AFL grand final.

Premier JEFF KENNETT wanted the election held after next March's Grand Prix, but says he
decided on September 18 because speculation on the poll date was getting out of hand.

He does not think the state election is going to cause the AFL one iota of trouble, saying
the electorate wanted the issue resolved now.

Mr KENNETT says he has had enough of people asking about the election date.

Labor leader STEVE BRACKS, who has only been in the job for five months, welcomed the end
to Mr KENNETT'S phoney election campaign, saying he was looking forward to now getting equal
time.

He nominated police numbers and health, particularly the drugs issue, as areas of focus
during the campaign while Mr KENNETT will campaign on a yet-to-be-released long-term plan.

The election campaign will last just 25 days - the shortest time allowable.





Mr KENNETT'S Liberal/Coalition team is hot favourite to retain government.

The BRACKS-led Labor opposition needs to win 15 extra seats with an overall swing of 5.3
per cent to win back government in Victoria for the first time in seven years.

AAP RTV hmg/jlw/pjg/jn

KEYWORD: POLLVIC (MELBOURNE)

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