In the 2010 Victorian election, Ballarat felt like ground zero for the regional campaign as both sides fought doggedly to win three local seats.and the repeated visits from former premier John Brumby left the local media in little doubt about how important they considered the region.About three weeks before election day, then health minister Daniel Andrews rolled into town to trump the opposition with a promise of $10 million for a helipad for the regional city’s main hospital.
We peppered Andrews with questions, trying to expose cracks and flaws in the policy. But it quickly became clear this tall, bespectacled bloke from Melbourne was well across the brief. He could not be tripped up or baited into making a mistake. Labor’s helipad promise cleverly nullified community concern and a planned protest scheduled for a few days later was called off. The announcement may also have helped Labor retain the electorates of Ballarat East, Ballarat West and Ripon even though it was booted from government by the Coalition led by Ted Baillieu.
“I’m from this local community – not pretending, I’m just being me. I love this place,” he told the press pack. But the main order of the day was a charm offensive., Andrews invited the entire press pack into the home of his mother Jan in Wangaratta.