Nepean by-election tests Liberal Party strength

0:00The Liberal Party is facing one of its first major tests ahead of this November's election, with voters in Nepal heading to the polls tomorrow for the by-election. Labour isn't running a candidate. Instead, today, it's announcing more than a billion dollars for schools across the state. Here's state political reporter Paul Dowsley. Today is the final of 10 days of pre-polling here in the seat of the Pian on the morning to Peninsula and some of the main candidates are here at the polling booth at Rosebud, all trying to convince people to vote for them. Tomorrow night's result is going to be a fascinating revelation into how deeply one nation has impacted in Victoria and the impact on the Liberal Party and how big a threat Paul Enhancin might be at the state election in November. It's also a big test. The first one for the Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, who was also here today supporting her candidate. Are you going to win? I look I'm massively optimistic. Why should people not choose one nation?

1:03Well, I think that's just a vote for Labour. If you want anyone other than Jacinta Rallan, it's got to be a vote for Labour. Are you going to win? I'm fairly confident we've got a good shot at this. Will Paul En be here by your side this weekend? I don't think so, but you never know with Paul En, she can surprise you. But the Labour Party isn't among them. They are not fielding a candidate today. The government was instead busy with another pre-election announcement. $1.6 billion for schools, including new schools buying land for future schools and upgrades for 31 government schools. We've identified a range of corridors around Jolong, Melbourne's West, Melton, Kadinia, Casey. We're also having a good look at some of our inner-city challenges that we have to around Preston. The big education problem for the government is a pay deal with teachers. The deputy premier wouldn't say if a resolution was close just that negotiations were continuing.