Cop to take on MP

FROM Mildura to Mallacoota, law and order will be one of the key issues at the November state election.

Its arguably the Andrews Government’s Achilles heel.

Carjackings and gang violence have dominated the headlines for years.

Magistrates have come under fire for what some in the community perceive a weakkneed sentencing.

So it’s likely when Liberal Party members gathered at the weekend to select their candidate for the Bellarine electorate, they had a particular narrative in mind — the veteran police officer versus the State Police Minister.

Surf Coast councillor Brian McKiterick will face off against Labor MP Lisa Neville in the battle for Bellarine.

The peninsula electorate is a marginal constituency, with Ms Neville coming close to losing the seat once before.

At the 2010 state election, when Ted Baillieu defeated John Brumby, Labor won 51.4 per cent of the two-party preferred vote to the Coalition on 48.6 per cent.

At the 2014 poll, Ms Neville improved her margin substantially with a two-party preferred vote for Labor rising to 54.8 per cent.

Despite this, Bellarine is the most vulnerable of the Andrew Government’s regional seats.

Newspoll found last month that only 25 per cent of Victorians throught the State Government was doing enough to reduce gang violence. A whopping 65 per cent said more action was needed.

McKiterick will likely argue his four decades in the police force gives him an understanding of the causes behind the crime wave that Neville lacks. However, the Labor MP has a higher local profile with McKiterick better associated with the neighbouring South Barwon electorate.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy are likely to make many trips to peninsula over the coming months.

Expect to see them visiting a few police stations while they’re here.