The Standard: Napthine pushes ‘growth’ message in TV commercials. Alex Sinnott April 15, 2014

The TV commercials featuring Premier Denis Napthine outline the Coalition’s case for re-election, mainly focused on the government’s transport policies.

Television commercials featuring member for South West Coast and Premier Denis Napthine have been transmitted into south-west loungerooms as state election campaigning moves up a gear.

Launched during the peak viewing period on Sunday evening, the commercials feature Dr Napthine outlining the Coalition’s case for re-election, mainly focused on the government’s transport policies.

It was broadcast during programs such as 60 Minutes, Sunday Night, The Mentalist and commercial evening news bulletins — all of which feature in the top-20 most-viewed shows of the week.

In the advertisement, Dr Napthine speaks directly to camera about the Regional Rail Link, expansion of public hospitals and the controversial East-West Link metropolitan road tunnel.

“Our government has the vision, we have the runs on the board,” he tells viewers.

“We have the evidence that we are delivering on that vision to grow jobs, grow opportunities, grow services to meet the growing needs of a growing population here in Victoria.”

The launch of the television advertising blitz coincided with the Premier announcing a re-elected Napthine government would bankroll a rail link between Tullamarine Airport and Melbourne’s city centre.

He acknowledged the airport connection plan had been discussed by several state administrations extending back to the early days of Rupert Hamer’s government.

“We will build this rail link,” Dr Napthine told Liberal Party delegates at its annual state council.

“Thirty million passengers a year use Melbourne Airport and that is expected to double in the next 20 years.”

Opposition spokesman James Merlino said the plan did not address increasing congestion along Melbourne’s suburban rail lines.

“Denis Napthine isn’t fixing the train you take every day, he’s talking about a train you might use once a year,” the deputy opposition leader said.

Melbourne Airport spokeswoman Carly Dixon said the transport link would provide Victorians with reliable rail transport to the airport.