Daniel Andrews forgoes tradition in Mulgrave electorate to share voting milestone with two adult children

Daniel Andrews has been forced to defend his decision to vote outside of his electorate of Mulgrave after coming under attack from former premier Jeff Kennett.

The Labor leader was criticised for going against the norm of voting among his constituents on election day and instead secretly casting his vote at a polling booth near parliament, without any media present.

In scathing tweets on Thursday night and Friday morning, Mr Kennett took aim at Mr Andrews and said it displayed a lack of “decency” and was an “insult to the voters in Mulgrave”.

However, the Premier told reporters on the eve of election day that it was a matter of convenience for his family amid a gruelling election campaign.

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“Like many families, getting us all in one place at the one time is quite challenging,” Mr Andrews said in Melbourne’s inner-north, where he announced further tech schools and kindergarten grants.

“I’m doing about 10 events a day, as you’d expect. This will be close, we have to work hard, we have to get our positive plan out to as many people as possible.”

Mr Andrews highlighted the special significance of this election, with it being his daughter Grace’s first time voting and the first state poll for son Noah.

“Last night meant that we were able to vote together, and I wanted to be with my two adult kids the first time they voted,” he said.

Mr Andrews dismissed any criticism from Mr Kennett – who served as a Liberal premier from 1992 to 1999 – and instead pointed to lack of support for his community of Mulgrave under previous governments.

“I’ve got nothing to say to Jeff Kennett.. My electorate remembers school closures, my electorate remembers the sackings that Mr Kennett was so proud to deliver for the good people of Mulgrave,” Mr Andrews fired back.

“After I finished a whole series of events I then went to my home in Mulgrave and that’s where I started my day… because that’s where I live and that is the community I’m passionate about.

“I’m not going to be taking advice from Mr Kennett on anything.”

The move to vote outside his electorate was also perceived as unusual following new research which suggested Mr Andrews could lose a slew of seats on Saturday, including his own electorate amid a threat from independent Ian Cook.

Polling by bi-partisan RedBridge Group, which was published by the Herald Sun on Thursday, suggested that Labor would fall two seats short of the 45 needed to form a majority government.

Sky News Australia’s Peter Stefanovic asked Opposition Leader Matthew Guy about the news Mr Andrew had voted early on Friday morning, which he laughed off. 

“Well, I’ve voted early before but only in my electorate,” he said.

“I will always vote in my seat. Tomorrow you can come and join me if you’d like.”

Mr Andrews appeared at a kindergarten in the marginal seat of Northcote – held by a 1.7 margin and at threat from the Greens – to announce an additional $140 million in policies.

It includes $116 million to expand Victoria’s tech schools program, which will allow 62,000 students to pivot their careers towards “renewable energy”.

A $24 million expansion of his free kindergarten policy will allow 2950 kindergarten to receive $5,000 grants for new equipment and toys to support “play based” learning.

Meanwhile, Mr Guy was spruiking his boost tourism plan in Ballarat on Friday which includes a $6 million fund to help 48 councils in regional areas make towns RV friendly.