“When we held the balance of power, we saved Victoria from the 2014 budget cuts,” she said

“It was Palmer United that did all the negotiations. We saved the renewable energy target and the clean energy finance corporation.

 “If we felt legislation was bad there was no way we would support it, or we sought to amend it.”  

Ms Thoolen said the Wimmera was dear to her heart and she would, if elected, fight to have government and big industries move out to regional areas.

“It will be hard to get private business to move out here because it is so expensive,” she said.

“That’s why we want to improve rail freight across regional Victoria so it is not seen as a penalty to set up a business in a country town.

“There would be huge benefits. In a country town, people are more likely to show up for work.”