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Politics
Tara Cosoleto and Mibenge Nsenduluka

Labor promises more free TAFE eligibility

Matthew Guy says a Victorian coalition government would cut household power bills by up to $235. (Mark Stewart/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Free TAFE courses will become available to all Victorians if the Labor government is re-elected.

Prospective students will be able to enrol in a free course regardless of their prior skills or qualifications, Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Monday.

An extra two million Victorians are expected to become eligible for the free courses under the changes.

The state government will also invest up to $170 million to build new TAFE campuses at Sunbury and Melton and improve existing sites across the state.

"This is all about making sure that our students have got the best equipment, the best facilities to do that best learning," Mr Andrews told reporters on Monday.

The open eligibility will apply to the current list of free TAFE courses and any new courses added to the program in the future.

The government would also introduce legislation guaranteeing 70 per cent of vocational education and training funding goes to TAFE each year.

During their official campaign launch events on Sunday, both major promised power bill relief.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy promised a coalition government would cut up to $235 from household electricity bills by scrapping supply charges for the first half of 2023.

New gas projects in Victoria would also be quarantined to only supply the state under another new coalition election policy.

Mr Guy spruiked the promises again on Monday.

"It is a clear and simple and responsible way to reduce people's energy bills," he told reporters.

But Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio slammed the Coalition's gas policy, saying it would lead to fracking as there were no known quantities of conventional onshore gas in Victoria.

"We've got fakes, we've got liars and we've got frackers," she told reporters on Monday.

"That's what we've got from a state opposition."

The Victorian Greens were also concerned about a possible return to fracking.

"It seems now the Liberals and Labor are on a unity ticket in both supporting more gas drilling right across our state," deputy leader Ellen Sandell told reporters on Monday.

"Some of our most iconic landscape and farmland in Victoria is now at risk of gas drilling because both Labor and the Liberals support it."

Labor on Sunday promised another round of the $250 power-saving bonus in March if re-elected, along with at least 6000 apprentices and trainees to be hired under a re-established State Electricity Commission.

Victorians began casting their election ballots on Monday but wet weather and printing issues impacted some early voting centres.

The Victorian Electoral Commission is preparing for more than 50 per cent of the state's 4.4 million enrolled voters to cast their ballot before election day.

It comes as a new poll predicts the Labor party will win its third consecutive term of government.

The RedBridge poll of 1189 people, reported in the Herald Sun on Monday, showed Labor ahead of the coalition 53.5 to 46.5 on a two-party preferred basis.

But Labor may not reach a majority of 45 seats, the poll suggests, with a hung parliament possible.

Mr Andrews has repeatedly said he would not do any deals with the Greens or independents if Labor falls short of majority government.

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