Contrasting pictures have been painted of the Victorian Labor government's first 12 months of its third term in office, dominated by the dumping of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Daniel Andrews' exit.
Mr Andrews led Labor to a third Victorian state election victory on November 26 last year, boosting the party's number of lower house seats.
The long-serving Labor leader abruptly quit as premier and left parliament in September after almost nine years in the top job, paving the way for Jacinta Allan to take the reigns.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas was keen to spruik the government's achievements over the past year, including making it free to study nursing and midwifery and capping regional train fares at metro prices.
No mention was made of its decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games in July over cost concerns or Mr Andrews going back on his pre-election pledge to serve a full-term as premier.
A fast-rail link from Geelong to Melbourne promised by the Victorian government and former Morrison Liberal government will also not be delivered after federal Labor withdrew $2 billion in committed funding following a wide-ranging infrastructure review.
A parliamentary inquiry last week heard at least 20 people have died waiting for an ambulance in the state since 2020, while 9520 Victorian nurses left the profession in 2022.
Ms Thomas instead sought to divert attention on to John Pesutto, who succeeded Matthew Guy as opposition leader in December after the Liberals election drubbing.
"This is a man who is weak and wishy-washy," she told reporters at an Ambulance Victoria graduation ceremony on Sunday.
"A man who will say whatever it takes to the people of Hawthorn while cosying up to the extreme right-wing of his party when he's on Spring Street.
"Our government will continue to deliver. Meanwhile, the Liberals are led by someone whose never delivered a single thing."
She cited Mr Pesutto's refusal to back the federal voice to parliament referendum, despite his local electorate of Hawthorn voting in favour of the proposal, as an example to validate her claim.
The opposition leader, who is facing a defamation threat from former Liberal MP Moira Deeming, suggested Ms Thomas should be focused on the fixing the state's "crumbling" health system rather than carrying out personal attacks.
"I'm not interested, and nor are the Victorian people, in personal slights. What they want are better results," Mr Pesutto said.
"They're not seeing the results, they're seeing the promises that were made not being delivered by Jacinta Allan and her government."
The next Victorian state election is scheduled for November 2026.
