Vic premier denies mayoral meddling

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has labelled as outrageous a claim he interfered in a vote on who should be mayor in the regional city of Ballarat.

Dr Napthine has this week been questioned by the Labor opposition about whether he sought to directly influence a mayoral ballot to ensure a Liberal member was installed as Ballarat's next mayor.

It comes after two Ballarat councillors say they were informed the premier wanted a Liberal-aligned mayor to lead the council.

The councillors told local newspaper The Courier this week they were told of the premier's wishes during a November briefing.

Dr Napthine described the allegations as outrageous during parliament question time on Wednesday.

A day earlier, Ballarat West MP Sharon Knight asked Dr Napthine in question time whether he tried to influence the Ballarat mayoral vote, but he denied any involvement.

"I do not ever involve myself in influencing councils as they conduct their elections," he told the parliament.