Election issues for Victoria

KEY ELECTION ISSUES FOR VICTORIA

INFRASTRUCTURE

Victoria wants billions in federal infrastructure cash. The state has a solid case too. Victoria gets nine per cent of national infrastructure funding, NSW gets 36 per cent. Victoria has historically got about 20 per cent, despite having a quarter of the nation's population and GDP. Sydney's employment boom has been amplified by the lion's share of the nation's transport funding, and politicians south of the border want some of that action too.

* It starts with $4.5 billion for the Melbourne Metro Rail project. The twin 9km tunnels will put five new stations around and under the CBD, opening up the city loop for more trains. It will cost $11 billion, with $4.5 billion coming from Canberra, about $2 billion from private industry, and the remainder mostly from money the state borrowed for the dumped East West Link.

* Victoria did want about $2 billion from Canberra for the Western Distributor toll road, until the prime minister said no. Instead, the state will fund the public component itself.

* Malcolm Turnbull instead chose a range of road and rail upgrades for Victoria, using the $1.5 billion the state government was given for the East West Link. Victoria will have to match that commitment to see the upgrades built.

DEFENCE

Victoria's car industry has two feet in the grave, and the government wants some big defence contracts to fill the gap. It wants the Land 400 vehicle to be built in the state - it was designed in Melbourne - and it also wants some big ship-building contracts so the Williamstown shipyards don't get mothballed permanently.