LABOR has launched a personal attack on Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu, accusing him of profiting from the sale of a western suburbs public school under the Kennett government.
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In a revival of its controversial 2006 election advertisements, ALP flyers for February's Altona byelection claim Mr Baillieu's real estate company sold the local Laverton Park Primary School for $320,000.
The advertisements come as Premier John Brumby conceded his government had problems with public transport and increasing street violence, after an opinion poll showed the Liberal-National Coalition closing the gap on his government.
The Labor flyer and YouTube commercial claim that Mr Baillieu backed the closure of more than 300 schools as Liberal Party president in the 1990s and his real estate company, Baillieu Knight Frank, got the contract to sell the school, located in the Altona electorate.
''Laverton Park Primary School Sold $320,000,'' the flyer, endorsed by new ALP state secretary Nick Reece, states. ''His [Mr Baillieu's] company profited from the sale of this local school.''
Last night, Mr Baillieu hit back, saying Mr Brumby had promised to stop dirty personal smear campaigns by the ALP.
''It is now clear that John Brumby lied,'' he said.
Mr Baillieu was a senior director of the national arm of the real estate company between 1973 and 1998.
The attack came after an Age/Nielsen poll found the Coalition gaining on the government, with Labor on 53 per cent of the vote after preferences (down 5 percentage points from last November) and the Liberal-Nationals 47 per cent (up 5 points).
While Labor would retain power if the result were repeated at this year's election, it represents a swing of 1.5 per cent to the Coalition and a gain up to three seats.
The poll of 1000 voters showed widespread dissatisfaction with the government's handling of transport on the back of the beleaguered start of the myki ticket system, as well as anger at levels of drunken violence.
Mr Brumby said recent polls had been ''extraordinarily high'', predicting they would tighten and come in closer to 50-50.
''Obviously, some of the self-evident difficulties with the myki ticketing system … affect people's views of government,'' he said.
The Premier said the government was getting on top of the assault problem with more police and initiatives such as the respect agenda.
While Coalition MPs have been buoyed by their improved polling, Mr Brumby remains voters' clear choice as preferred premier over Mr Baillieu, 54 to 34 per cent.
More voters disapproved of Mr Baillieu than approved, with his disapproval jumping 10 percentage points to 45 per cent, since a 2008 poll.
Mr Baillieu is believed to have told colleagues he was encouraged at their work rate but asked them to stay disciplined.
He credited the improved polling with the attention the Coalition has drawn to public transport and lack of police numbers.
''It is John Brumby who ignored the warnings time and time again,'' he said.
The Premier gave cautious support to Police Minister Bob Cameron when asked if he would stay in the portfolio after the election.
Mr Brumby praised Mr Cameron's work, while conceding the minister was probably not a strong media performer.
Setting out the government's election-year agenda at the first parliamentary sitting of the year, Mr Brumby nominated law and order as a top priority.
