Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Victorian Premier Denis Napthine have hugged and made up after "robust" discussions about the fuel excise rise.
Mr Abbott grinned and wrapped his arms around Dr Napthine on Friday, pledging to support his "friend" during the state election campaign.
Dr Napthine has made it clear he opposes the federal government's decision to bypass the Senate to increase the fuel excise, but says he has a positive relationship with Mr Abbott.
The prime minister says he will be disappointed if the coalition does not win on November 29.
"I want to do everything I can to help my friend, Denis Napthine, but just as he's got to act in the best interests of Victoria, I've got to act in the best interests of the Commonwealth," Mr Abbott told reporters.
The ACTU and CFMEU have accused the state and federal governments of announcing a joint police taskforce on union corruption as a "red herring" and "political stunt" to distract from negative publicity surrounding the fuel excise increase.
But Mr Abbott said the rise was not a surprise to anyone, given it was announced in the May budget.
Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said he welcomed the prime minister's presence on the campaign trail.
"He can spend as much time as he likes here because I think every time he visits Victoria he just reminds families that there's a petrol tax, the GP tax, there's all sorts of cuts to hospitals and schools and nobody, no one voted for that," he said.
Mr Abbott said the East West Link road project was the single biggest issue in the Victorian election.
He reiterated that the $3 billion federal commitment could not used on other projects if Mr Andrews scrapped the project.
"It's just a bit sad that in order to try to hold on to seats where Labor is under Green threat, that the opposition leader has completely junked what was previously the settled principle that governments abide by signed contracts," Mr Abbott said.
