The federal coalition's election victory has given Victoria's Liberal party a lesson in the value of positive campaigning.
The Liberal-Nationals coalition suffered a gutting loss in November's state poll and new leader Michael O'Brien noted that "focusing on the positives" had served his federal colleagues well over the weekend.
"Election campaigns have always got a bit of negativity in them but it's important you lay out what you are actually for, not just what you're against," he told ABC radio on Monday.
"People responded well to what the federal coalition offered on Saturday.
"Perhaps at the state election, I think they might have known what the Liberals and Nationals were opposed to but I don't know if people had a great idea of what we were for, which is what I'd like to turn around."
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The Liberals suffered crushing swings against the party across a swag of safe seats in the Victorian election. If the swing was replicated on Saturday, the federal Liberals would have lost power.
Mr O'Brien said said he hoped Premier Daniel Andrews would agree to work with the re-elected federal government and take advantage of its funding offers across a range of road and rail projects.
"I just hope the premier can take his Labor Party hat off for long enough to work with the prime minister and get things done," Mr O'Brien said.
