Editing Jeff Kennett (section)

===First term as premier===
Kennett publicly pledged never to attempt a return to the Liberal leadership. However, when Brown proved unable to challenge the government effectively, he allowed his supporters to call a spill in 1991. Brown realised he didn't have enough support to keep his post and resigned, allowing Kennett to retake the leadership unopposed.

With Victoria facing billions of dollars of debt, Kennett was seen as "Premier-in-waiting" from the moment he retook the leadership. Cain had resigned a year earlier in favour of Deputy Premier [[Joan Kirner]], who was unable to regain the upper hand despite being personally more popular than Kennett. The Liberals' advantage was strengthened by an important decision taken during Brown's brief tenure as leader—negotiating a [[Coalition (Australia)|Coalition]] agreement with the [[National Party of Australia – Victoria|National Party]]. The Liberals and Nationals have historically had a strained relationship in Victoria; they had sat separately for most of the second half of the 20th century. It had been believed that Kennett had been denied victory in 1988 due to a large number of three-cornered contests in rural seats.

The Coalition went into the [[1992 Victorian state election|October 1992 state election]] as unbackable favourites, having been ahead in opinion polling by large margins for almost two years. They stoked the voters' anger with a series of "Guilty Party" ads, targeting many Labor ministers and highlighting concerns in their portfolios. In the second-largest defeat that a sitting government has ever suffered in Victoria, the Coalition scored a 19-seat swing, attaining a 16-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly. The Liberals won 52 seats, enough for a majority in their own right. Nevertheless, Kennett supported his coalition partner, retaining the Nationals in his cabinet.

====State school closures====
In the first three years of office, funding for public schools and the Department of Education was substantially reduced. 350 government schools were closed, including every Technical High School ("Tech") in Victoria, and 7,000 teaching jobs eliminated.<ref>[http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/000000771.htm STRUGGLE FOR A NEW PUBLIC DEMOCRACY School, Community and the State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917052054/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/000000771.htm |date=17 September 2013 }}, by Tony Knight. Northland Secondary College era 1992 – 1996.</ref> The Tech School closures had a widespread, delayed effect two decades later when a skilled labour shortage in the state was declared by the government, attributable largely to the generation of children who were denied a trade-focused high school education, significantly reducing the number of school leavers commencing trade apprenticeships. The few who did so were insufficient to counterbalance the number of retiring tradespeople in the coming years. This directly resulted in the number of Skilled Migrant (subclass 190) visas being made available each year increasing to 190,000 from 2012<ref>{{cite web | url=https://australmigrate.com/subclass-190-explained/ | title=Australia's Visa Subclass 190 (State Nominated) – Explained! | date=20 July 2019 | access-date=23 November 2022 | archive-date=23 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123175149/https://australmigrate.com/subclass-190-explained/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and an active campaign to entice migrants with trade qualifications to Victoria.

====Public transport====
Other controversial moves included the sacking of 16,000 public transport workers in a major technological upgrade of the system, and the initiation of a major scheme for privatisation of state-owned services, including the electricity ([[State Electricity Commission of Victoria|SECV]]) and gas ([[Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria]]) utilities, the ambulance service, as well as several prisons and other minor services.  The sale of the [[Totalisator Agency Board]] raised $609 million. Between 1995 and 1998, $29 billion of state assets in gas and electricity alone were sold to private enterprise (for statistics, see Parkinson, ''Jeff'', 1999).<ref>http://www.dtf.vic.au/CA25713E0002EF43/WebObj/BP4Final/$File/BPFinal.pdf{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In the wake of these changes, investment and population growth slowly resumed, though [[unemployment]] was to remain above the national average for the duration of Kennett's premiership. While the benefits to the State budget figures were indisputable in the short term, the social and longer-term economic cost of the Kennett reforms have been questioned by many commentators, academics and those who suffered economically through the period of reform.<ref name="crikey.com.au">{{cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2012/07/03/carbon-price-v-privatisation-which-is-worse-in-the-latrobe/|title=Carbon price v privatisation – which is worse in the Latrobe?|date=3 July 2012|access-date=24 June 2016|archive-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825223522/https://www.crikey.com.au/2012/07/03/carbon-price-v-privatisation-which-is-worse-in-the-latrobe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="newsweekly.com.au">{{Cite web | url=http://newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=4292 | title=ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: Privatisation has failed to deliver cheaper electricity | access-date=26 September 2012 | archive-date=1 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501020418/http://newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=4292 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="theage.com.au">{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/1-billion-nightmare-20110121-1a026.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Billion Nightmare | access-date=26 September 2012 | archive-date=15 September 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915185027/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/1-billion-nightmare-20110121-1a026.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/on-track-for-more-of-the-same-20090627-d0ho.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=On track for more of the same | access-date=26 September 2012 | archive-date=27 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127091035/http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/on-track-for-more-of-the-same-20090627-d0ho.html? | url-status=live }}</ref> This campaign of privatisations and cutbacks led to governmental acts of privatisation by splitting up Melbourne's rail ([[Connex Melbourne|Hillside]], [[M-Train|Bayside]], [[V/Line]] and [[West Coast Railway (Victoria)|West Coast Rail]]) and tramways ([[Yarra Trams|Yarra]] and [[M-Tram|Swanston]]) or budget-cutting becoming popularly known as being "Jeffed".<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/Hansard/1997/week06/1825.htm | title=Hansard of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT | access-date=7 January 2014 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230354/http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/Hansard/1997/week06/1825.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/1997/week11/3569.htm | title=Hansard of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT | access-date=7 January 2014 | archive-date=13 April 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413224511/http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/1997/week11/3569.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> He also cut back many regional rail services including [[The Vinelander]] (ran to [[Mildura railway station|Mildura]], services later restored to [[Maryborough railway station, Victoria|Maryborough]] as a regular V/Line service in 2011) and services to [[Leongatha railway station|Leongatha]], [[Bairnsdale railway station|Bairnsdale]] (returned in 2003), [[Dimboola]] (services later returned to [[Ararat railway station|Ararat]] in 2004).

The largest public [[protest]] in Melbourne since the [[Vietnam War]] Moratorium occurred on 10 November 1992, with an estimated 100,000 people marching in opposition to the retrenchment of many workers and the large State budget cutbacks. Kennett was undeterred by this protest, and famously commented that though there were 100,000 outside his office at Parliament that day, there were 4.5 million who stayed at home or at work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2010/12/13-2218-674.html|title=The Mayne Report – The first days of Jeff Kennett|access-date=15 February 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023507/http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2010/12/13-2218-674.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/national/former-labor-leader-steve-bracks-says-the-jeff-kennett-era-was-a-dangerous-time/story-fndo4cq1-1226488529180 | work=Herald Sun | title=Former Labor leader Steve Bracks says the Jeff Kennett era was a dangerous time | date=5 October 2012 | access-date=15 February 2013 | archive-date=4 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004175420/http://www.news.com.au/national/former-labor-leader-steve-bracks-says-the-jeff-kennett-era-was-a-dangerous-time/story-fndo4cq1-1226488529180 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

====High-profile capital works projects====
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}
The Kennett government also embarked on a series of high-profile capital works projects, such as the restoration of [[Parliament House, Melbourne|Parliament House]], construction of a new $250 million [[Melbourne Museum]] and IMAX theatre, and a new $130 million [[Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre]]. Other projects included a $160 million expansion of the [[National Gallery of Victoria]]; $100 million for refurbishment of the State Library of Victoria; $65 million for a new [[Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre]] (MSAC); and $130 million for the construction of a new civic square on the site of the old [[Gas and Fuel Buildings]], to be known as [[Federation Square]].

The relocation of the [[Australian Grand Prix|Formula 1 Grand Prix]] from [[Adelaide]] in 1993 was a particular coup for Kennett, who had worked hard with his friend [[Ron Walker (Australian businessman)|Ron Walker]], the Chairman of the Melbourne Major Events Company, helped deliver Melbourne the hosting rights for the event from Adelaide in 1993.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/grand-prix-got-victoria-on-the-move-again-kennett-20100319-qm8q.html Grand prix got Victoria on the move again: Kennett] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322231536/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/grand-prix-got-victoria-on-the-move-again-kennett-20100319-qm8q.html |date=22 March 2010 }}, By Jason Dowling, 20 March 2010, The Age</ref>

The most controversial project of the Kennett era was the $1.85 billion [[Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex]], a gambling and entertainment centre on Melbourne's [[Southbank, Victoria|Southbank]]. Initial plans for a casino had been made under the Labor government, however the tendering process and construction occurred under Kennett.

A$2 billion project to redevelop Melbourne's derelict [[Docklands, Victoria|Docklands]] area to include a [[Docklands Stadium|new football stadium]] was also undertaken, in addition to the large [[CityLink]] project, a project resurrected from the [[1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan]], aimed at linking Melbourne's freeways, easing traffic problems in the inner city, and reducing commuting times from the outer suburbs to the CBD.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

====Macedonian name dispute====
[[ File:Grand Central apartments, Spencer Street, Melbourne 25.jpg|thumb|Kennett speaking at a event]]
In the mid-1990s, Premier Kennett backed the Greek position over the [[Macedonia naming dispute|Macedonian question]]<ref name="Danforth172"/> in his attempts to shore up local electoral support.<ref name="Jakubowicz3">{{cite conference|last=Jakubowicz|first=Andrew|title=The State, Multiculturalism and Ethnic Leadership in Australia|conference=Joint Seminar – Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Australian Studies Centre, and the Centre for Multicultural Education|page=3|date=26 June 1995|publisher=University of London|url=http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/jakubowicz_5.pdf|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=28 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328194058/http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/jakubowicz_5.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennett's stance gained him supporters from the Melburnian [[Greek Australians|Greek community]], whereas he was referred to as "Kennettopoulos" by the [[Macedonian Australians|Macedonian community]].<ref name="Danforth172">{{cite book|last=Danforth|first=Loring M.|title=The Macedonian conflict: Ethnic nationalism in a transnational world|year=1997|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9780691043562|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkT_DwAAQBAJ&q=Kennett+Macedonian&pg=PA172|page=172}}</ref>

At Kennett's insistence, his state government in 1994 issued its own directive that all its departments refer to the language as "[[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] (Slavonic)" and to [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]] as "Slav Macedonians".<ref name="ClyKip27"/><ref name="Mulheron294">{{harvnb|Mulheron|2020|p=294.}}</ref> Reasons given for the decision were "to avoid confusion", be consistent with federal naming protocols toward Macedonians and repair relations between Macedonian and Greek communities.<ref name="ClyKip27"/><ref name="Mulheron293294">{{cite book|last=Mulheron|first=Rachael|title=Class Actions and Government|year=2020|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781107043978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2dPQDwAAQBAJ&dq=Victorian+premier+Macedonian&pg=PA294|pages=293–294|access-date=19 March 2023|archive-date=24 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824052024/https://books.google.com/books?id=2dPQDwAAQBAJ&dq=Victorian+premier+Macedonian&pg=PA294|url-status=live}}</ref> It was accepted that it would not impact the way Macedonians self identified themselves.<ref name="ClyKip27">{{harvnb|Clyne|Kipp|2006|p=27.}}</ref> The decision upset Macedonians, as they had to use the terms in deliberations with the government or its institutions related to education and public broadcasting.<ref name="ClyKip28">{{harvnb|Clyne|Kipp|2006|p=28.}}</ref> The Macedonian Community challenged the decision on the basis of the [[Racial Discrimination Act 1975|Race Discrimination Act]].<ref name="ClyKip29"/> After years of litigation at the Australian [[Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission]] (HREOC), the [[Australian Federal Court|Federal Court]] and [[Australian Federal Court|High Court]], previous judicial rulings were upheld that found Kennett's directive unlawful as it caused discrimination based on ethnic background and was struck down from usage in 2000.<ref name="ClyKip29">{{cite book|last1=Clyne|first1=Michael G.|last2=Kipp|first2=Sandra|title=Tiles in a Multilingual Mosaic: Macedonian, Filipino and Somali in Melbourne|year=2006|publisher=Pacific Linguistics|isbn=9780858835696|url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/146737/1/578_Clyne%26Kipp.pdf|page=29|access-date=7 July 2022|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625152603/https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/146737/1/578_Clyne%26Kipp.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>