Victorian Labor premier Daniel Andrews has accused a powerful union of bullying former emergency services minister Jane Garrett in her election bid for the upper house.
The United Firefighters Union has registered how-to-vote-cards for the Eastern Victoria region for the November 24 poll, directing people to put Ms Garrett last.
"I'll call this out for what it is: yes it's bullying, it's wrong and it should stop," Mr Andrews told reporters at Ararat on Thursday.
"Jane Garrett is an outstanding member of my team, she's in the number one spot in Eastern Victoria and I would call on everyone in those communities to vote for Jane ... she's been a fantastic member of my team in the lower house."
Ms Garrett has a long, tumultuous history with the union.
She quit as emergency services minister in 2016 amid an ongoing battle with the UFU over pay deals and has accused secretary Peter Marshall of bullying and intimidation.
Mr Marshall on Thursday admitted registering the anti-Garrett card but added "the UFU does not intend to prosecute its use in the upcoming Victorian state election".
"Professional career firefighters in Victoria value the Andrews Government. In the 2014 State election over 700 firefighters gave up their personal time to attend polling booths on election day," his statement reads.
However, he accused Ms Garrett of previously leading "regressive attacks" on firefighters and the "UFU is disappointed that some within the union movement continue to support her campaign in a breathtaking display of hypocrisy given her anti-union stance with Victoria's professional firefighters".
"While the Union will not be prosecuting the how-to-vote card it is intended that a public campaign will expose the mistruths and misinformation surrounding this matter and in particular expose the untruths that Garrett has relied upon."
Mr Andrews' hit back at the UFU while in Ararat on Thursday, when he promised $100 million for regional hospitals if re-elected.
The promise includes $3.9 million for the refurbishment of the pathology and radiology departments at the Ararat Hospital, in the marginal, Liberal-held seat of Ripon.
It's Mr Andrews' third visit to western Victoria in three days and he told reporters he "loved this part of Victoria ... it's a special part of our state".
In an Australian-first policy of its type, Labor is also promising free pads and tampons in public primary and secondary school bathrooms.
"I don't want girls and young women to go through what can often be very embarrassing, very challenging (situations) for them."
The Department of Education and Training will work with schools to determine the best way to dispense the items.
Similar moves have happened in the United States and Scotland.
Australian Associated Press
