With the announcement that Australians would go to the polls on August 21, Mr Brown said he was needed in Canberra and did not visit central Victoria on Saturday to launch the campaign of Kymberlie Dimozantos, Australian Greens candidate for the federal seat of Bendigo.

Instead, Greens senate candidate Richard Di Natale was left to do the honours.

“I feel like you’ve all bought tickets to see the Beatles and you’ve got the Wiggles,” he said.

Dr Di Natale said Ms Dimozantos would make a great candidate and a great voice for Bendigo.

“She’s a smart, warm and enthusiastic person,’’ he said.

“We also have the chance to get our first Victorian Greens senator elected.

“If we do achieve that and get the balance of power in the senate after this election, that will be a brand-new political landscape for this country.”

Mr Brown said the feedback he had been given was that there were good Green candidates right across regional Victoria.

“Farmers know that we need to seriously tackle climate change because the predictions are that there will be less and less rainfall in the future.’’

Mr Brown said he would visit Bendigo before the end of the year.

Ms Dimozantos is up against Liberal candidate Craig Hunter and Labor member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons.

Ms Dimozantos said she wasn’t fazed by Mr Brown’s no-show and she was ready for the election.

“He’s in Canberra, where he needs to be,” she said.

“This is a great area and I think people are looking for fresh and positive change.

“We need to take a smarter approach to water use and provide real government incentives to save water.

“It’s about clean air, fresh water and a quality preventative health system that is accessible to all.

“However, it’s not just about creating a green future, but rather creating jobs and opportunity that this region sorely needs.

“Bring on the election.”