Labor hopes its big-spending, Bendigo-specific funding priorities will win over voters, while the Coalition has placed its emphasis on “trust” in government to deliver services.

Maree Edwards, incumbent Labor MP for Bendigo West, said she wanted to provide a voice to communities in her electorate, which she hoped was reflected in the party’s policies.

“It’s about listening to the communities you serve and being able to deliver for them,” she said.

“If you can’t promise anything, then you’re not listening to the communities.”

Ms Edwards said the lack of Bendigo-specific promises from the Coalition demonstrated “a lack of engagement with the community”.

The Bendigo Advertiser has tracked the priorities of the major parties.

Check out our interactive list of policies below:

But Nationals candidate for Bendigo East Gaelle Broad said there was more to campaigning than big-ticket spending promises.

“With Labor, they have been putting out billions and billions of dollars across the state. The real question is that there is no clarity on how they can fund these promises," she said.

“The important thing for Victoria is to have a government we can trust.”

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Ms Broad said her campaign relied on “grassroots” support and she felt positive of a good result at the polling booths.

Candidate numbers in the two Bendigo electorates has been lower than in past elections, with six in Bendigo East and four in Bendigo West.

Castlemaine-based lawyer Marilyn Nuske is running for the Animal Justice Party in Bendigo West.

She said as a minor party it was important to articulate their values, which can then be applied to government policy.

“Of course we have policies such as the banning of duck shooting in wetlands, banning live animal exports and ending jumps racing,” Ms Nuske said.

“We approach each matter that would come before the parliament with these values in mind: kindness, equality, rationalist and non-violence.

“The decisions we make are adopted by using those values.”

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