Jess Wilson wraps up 36-day fresh start tour across Victoria

V
ictorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has wrapped up her 36-day Fresh Start Tour with a rally in Bentleigh, bringing together Liberal and National Party supporters, candidates and parliamentarians after visiting every one of Victoria’s 88 state electorates.

The event marked the end of a statewide campaign that saw Wilson travel about 6,000 kilometres, visit 137 suburbs and towns and meet residents across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria.

The tour included electorates held by the Liberal and National parties, Labor-held seats and areas where the Coalition has not previously held representation. According to Wilson, the aim was to hear directly from Victorians regardless of political boundaries.

The Bentleigh rally was attended by party members, volunteers and MPs, with Liberal MP David Southwick welcoming supporters and leading chants of “Jess We Can” as the gathering celebrated the completion of the tour.

Addressing the audience, Wilson reflected on the conversations she had during her travels and said the end of the tour marked the beginning of the next stage of the party’s work.

“The Fresh Start tour has just ended, but it is the start of something much bigger,” she said.

Wilson said the tour reinforced her commitment to leading from within the community by listening to residents and responding to the issues they raised. Throughout the campaign, she met people across a wide range of communities, discussing local concerns and hearing about the challenges facing families, businesses and regional areas.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson addresses supporters at the Bentleigh rally, marking the end of her 36-day Fresh Start Tour across all 88 Victorian electorates

The statewide itinerary took in every electorate in Victoria over just five weeks, making it one of the most extensive tours undertaken by a Victorian Opposition Leader in recent years.

While the tour was organised by the Liberal Party, its purpose was to build engagement across the state rather than focus solely on electorates currently held by the Coalition or those viewed as key election contests. The schedule included visits to long-held Labor seats as well as areas where the Liberal Party has historically had limited electoral success.

Political leaders from all major parties routinely undertake regional and metropolitan tours as they prepare for future election campaigns, using the visits to meet voters, speak with community groups and identify local priorities. Wilson’s statewide approach places an emphasis on broad engagement across Victoria as the Coalition continues to shape its policy agenda ahead of the next state election.

Nationals Leader Danny O’Brien also addressed the Bentleigh rally, thanking supporters, volunteers and organisers for their contribution to the tour and acknowledging the effort involved in completing the 36-day schedule.

The rally brought together candidates, MPs and volunteers who had supported the campaign throughout the state, providing an opportunity to reflect on the tour before attention shifts to the next phase of political campaigning.

Wilson said the experiences and conversations from the past five weeks would help inform the Opposition’s work in the months ahead, as the Coalition continues to present itself as an alternative government for Victoria.