Mr Rudd embarked on a "meet-and-greet" along Sturt St not long after he arrived, shaking hands with locals and dropping in to shops to chat to owners and customers.

The day-long visit, not only for Mr Rudd, but for most of his Cabinet, was an opportunity for Ballarat to parade itself on the national stage as well as sell itself to the nation's top decision-makers.

The visit was a timely chance to put a case and push priorities ahead of the federal election, due sometime this year.

There were no big-ticket announcements, which will disappoint some, but there was ample opportunity for community and business leaders to talk with the power brokers of Government.

That is the beauty of the Government's program of community Cabinet meetings. It brings the politicians to the people.

Yes, there are the obligatory photo opportunities, baby kissings, sod turnings, ribbon cuttings and the like, but it is the business end of the meetings that really matter.

After the community meeting at Ballarat High School last night, where almost 500 people were able to hear the Prime Minister speak and ask questions of him and his team, the ministers broke off for a series of one-on-ones.

We report the thoughts of some of those participants today.

It is easy to be cynical and ask whether these community Cabinet meetings are really about listening to the electorate or more about photo opportunities.

The meeting here yesterday was the Government's 21st since coming to power. It can only be a good things for politicians to be forced out of Canberra and their own electorates to meet and talk with as many constituents as possible.

It is important in a democracy that the people have the opportunity to be heard.

Last night certainly gave them that.

And as we edge our way closer to an election, we will see just how much credence was given to those conversations.