Ms Knight’s campaign was officially launched by leader of the opposition Daniel Andrews on Saturday. 

Mr Andrews also announced that if Labor was successful at the polls on November 29, he would provide $2 million to Delacombe Primary School. 

About 100 avid Labor supporters donned red shirts at Ballarat Trades Hall to support their candidate. 

Ms Knight said her close ties to the community should stand in her favour during the campaign. 

“I know the community, I listen to my community, I have been a member of this community for a long time,” she said. 

“My background is in community services, so I have spent a long time working with some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Ms Knight said creating jobs, improving access to healthcare and providing education were the focus of her campaign. 

“I understand the way to support all of our community is to make sure everyone who can work has access to a job in their own town,” she said. 

“We must make sure people have access to healthcare when they need it and we have to make sure people can get to work on time.”

Ms Knight said she was excited by Labor’s pre-election promise to provide $2 million to Delacombe Primary School. 

“I’m really passionate about education and very, very excited about the announcement,” she said. 

“It is what the Delacombe community absolutely deserves and the families and staff who work so hard.”

Mr Andrews said he had faith in Ms Knight as a candidate.

“She is a person of compassion, of action, a person of clarity in terms of her values and things that she stands for and the things she would stand against,” Mr Andrews 

“I am sure that will carry her and Labor to victory in Wendouree.”

Ms Knight will be vying for the seat against Liberal candidate Craig Coltman and Greens candidate Alice Barnes. 

The state seats of Ballarat East and Ballarat West have been abolished in a redrawing of electoral boundaries and will be replaced by Buninyong and Wendouree.

kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au