Health and education are likely, as they usually are, to be major vote-winners on November 27.

While much of what Labor leader Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday was to be expected, it was perhaps the announcement of new technical schools that was designed to wedge the Coalition government.

Labor has run long and hard in the past four years on changes to TAFE funding which has ultimately seen the closure of courses – dozens in Ballarat alone.

The community had already made the connection that changes in TAFE would impact technical skills. It took Labor little time to help join the dots on Sunday with a package big on promising to make Victorians better equipped to work and prosper locally.

The government had little choice on Monday but to match Labor’s pledge on funding to upgrade existing Catholic and independent schools, particularly those in lower socio-economic areas.

For an election campaign which has so far spluttered on a visionary level – the major statewide talking point has been over a Melbourne highway project – Labor has thrust a major stake in the ground.

One senses, however, that the government is yet to fire any major policy announcements. While it has made hundreds of smaller specific announcements, outside of its transport priorities there remains scope to make up ground in the final month.

According to the polls, that ground to make up is immense. Across the board, pollsters have Labor with a two- to three-point lead, enough to give it a comfortable majority.

However, Premier Denis Napthine’s team is running strong in regional areas where a number of marginal seats are up for grabs. 

It’s in these seats where health and education are even more pertinent.

Whichever party stands as the most reputable to deliver in these areas is most likely to claim victory later next month.