Opposition Leader Matthew Guy insists he wants Prime Minister Scott Morrison at his side during the Victorian election campaign, even though the two men have kept their distance so far.

Mr Guy visited Ballarat on Monday to spruik the Coalition’s promised cut to regional payroll tax, from 2.425 per cent to 1 per cent, which would be the lowest rate in Australia.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy and his campaign bus. Jason South

Mr Morrison was also in Victoria, two hours’ drive away at the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, where he announced $154 million in Commonwealth funding for a Geelong "city deal".

Mr Morrison, whose government has fallen further behind Labor according to a new opinion poll, was also a no-show at the Coalition's election campaign launch in Ivanhoe on Sunday.

But Mr Guy said he needed Mr Morrison and his ministers to join him over the next month.

“I need him involved and I’ll be having him involved,” he said, although he admitted he did not know if a first joint appearance had been organised.

“I think the federal Liberals will help our campaign,” Mr Guy said.

“That’s why I am going to get our Population Minister [Alan Tudge], our Treasurer [Josh Frydenberg] and other ministers to help Melbourne, help Victoria to decentralise our population and grow all of our state.”

Mr Morrison also said he was sure the two would cross paths during the campaign and that he wished Mr Guy all the best.

"I'm on the campaign trail for the re-election of our government," the Prime Minster said.

He added: "I'm not Victorian so I don't pretend to tell Victorians what the issues are in Victoria."

However, he went on to criticise the Andrews government on its handling of crime, referring to Mr Guy's law and order campaign message.

"I will say this as the son of a policeman in what is called the police force in NSW, it's one of the things I do note when I come to Victoria is the difference when it comes to law and order," Mr Morrison said.

"I live in a city in Sydney that has all the same, if not more, of the challenges that big cities face ... What I can't understand in Victoria is why the Victorian government hasn't been able to put in place the law and order support policies ... that make NSW a much safer state than Victoria."

The state opposition visited Findlay Engineering in Ballarat to plug its tax promise.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Education Minister Dan Tehan at the Twelve Apostles on Monday. The Standard

The business is located in Ripon, the Liberals' most marginal seat, which it took from Labor in 2014.

The promised cut to payroll tax in regional Victoria would deliver a significant hit to the state budget, perhaps above $100 million a year, Mr Guy said.

But it was a necessary hit to encourage regional businesses to invest and to hire more staff.

“It might in the good years be more than $100 million in terms of revenue but I understand that we have to take a hit because the government has to invest back into country and regional Victoria,” he said.

Managing director Chris Findlay estimated he would save about $3500 a month if the regional payroll tax rate was cut to 1 per cent.

“It gives you confidence to invest in future projects, equipment, that sort of thing,” he said.

Meanwhile, the $154 million Geelong city deal will include funding for an overhaul of tourist infrastructure along the Shipwreck Coast in south-west Victoria.

Tourism facilities along Victoria's iconic Great Ocean Road is set to be upgraded as part of a $154 million funding program announced by Scott Morrison.

Mr Morrison said the deal would support the visitor economy.

“Every year, more than 6 million people drive along the Great Ocean Road and 2 million visit the Twelve Apostles,” he said.

“But we don’t want people just day-tripping from Melbourne, we want them staying the night at a local hotel, eating dinner at the local pub, and buying coffee in the morning at a local cafe.”

The deal includes $58 million for the Shipwreck Coast master plan, up to $12 million to upgrade Apollo Bay Harbour and up to $10 million to help fund a new ferry terminal at Queenscliff.

Deputy Premier James Merlino and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on city deals in January.

With Tim Piggot, The Standard