The Andrews government has already warned Victorians to brace for a budget of hard choices, but the equation will be even more difficult without their preferred candidate in The Lodge.

Billions in promised spending on infrastructure and schools funding will no longer flow their way.

Victorian Labor has taken a bluntly partisan line in its dealings with the Morrison government, hoping and probably expecting that the war of attrition would help get Bill Shorten over the line.

A dejected Premier Daniel Andrews, pictured in the ABC Melbourne studios on Sunday. Credit:Luis Ascui

It framed its decision to defer the state budget until after the election as one driven by the “vastly superior offering” Shorten’s team had made for Victoria compared with what Mr Morrison’s administration put on the table.