In the great election giveaway now running in Melbourne, Victoria University is on track for a big win if the government is returned. Labor has promised La Trobe and Monash universities stations on a proposed underground rail-line to be built sometime between now and never. But VU is on a promise with a start date (2020) and costings ($200m) for a new hospital at its Footscray Park campus.

“Our partnership with the new hospital will be of major significance for the further development of our already high standing in education and research in the areas of health, biomedicine, exercise and sport,” VC Peter Dawkins says. What odds the case for a VU med school will follow.