Jacinta Allan addressed party faithful at Labor's Victorian state conference on Saturday, unveiling plans to fund a new generation of apprentices to address significant workforce shortages.
Doing so, she drew on the experience of her father, Peter Allan, who worked as a linesman at the State Electricity Commission.
The commission was revived by former premier Daniel Andrews in 2023 after it was privatised during Liberal Jeff Kennett's time as premier in the 1990s.
Mr Allan lost his job as a result of the commission's commercialisation.
"The SEC was a skilled job for life - then the Liberals got elected," Ms Allan said.
"Workers (were) cut and it was all smashed in a heartbeat. Kennett didn't respect the lineys and sparkies. He didn't rate them. He saw them as expenses, not people."
Mr Allan was also awarded life membership of the party on Saturday.
"This is a pretty good day for us," he said, shedding a tear for a moment.
Also on hand for Saturday's event, Anthony Albanese described Melbourne as Labor's "heartland" to plenty of cheers and roars.
Unsurprisingly backing-in Labor ahead of the November election, the prime minister said Victoria's strength defined its government.
"JA loves this state, from the growing region she calls home to the great global city her infrastructure has transformed," Mr Albanese said.
"And that's why with your help and hard work and dedication and passion, Labor will win again."
A stone's throw away, federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, alongside alternative premier candidate Jess Wilson, attended the Liberal Party state council on Saturday.
Ms Wilson, in her address, said she would revive a 2022 election commitment to direct 25 per cent of all new Victorian government infrastructure spending to regional projects if the coalition won.
Recent reputable polls indicate the coalition holds a slight edge over Labor on a two-party-preferred basis as support for One Nation rises.
Ms Wilson also leads Ms Allan as preferred premier, according to Resolve Strategic's latest bi-monthly poll.
Overall, though, the opposition has a mountain to climb, needing a net gain of 16 seats to form a majority and end 12 consecutive years of Labor rule.
Rank-and-file ALP members were expected to debate motions later on Saturday encouraging MPs to commit to halting the demolition of Melbourne's remaining 44 public housing towers, and handing probationary licences to 17-year-olds.
Liberal members are also slated to debate a possible promise to halt the towers' demolition.
They want the government's reasons for demolishing and redeveloping the sites reviewed and potentially revised in a bid to boost housing options for Victoria's most disadvantaged.
Labor's two-day state conference in 2024 was overshadowed by pro-Palestine protesters storming the venue, delaying speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Allan.
The Albanese government joined more than 150 countries to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state at the United Nations in September.
A group of Labor members has subsequently put forward resolutions calling for state and further federal action to uphold international law, protect human rights and support a pathway to lasting peace.
"Members are now asking what practical action comes next," Victorian convenor of Labor Friends of Palestine Oliver van Ingen said.
A draft motion, seen by AAP, calls for the state conference to strongly condemn the US and Israel's wars of aggression against Iran and Lebanon.
Others call for governments to tackle anti-Semitism and other forms of racism and mourn the loss of 15 innocent lives in the Bondi terrorist attack.
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