Thursday, 17 August 2023

Ministers statements: housing supply

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:46): There are time limits – there was no more time on the clock. Otherwise I could have kept going, regaling everybody about how good a job the minister is doing.

In any event, I am pleased to rise to talk about yesterday’s national cabinet meeting, where in the first instance, and almost regardless of the outcome – it was a very solid outcome, and I will come back to that – almost regardless of the billions of dollars in extra money for housing, it is so refreshing to have a national cabinet chaired by someone who knows where Victoria is. That is a good thing. Albo is from Sydney, but he is not just for Sydney, and is the first Prime Minister – well, Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison, at least those three – that has actually known where Victoria is, and he is determined to run a proper national government for every Australian in every part of our country. The contrast between, say, robodebt arrangements of recent times and yesterday’s meeting could not be stronger.

Members interjecting.

Daniel ANDREWS: If you want to reflect on members of your party and various IBAC reports and bags of cash, go right ahead. Down at Subway restaurants with members of your political party – maybe they were respected members of your political party, I do not know.

In any event, billions of dollars to build millions of houses is absolutely critically important. Residential tenancy reforms – I must say, I do not want to reflect on all my other national cabinet colleagues, but it is fair to say every other jurisdiction is raising their residential tenancy standards to Victoria’s level. What is more, can I also say that the degree of confidence around the room about meeting these targets – well, Victoria’s level was justifiably the highest level of confidence. We will deliver these targets and we will be eligible for bonus payments, and that is a fantastic outcome. While some keep yapping on and talking and making noise, we will keep making progress in delivering housing for all Victorians.

The SPEAKER: Question time has ended. We will move to constituency questions.

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, I wish to draw your attention to a number of outstanding questions on notice that I have lodged. Some of them are almost five months overdue, and I would greatly appreciate some follow-up. These are questions 152 to the Attorney-General, 154 to the Minister for Emergency Services, 273 to the Minister for Education, 401 to the Minister for Environment and 433 to the Minister for Housing. It would be greatly appreciated if you could follow those up.

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, I have an outstanding constituency question. It is number 214.

The SPEAKER: That will be followed up.