Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Ministers statements: cost of living

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:50): I am pleased to update the house on the direct and practical action our government is taking to support families and to provide real cost-of-living relief for families right across the state, particularly after that impact that has been felt in every household and in businesses across the country from those repeated interest rate rises. We understood that we had a decision to make about what we could do to provide support for families.

Let me give a few examples and start with free kinder. Free kinder is not only great for kids – getting them into kinder – but also for mums and dads it saves $2500 per child. Then as the kids get a bit older there is also cutting the costs of student travel through the conveyance allowance for regional students. In the energy space, the energy minister is a busy, busy minister, with electricity discounts, utility relief grants, winter gas discounts and the Victorian default offer just to name a few. If you want to take the kids to the zoo or the museum, that is free as well. Then as the Minister for Education and Deputy Premier has already talked about, we have school breakfasts and the school camps and excursions fund, and then we have got the prep bags, the baby bundles and the kinder bags all for our littlest Victorians.

For those of us in regional Victoria, we just love that the price of a train fare in regional Victoria is the same as in metropolitan Melbourne. You can get on a train in Geelong, you can get on a train in Goornong or you could get on a train in Gippsland on the lines that we have reopened and you will all pay the same as a metro fare. I could go on –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: I knew that would get them. Just like the little anglers kits, we have been out fishing and we got some opposition bait. We got you on the bait. We will continue to provide support to Victorian families because we understand that is the role we can play.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I note that the Greens now have the capacity to come back into the chamber and one of them is listed down for a constituency question now. I appreciate that you are taking the matter into your hands outside the chamber, but it concerns me that some 10 minutes after this behaviour they have the capacity to come into this chamber again.

The SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, as you well know, I am in the chair until constituency questions are over, and I have indicated that I will speak to the Greens members when I am out of the chair. Until such time as I do, they can be back in the chamber for their constituency questions.

Jade Benham: On a point of order, Speaker, to follow up on some outstanding questions and adjournment matters: 877, 821, 820, 757, 629, 582, 462 and 402. All are very well and truly overdue, so some follow-up would be appreciated.

Annabelle Cleeland: On a point of order, Speaker, I too have some overdue responses to questions on notice. I currently have 44 overdue questions on notice – I beat the member for Mildura – so while I hope the ministers enjoyed a summer holiday, I am still awaiting responses from the Attorney-General and the ministers for climate action, housing, emergency services, education, environment, children, transport and infrastructure, public and active transport, skills and TAFE, and health. My oldest question is 291 days old now and addresses crucial questions about housing availability in my region. The numbers include 256, 508 – no, I am joking. I will hand it to the Clerk.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, constituency question 428 was asked to the Minister for Environment about the Silvan Reservoir dam and concerns about that being closed still. That is some 55 days overdue, so I would really appreciate a response on behalf of my constituents.

Kim Wells: On a point of order, Speaker, I have a number of questions on notice that are still outstanding: 807, 814, 806, 813, 812, 811, 810, 809, 808 and – the last one – 815. I would appreciate if you could follow those up, please.

The SPEAKER: I ask members to hand their lists to the Clerk.