Thursday, 17 October 2024

 Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Employment. In the last 12 ‍months Victoria’s share of Australia’s insolvencies in the accommodation and food services industry increased to 29 per cent. With almost 600 hospitality businesses in Victoria closing, how many jobs were lost?

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Employment) (14:30): I thank the member for the question. This is the first one I have had in 12 months, so that is pretty good. This is an economy in this state that is working hard, and that is also our businesses. We have got more business investment coming into this state, at 6 per cent, than any other state or territory in our nation. We have got employment levels at almost record highs for participation –

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker: relevance.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, I ask that you rule the point of order out of order. The minister was being directly relevant to the question. She was asked a question as Minister for Employment, she is talking about the number of jobs that have been created in this state and she is less than 30 seconds into her question.

Bridget Vallence: Further to the point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was not about foreign investment; the question was about job losses. Could you ask the minister to be relevant.

The SPEAKER: The minister has had less than 30 seconds in her response. I ask the minister to come back to the question that was asked.

Vicki WARD: I do have to say I am surprised that those opposite are afraid of international investment coming into this state. I can tell you that on this side of the chamber we are not, so that point of order I find to be quite extraordinary.

We have got fantastic things happening in this state, and we have got businesses that are flourishing. We also have services that are here within our government to support those businesses who may be struggling, and I know the Minister for Small Business does an extraordinary job in supporting businesses in our state.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, again on relevance, the question was very direct about the 600 hospitality and accommodation services businesses that have closed. How many jobs were lost as a result of those closures?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Eureka can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Eureka withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: A point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question. She was being relevant to the question that was asked, but I do ask the minister to take heed of the question that was asked.

Vicki WARD: It is absolutely true that hospitality workers play a fundamental role in our community, and we do a lot on this side of the chamber to support that workforce and to support the work that they do. When we have major events happening in this state that generate over $3.8 billion in our economy, we know that hundreds of thousands of hospitality jobs are created in our state, and the people work incredibly hard in that industry.

 Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (14:34): I will take that one as not being answered. Simon Kouba started his first pizza business in Melbourne five years ago. His payroll tax bill has skyrocketed by 25 ‍per cent. He has described it as:

… basically an anti-employment tax. The more people we hire, the more tax we pay …

Has the minister advocated to the Treasurer to slash payroll tax in order to save hospitality jobs?

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Employment) (14:34): I thank the shadow minister for her question. Considering that we have increased the payroll tax threshold, that it is now up towards $1 million from $900,000 and that businesses generating I think it is around about $3.5 million a year – she may wish to check that with the Treasurer – are paying payroll tax, I am really not quite sure what it is that the shadow minister is trying to get to when an extraordinary number of small businesses in our state are not paying payroll tax.

The SPEAKER: Before the minister commences, I acknowledge in the gallery former MP Barry Steggall.