Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Ministers statements: growth areas infrastructure

Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (14:43): On this side of the house we believe more homes means more opportunities, and that is why we are supporting Victorian families with the infrastructure and services that make our fastest growing suburbs better places to live, like new schools, health services, public transport and of course road upgrades as well. Our $400 million investment from the growth areas infrastructure contribution fund included over $150 million for bus services across Melbourne’s north, Melbourne’s west and Melbourne’s south-east. I know the members for Bass, Cranbourne and Pakenham are very excited about the new and extended bus routes that we are delivering, as should the member for Berwick be. And of course who could ever forget the member for Werribee? He knows the importance of buses and connections to the rail corridor, and that is what we are delivering for his communities in the Harpley and Cornerstone estates. Only a Labor government can invest in better buses, with over 20,000 new services per week delivered to date by this Andrews and Allan Labor government. And, believe me, we are not done yet. We all know what happens when those opposite have their hands on the wheel. We saw that with what they did with Fishermans Bend –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, if I can refer you to Speaker Brooks’s ruling in relation to attacks on the opposition on page 160 of Rulings from the Chair, that is exactly what the minister was doing, which is out of order.

Jacinta Allan: On the point of order, Speaker, I was sitting right next to the minister while she was making her contribution, and I could barely hear her given the wall of noise that was coming and the disrespect that was being shown by those opposite, so I fail to see how the member for Brighton could make such a point of order given he could have barely heard the answer.

The SPEAKER: I remind members and ministers that a ministers statement is not an opportunity to attack the opposition. I was also struggling to hear the minister on her feet. The minister to continue, without assistance.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: By way of comparison, we saw what they did with Fishermans Bend: a botched rezoning and a complete failure to plan for public transport services.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to her ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: When it comes to buses under Liberal governments, the wheels do not go round and round, but we know their leadership sure does. On this side of the house we are focused on building more homes and more –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister has defied you twice.

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to her ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: On this side of the house we are focused on building more homes and more opportunities.