Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Responses

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (19:24): The member for Eildon raised a matter for the Minister for Health to sort out patient transport in and out of Alexandra for those who need dialysis in Seymour, and I will pass that matter on.

The member for Tarneit is a very strong supporter of our sport of racing and the jobs that it creates, and I want to thank the member for Tarneit for his matter. I would be very pleased to visit the Werribee racecourse and Racing Victoria’s international quarantine centre with him to see the wonderful contribution that racing is making to our community in Melbourne’s west.

The Allan Labor government of course is a big supporter of racing and the industry right throughout Victoria and understands the contribution that the industry is making to jobs, to the economy and to the local community. The Victorian racing industry generates some $4.7 billion in economic activity across the state. Not only that, but it sustains some 34,900 full-time equivalent jobs locally every year. My friend the member for Tarneit also noted that thoroughbred racing alone contributes some $3.4 billion to the economy annually – 25,000 jobs across our state. Critically $1.17 billion of that economic activity is generated in regional Victoria, where the industry supports some 9000 full-time equivalent jobs. I know our regional MPs across the chamber understand the value of the racing industry and the sport for jobs and tourism investment right across our regions. $1.3 billion and nearly 10,000 of those jobs are generated out of Melbourne, which includes the Werribee racecourse.

That is why our government is committed to providing some $87 million during this term to support our Victorian Racing Industry Fund and our Major Racing Events Fund. That fund supports racing clubs and controlling bodies, state-of-the-art training and racing infrastructure and events for marketing and delivery of support for those promotions and supports country clubs to maintain their customer facilities to the highest standards to keep people coming back and generate local revenue at clubs. It has been a very popular program, with grants of up to $100,000 out of that fund. We have also seen the support for breeding and the sales sector and of course for ensuring the welfare of our participants, human and equine, the industry’s number one priority. We have got to look after the jockeys that make it happen. They are very courageous and brave and very talented, but for them, their families and our horses, we want to make sure their welfare comes first.

Of course the Werribee International Horse Centre and the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee have been very important components of the industry’s support of animal welfare. The quarantine centre is also an essential part of ensuring the ongoing participation in our biggest and best races of horses from all over the world. The appeal of the Melbourne and Caulfield cups and the Cox Plate on the international stage is a testament to the quality and prestige of the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival. I very much look forward to joining the member for Tarneit at Werribee. I am sure he is gearing up for a big Werribee Cup in December.

The member for Morwell raised a matter for the Attorney-General in the other place to increase the stop-and-search powers of Victoria Police members, and he related the matters of an assault in his electorate. I will be sure to pass those matters on. The member for Pakenham raised a matter for the Minister for Water seeking an update around coordinating what Melbourne Water’s work is around the cultural safety plans for the Beaconsfield dam project. She went into the details of that project, which is important in her electorate. The member for South-West Coast raised a matter for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety with regard to a Geelong cardiologist who she believes is risking his life on the roads to provide healthcare services to locals across the south-west. The member for Laverton raised a matter for the Minister for Public and Active Transport seeking an update on the bus route between Tarneit and Laverton North. The member for Warrandyte raised a matter for the Attorney-General in the other place seeking the extension of the consultation period with regard to changes to the anti-vilification laws, which I know she has worked extremely hard on in her leadership role and her work with stakeholders and the community. I will be sure to pass that on to the Attorney.

The member for Clarinda raised a matter for the Minister for Education and Deputy Premier seeking the latest update on the grants programs and how they are affecting communities in his electorate with regard to VACAP, the Victorian African Communities Action Plan. As a past chair of VACAP along with the member for Sunbury and the member for Footscray, I know it does amazing work. I give a shout-out to the Somali community in my own electorate in West Heidelberg. I know the member for Clarinda has a significant community, and that program is providing a lot of great results. The member for Lowan raised a matter for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place to fund the replacement of CFA fire trucks aged over 30 years. The member for Point Cook raised a matter for the Minister for Children in the other place to join him at Jamieson Way Community Centre, which is providing great services to local families in his mighty electorate of Point Cook.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Correct weight, Minister for Racing. The house stands adjourned until tomorrow.

House adjourned 7:30 pm.