Wednesday, 30 October 2024

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:40): My question is to the Premier. Over the past year Victoria recorded negative real wage growth. Why are Victorian workers financially worse off under this Labor Premier?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:40): In order to take home a pay packet, you have got to have a job. To have a job under this government, it means working in our hospitals, in our schools and on our transport projects. We know those opposite have a plan to cut frontline services, and we know they have a plan to cut the jobs on the Suburban Rail Loop as well.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: This is an important point because the plan was revealed today for cuts and closures by those opposite, but when it comes to the action of our government to support wages growth, we are working with our great, hardworking public servants, who have been a bit of a feature of the conversation this afternoon. When it comes to our own workforce, I refer the –

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker: relevance.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was asked about wages growth, and when it comes to working with our own workforce, I refer the member to the enterprise bargaining agreement outcome where we have backed our nurses. We have backed our nurses really hard by supporting them with a 28 per cent pay increase over the life of their agreement. That is an example –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Berwick! The member for Sunbury can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Sunbury withdrew from chamber.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the Premier is answering a question that was not asked. It was about why Victorian workers have recorded negative real wage growth in this economy.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, there is no point of order. The Premier was being entirely relevant to the question, which asked about wages growth. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked. I cannot direct the Premier how to answer the question, but she was being relevant.

Jacinta ALLAN: I will say this to Victorian workers: we will continue to back you and be on your side, particularly when it comes to supporting the frontline services Victorian families and workers rely on – unlike those opposite, who always look for the chance to cut.

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:43): After 10 long years of Labor, Victorians’ real household disposable income has fallen. Why are Victorians poorer now than they were before Labor was elected?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:44): It is challenging to answer a question that does not provide any evidence for the claim that is being made in the member’s question. So in answering the question, I will say to the member for Sandringham that in terms of supporting households here in Victoria we are absolutely focused on supporting households with a range of cost-of-living relief and support. We know and acknowledge that households in Victoria, as they are around the country, are doing it tough as a consequence of successive interest rate rises and the inflationary pressures that are being felt on households right around the country. That is why we are rolling out right now the school saving bonus, free kinder and free TAFE – practical supports that are providing support for those households who, yes, I acknowledge are doing it tough. In our government, we are going to back them and support them.