Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Ministers statements: government achievements

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:44): On this side of the house we stand for Victorians, we stand with Victorians and we are building for Victoria’s future. We are delivering for Victorians, and we want to support Victorians in work to succeed. But we know not everyone in this house shares that same passion for building for Victoria’s future, for backing Victorians. We know some love spending more time in Queensland than they do here in Victoria. We know that same person also enjoys getting his marching orders from Queensland as well.

On this side of the house, as we back Victorians with those projects that are building for Victoria’s future, we are also investing in those vital frontline services. Whether it is in our world-class hospitals, whether it is in our TAFEs or whether is it is in our schools, we are investing in those areas that families and working people need their government backing every day to succeed. Also there are those important projects that are underway, including the Suburban Rail Loop. I remind the Leader of the Opposition that work is underway. Memo to the Leader of the Opposition: work is underway. There is also the Metro Tunnel. Memo to the Leader of the Opposition: not a dollar for this project, because Peter Dutton sat at the cabinet table and blocked Victoria and took money off Victoria for this project.

Of course you can visit any community in this state and see this investment in action. The community of Berwick had a visitor yesterday. A visitor from Queensland went to Berwick yesterday. Who knew that the Leader of the Opposition had the federal Leader of the Opposition in his own backyard? They could have talked about expanding the Casey Hospital, removing the Clyde Road level crossing –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, in relation to the ruling that you made at the commencement of question time, the Premier is clearly talking hypotheticals now.

Jacinta ALLAN: On the point of order, Speaker, the federal Leader of the Opposition was in Berwick yesterday, and I am not sure that that is a hypothetical. I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition is not across the detail; I am a little surprised his Manager of Opposition Business is not as well.

The SPEAKER: It is inappropriate to talk about potential funding announcements that could or might have been made.

Jacinta ALLAN: If the two leaders of the opposition got together in Berwick, they could have talked about removing the Clyde Road level crossing, the investment in Clyde North police station, upgrading Thompsons Road – a whole range of projects –

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, again in relation to the ruling that you made at the commencement of question time, the Premier is alluding to things that are hypothetical, and I would ask you to ask her – in relation to your ruling that you were very clear about at the commencement of question time – to desist.

Jacinta ALLAN: On this point of order, Speaker, it is a fact that Labor has invested in Casey Hospital, the Clyde Road level crossing, upgrading Thompsons Road and a new police station in Clyde North. These are not hypotheticals. They would not exist under a Liberal government, because it is only Labor governments that make these investments.

The SPEAKER: Premier, that was not really a point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.