Constituency questions
Eastern Victoria Region
Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (12:42): (577) My question is for the Treasurer. Last week I hosted a town hall meeting on the Mornington Peninsula where people young and old turned out to talk about housing and the cost of living. This is part of a bigger conversation about addressing inequality in our community and ensuring that Victorians have a fair go and get a fair chance in life. The belief that everyone should be treated fairly and given the right to live a fulfilling life is one of the best things about this country. Talking to constituents, this aspect of Aussie culture is deeply cherished by those lucky enough to live in Eastern Victoria. Inequality threatens the fair go, and it also shows up in specific issues like housing affordability, the housing shortage and homelessness. There is no silver bullet for this issue, but proactive policy has a real impact on people’s lives in addressing issues including inequality and the cost of living. Treasurer, what steps is the government taking to reduce economic inequality in Victoria, and what is the government doing to put downward pressure on the cost of living?