Members statements
Government performance
Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (09:37): Victoria has taken the wooden spoon when it comes to doing business in this state under the Premier, with a fail at every single level—the highest taxes in the nation, red tape like you would not believe and a public sector that has blown out. And I tell you what, businesses are leaving and people are leaving because this government has absolutely failed. A report today by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry shows that this state is absolutely a basket case under the Andrews Labor government. It is even in events, with the likes of New South Wales trying to steal the Melbourne Cup because Victoria is not the place to be. It is the place to leave under the Premier. It is a disgrace. We need to bring people back. We need to bring business back. At the moment the CBD is an absolute ghost town—no-one is in the CBD at the moment. We have got disgraceful rules. No-one is going to wear a mask at their desk. It is time to remove the mask rules. It is time to lift restrictions. It is time to get workers back and lift the mandates. Enough is enough.
We all are doing our bit in this state. This government has failed this state. It is time for Victoria to get on with things. It is time for the state to start to grow and rebuild this great state—not have a state that is a basket case, under a Premier that does not care. The Premier has turned his back on all Victorians. Again he has done a captain’s call when it comes to overriding ATAGI in terms of having visitors come to this state. People are leaving this state. Visitors will not come here. They will go to other places because in Victoria we have more restrictions than any other state. Victoria is a basket case under the Premier.