Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Ministers statements: rural and regional housing

Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development) (14:41): With an unprecedented number of Victorians choosing to make regional Victoria their home, I rise to update the house on crucial investments being made by the Andrews Labor government to boost local housing for local workers. Last year I announced our government’s $5 million regional workforce pilots, which address housing as a key factor in workforce shortages in five regions across our state.

It was fantastic to be in the Corangamite shire in January to turn the sod on our $2 million investment in building essential infrastructure that will deliver up to 140 residential blocks for the people of Timboon and Simpson. Our Robinvale pilot in the seat of Mildura is addressing the shortfall in housing for workers with an investment of half a million dollars towards building much-needed accommodation in that area. And that is not all. We have also amended the Victoria planning provisions to make it easier for farmers to invest in on-farm accommodation for workers without the need for a planning permit. Our seasonal workers accommodation program has also invested $3.1 million to deliver COVID-safe accommodation, transport and support workers to more than 2000 workers who are working in our horticulture industry.

These initiatives complement the Andrews Labor government’s unprecedented investment in our $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, which is constructing more than 12 000 new homes throughout the state, with a massive $1.25 billion being invested in regional Victoria. The Andrews Labor government is committed to ensuring workers in our regions have the housing and infrastructure they need to ensure that regional Victoria remains the best place to live, work and invest.

Mr Tilley: On a point of order, Speaker, I would like to follow up on an overdue constituency question from last September. It is about elective surgery, so it is following on perhaps as a parable of what has been going on with public health. It is question 6011, and it was asked of the Minister for Health on 15 September last year and is now 118 days overdue. I would just like you to get the minister to address that.

The SPEAKER: I will raise that matter with the minister.

Ms Ryan: On a further point of order, Speaker, I have a number of questions that are overdue, some dating back to May last year: questions 5883, 6070–2, 6184–5, 6050, all to the Minister for Health. I also have a number outstanding to the Attorney-General: 6222–5. I have one outstanding for the Minister for Public Transport: 6271. And I have one further for the Minister for Health, an adjournment: 6168.

The SPEAKER: I will follow those matters up and come back to the member.

Mr T Bull: On a point of order, Speaker, I too have some outstanding questions, and mine date back to November 2020; we are now in 2022. Minister at the table, the Minister for Public Transport, they are not yours. There are a number from the middle of last year that are on important issues to my electorate. I know you have followed them up on more than one occasion, but it might be time to crack the whip, because we are still not getting the responses. The questions are numbers 4793, 5969, 6008, 6113, 6138, 6139, 6178, 6209, 6239, 6304, 6305, 6307, 6312 and 6322.

The SPEAKER: Thank you for raising that matter. I will follow that matter up.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, also for the Minister for Health, I have raised this point of order on a number of occasions before and sought your assistance to follow up, and still, after several attempts, nothing. These constituency questions were asked some eight and five months ago to the Minister for Health: questions 5901 and 5994. I would appreciate a response. I think my community deserves it.

The SPEAKER: I will follow that matter up for the member.