Thursday, 24 February 2022

Ministers statements: rural and regional investment

Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development) (14:25): I rise today to update the house on some of the many exciting and innovative job-creating regional businesses that this government is backing to create jobs for the people of rural and regional Victoria. But before I do that, can I take a moment to give a shout-out to the people of the Barwon Health district—their third dose vaccination rates are leading the state at 67 per cent. So well done, Barwon.

It is no secret whatsoever that regional Victoria is booming. Regional unemployment is at record lows. It currently sits at 3.3 per cent, and we know what that means—more than half of what it was when those on the other side were last in government. Our flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund is a key reason for this success. Since 2015 we have backed in more than 11 000 jobs through our fund. We have invested in innovative medical supply businesses like HealthRFID and Care Essentials in Geelong. Now these businesses are ramping up their manufacturing and international exports thanks to support from this government. The expansion of these two businesses alone is creating more than 100 jobs and more than $6.7 million of additional wages and salaries circulating in the Geelong economy.

And that is not all. Regional Victoria is full of success stories. Luxury international skincare company Rationale is building its global headquarters in Kyneton. In Tongala, HW Greenham & Sons are investing $50 million to redevelop their meat-processing facility and create 230 new jobs, and in the Goulburn Valley there are more than 150 new jobs with our support at Flavorite and Kalpack.