Thursday, 12 May 2022

Ministers statements: rural and regional investment

Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development) (14:39): I rise today to update the house on how the Andrews Labor government is backing our booming regions. This year’s budget invests $5.7 billion across rural and regional Victoria—

Mr Andrews interjected.

Ms THOMAS: $5.7 billion, Premier, in health, education, jobs, roads and transport, bringing our total investment in rural and regional Victoria to $36 billion since we were first elected, more than five times the total of what those on the other side invested in their time. Sometimes, they say, a picture tells a thousand words, so here is a little graph that illustrates—

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the minister about the use of props.

Ms THOMAS: Thank you. My apologies, Speaker. This investment is delivering jobs and opportunities, with unemployment in regional Victoria now at 3.2 per cent. Our regional investments include $1 billion for health infrastructure, $250 million for 12 new VLocity trains, $101 million dedicated to regional roads, $30 million for our signature Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund—a fund that has invested more than $700 million in rural and regional Victoria since we first came to government.

Mr Andrews: Hundreds of projects.

Ms THOMAS: Exactly, and an additional $30 million for the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund. This has been a fantastic budget for rural and regional Victoria. Only last week I was at the Grains Innovation Precinct in Horsham. With $12 million we are delivering world-class research and development of alternative proteins in order to feed the world, and this is happening on our watch, on a Labor government’s watch. Only an Andrews Labor government is investing in the people of rural and regional Victoria.

Mr R Smith: On a point of order, Speaker, I want to reiterate the point of order I raised yesterday. Despite raising those issues yesterday—the clerks have the numbers that I was referring to yesterday—I still have received nothing from the relevant ministers on those issues. I raise again the question I asked that was due on 21 July last year from the Minister for Ambulance Services. I request that he gets his skates on and actually answers the question I put to him and fulfils his responsibilities to the people of Victoria.

Mr T Bull: On a point of order, Speaker, in addition to the outstanding constituency question I raised yesterday, I have some outstanding questions on notice that require response: 6551 to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change—that could have been the one I raised yesterday; 6550, also to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change; 6549 to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety; 6540 to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation; 6490 to the Minister for Health; 6487 to the Minister for Education; 6239 for the Attorney-General, going back to October last year; 6209 to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, going back to October last year; and one for the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers that goes back to 2019—1377. I know we have got a new minister, but we are now in 2022 and I asked that question in 2019. I reckon three years is probably good enough time to get a response.

The SPEAKER: That was a question on notice, that last one?

Mr T Bull: Yes.

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