Thursday, 18 August 2022

Ministers statements: government performance

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:41): I am delighted to rise to update the house on our government’s efforts to deliver for all Victorians in all areas and in all parts of our state. For instance, while we have been hiring some 22 000 extra nurses and other healthcare workers we have also managed to remove 65 dangerous and congested level crossings. Whilst we are hiring 2190 extra ambulance paramedics we have also delivered 100 major transport infrastructure projects. Whilst we are building 68 new and upgraded hospitals we have built 58 new train stations. Whilst we are building 96 new schools we have also built 400 kilometres of new roads across our state. Whilst we have been putting 115 000 people through more than 63 TAFE courses we have been planning and building 6323 social and affordable units of housing. Whilst we have been expanding 69 kinders we have delivered 55 large-scale clean energy projects and 5900 megawatts of renewable energy. The point is you need to do more than one thing at a time in order to even pretend to be the government. You need to invest in road and rail, nurses and teachers, hospitals and schools.

Members interjecting.

Mr ANDREWS: I yield to the marginal seats director.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! There are 20 seconds of question time left. I ask members to come to order.

Mr R Smith: On a point of order, Speaker, there are 50 sick people standing in a tent outside Box Hill Hospital at the moment. It might not be the best time to congratulate yourself.

The SPEAKER: The member for Warrandyte can leave the chamber for the period of 1 hour.

Member for Warrandyte withdrew from chamber.

Mr ANDREWS: It is a shame to see him go. I love him. He has got real leadership potential, that one—real leadership potential. You have got to do more than one thing at a time, and we are. If you cannot do more than one thing at a time, then you cannot be the government, because you are simply incapable of providing the leadership that our state needs in every area of policy, in every community, in every part of the state.

Ms Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, I have got a number of outstanding adjournment matters and a question on notice that I would like you to follow up, please, that are beyond their due date: item 6294 to the Minister for Health, item 6183 to the Minister for Health and item 6071 also to the Minister for Health. Two of those go back to 2021, so I ask for an immediate response—before the end of the sitting year—please.

The SPEAKER: They will be followed up.

Mr T Bull: Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order in relation to a number of unanswered questions: question 6700 to the Minister for Agriculture, question 6699 to the Minister for Agriculture, question 6689 to the Minister for Environment and Climate Action, question 6688 to the Minister for Environment and Climate Action, question 6686 to the Minister for Agriculture, question 6684 to the Minister for Education, question 6681 to the Minister for Mental Health, question 6680 to the Minister for Health, question 6548 to the Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, question 6540 to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation and question 6428 to the Minister for Environment and Climate Action.

With just two weeks remaining of sittings, it would be very beneficial to get those answers so that I can pass those on to my constituents.

The SPEAKER: Questions will be followed up.