Tuesday, 20 September 2022

 Mr ANGUS (Forest Hill) (12:47): In less than three months time Victorians will start voting in the 2022 state election. It will be an opportunity for voters to get rid of the most corrupt, secretive, incompetent, unaccountable and financially irresponsible government in Victoria’s history. Victoria was the most locked down place in the world, had some of the harshest COVID restrictions and yet had terrible results. Who can forget the dictatorial restrictions thrust upon all Victorians with no consideration, compassion or common sense? The damage from this government’s abusive behaviour towards its citizens is still being felt throughout our state and sadly will be for a long time still. Whether it is schoolchildren struggling with their schooling and day-to-day activities, business owners who have lost everything, older people who live in a permanent state of fear, people who have missed essential medical procedures with life-shortening consequences, countless workers who have been sacked from their jobs for making a medical choice or people whose lives have been turned upside down in countless other ways, this government stands condemned for its dictatorial attitude and the damage it has caused to our society.

On top of all that, the government’s gross mismanagement of both the health and the ambulance systems has resulted in the death of an unknown number of Victorians. Then there is the gross financial incompetence of this government, with Victorian state debt set to reach almost $170 billion, more than the combined debt of New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. This is an appalling financial legacy to leave to future generations. On every measure this is the worst government in Victoria’s history, and I hope for the sake of all Victorians that it is voted out this November. Sadly, the Premier never takes responsibility or acknowledges the damage he has done, and he never apologises to Victorians.