Wednesday, 21 June 2023

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:30): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to making rego free for Victorian apprentices and providing cost-of-living relief to Victorian drivers. I recently visited the Kangan Institute with the Premier and the member for Broadmeadows to announce rego will be free from 1 July for eligible apprentices, delivering on our election commitment. This will put up to $876 back in the pockets of Victorian apprentices each year so they can focus on getting the skills they need for the jobs they want. Funded in this year’s budget, this will provide cost-of-living relief to thousands of new tradies at a time when they need it most. We know they need their vehicles to get to and from each job, so we are relieving this cost burden for them. We have already halved rego costs for over 12,000 Victorian apprentices, but now we will go further. The member for Ashwood will know how important this is for apprentices at Holmesglen, and the member for Box Hill will see the benefits for students at the Box Hill Institute too. I am sure you, Speaker, along with the Deputy Premier will know just how much of a relief this is for apprentices at Bendigo TAFE.

But this is not all that we are doing. We are softening the blow for the family budget and making it more affordable to keep the car on the road. We have introduced short-term rego payments, so the cost does not come in one hit. We have given safer drivers 25 per cent off rego renewal fees, saving them over $7 million last year. We have made learners and probationary licences and online tests free, and we have made learning to drive available to more people with the L2P program, which supports almost 2500 disadvantaged new drivers every year with free supervised driving. This program has empowered over 15,000 learners to clock up almost 800,000 hours getting their Ps. Just like Pat Cummins smashed it for Australia, the Andrews Labor government is smashing the cost of living for Victorians.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I know there are a lot of tired people who sat up and watched the Ashes last night.