Growing Suburbs Fund
Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Suburban Development. Last Friday it was revealed that all five of Victoria’s peri-urban councils were removed from the Growing Suburbs Fund eligibility list without any prior notice or consultation. Minister, why were these councils removed from that list?
Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Suburban Development) (14:38): Can I thank the member for the question and for his interest in the portfolio of suburban development. The number of councils that have been included in this year’s Growing Suburbs Fund has been reduced, and that is because there are currently over 130 projects still to be delivered by councils, and we are focused on working with those councils to make sure that they are delivered rather than putting additional pressure on councils to deliver more when they are telling us that there are strains to do that, there are capacity constraints to do that. So the peri-urban –
Members interjecting.
Ros SPENCE: Are you interested?
The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair, Minister.
Ros SPENCE: So the peri-urban councils that were included during COVID are not included in this round, and we have returned to the prior settings because COVID is over.
Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (14:39): Minister, Baw Baw Shire Council is one of the peri-urban councils which has been dudded by this government. To ensure that peri-urban council ratepayers are not disadvantaged, will the minister commit to putting these councils back into the Growing Suburbs Fund, please?
Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Suburban Development) (14:39): I do not think that the member paid a lot of attention to my first answer. The increase in the councils included in the Growing Suburbs Fund increased at the start of COVID and –
John Pesutto: Hang on, so the increase in the increase?
Ros SPENCE: Really? You’re a very rude man.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, through the Chair.
Ros SPENCE: Sorry, Speaker. The number of councils included in the Growing Suburbs Fund was increased at the start of COVID. Those councils are no longer included because we no longer have the need for that COVID growth.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure there are other members who will be grateful for being removed from the chamber for only half an hour.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for half an hour.
Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.