Thursday, 5 October 2023

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:37): This state has so much natural beauty, and we are proud to have made significant investments to make our natural wonders accessible to Victorian families. From the Mallee Rainbow Lake to Lake Guthridge in Sale, family fishing lakes right across Victoria offer adventures for the great outdoors. We stocked these lakes with tens of thousands of catchable-sized trout over the school holidays. Thank you to holders of this prestigious office before me for their legacy. We are teaching the next generation how to fish, delivering 60,000 fishing kits to grade 5 primary students in more than 1900 schools.

But while we all enjoy a bit of baiting in this place, there is so much more in the great outdoors than fishing alone, like mountain biking – we have created 70 kilometres worth of tracks, 26 trails in the state – or boating – we will deliver more and better piers, jetties and infrastructure through the $96 million of improvements that we have committed to. We have expanded camping locations to over 400 right across Victoria, and on weekends, public holidays and school holidays all the zoos in Victoria are free to under 16-year-olds.

We are also backing kids to be the best they can, investing in sporting events. Just in September there were the Phillip Island surfing juniors, the under-17 national championships and para national badminton championships in Ballarat, and the AusCycling Masters and Junior Road National Championships in Shepparton, giving young Victorians a chance to compete in the sports they love on a national and international level close to home. We in the Labor government take the approach that the wonders of Victoria should be open to all. The natural wonders of this state should not be exclusively held by those who can afford to enjoy them. We have taken off all the roadblocks, we have taken off the obstacles and we have incentivised families to go and enjoy the great outdoors, from camping to fishing to everything else you could possibly do in Victoria, because that is their destiny and that is what they deserve, and this government will back them.

Brad Battin: On a point of order, Speaker, I raise an issue in relation to some correspondence that is still outstanding: question on notice 597, which is a question to the Minister for Police in relation to police honours; question on notice 596, again to the Minister for Police in relation to Victoria Police honours; question 598, again to the Minister for Police in relation to Victoria Police honours; adjournment 331, which is unanswered, to the Minister for Emergency Services in relation to a claim for Tony Lukas in relation to the CFA, which is a very serious matter that we need to get resolved as soon as possible; and adjournment 307, which is to the Minister for Education, and it is in relation to urgent advice around a student at a school, which they need rectified urgently, and the mother is waiting for a call from the minister as soon as possible.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I just would like an overdue adjournment and question to be responded to, please. Adjournment 299, which was asked of the former Premier around local history grants, is now overdue. I believe we have had some positive news for local history groups, but the adjournment has not been responded to. Constituency question 312, asked of the Minister for Ageing in relation to elder abuse –is also overdue, and I would appreciate a response on behalf of my constituents.