Energy policy
Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Jobs and Industry. Seeley International is shutting up shop in Victoria and has blamed Labor’s destructive gas policy, costing 120 Victorian job losses. Is the minister deliberately destroying Victorian manufacturing jobs because of Labor’s gas policy?
Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (14:21): Thanks for the question, but I refute the premise of the question. This government absolutely prides itself on its investment in and connection with industry across this state. When it comes to Seeley International, of course we are disappointed and saddened by the announcement that has been made in relation to jobs in New South Wales moving. I do acknowledge there would be some Victorians that are employed there, and it is our role and our job to continue to make sure that those who feel that impact in that community are well supported and transitioned. We will be working through Jobs Victoria’s local employment transition services to make sure we provide information and referrals to those that are facing retrenchment. This is very early days, this announcement, and I have asked my department to work with the company and find suitable arrangements to help redeploy those that may be facing job losses in this particular region. We are certainly proud of our investments that we have made in creating local jobs across our regions, and we will continue to undertake that work.
Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:22): Again to the minister: how many more Victorian jobs will be lost due to Labor’s ban on gas in homes and businesses?
The SPEAKER: I will allow the question, but it is bordering on hypothetical.
Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (14:23): I thank the member for her question, but again I refute the premise of the question. This government’s commitment to and investment in clean energy mean there will be 59,000 additional jobs here in Victoria.
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, how can the minister refute 120 Victorian job losses? These are workers in a cost-of-living crisis, and these workers have lost under your policy.
The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Member for Evelyn, if you are going to raise a point of order, I ask you to do it according to the standing orders.
Natalie HUTCHINS: I relish the opportunity to remind this house that Victoria is the lead job creator out of any state and territory currently. Our robust economy has seen the strongest jobs growth, particularly in the regions across this state. Since Labor came to government in 2014 we have created more than 760,000 new jobs, and we have seen unemployment absolutely plummet. We have seen employment rise, particularly in the regions. We are doing that through our Local Jobs First policies and through our conversion to new and clean energy, and the minister is doing a fantastic job at rolling out those changes –
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was quite narrow: how many more job losses because of Labor’s gas ban policy?
The SPEAKER: A point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The minister had already addressed the question at the commencement of her answer. The minister has concluded her answer.