Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Energy policy

Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Mark lives in Rowville and has been a gas plumber since 1988. He says Labor’s gas ban has ‘taken my work, my livelihood away from me’. Why is Labor implementing an unfair gas ban which destroys jobs and hurts small business?

The SPEAKER: Minister for Small Business, as it relates to your portfolio.

Natalie SULEYMAN (St Albans – Minister for Veterans, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Youth) (14:31): I thank the member for her question. On this side of the house we have supported small business and, let me say, shoulder to shoulder we have continued to invest in small businesses. Just recently the Victorian draft default offer, released in March, showed that when it comes to energy prices and other utilities the Allan Labor government’s policies are working.

Members interjecting.

Natalie SULEYMAN: Absolutely. We are committed to supporting small businesses to grow and prosper, and that includes driving down energy costs and making sure that we are supporting small businesses. Whether it is in Melbourne or regional Victoria, we continue to support small businesses. As many would know on this side, the Victorian government has provided $250 through multiple rounds of power saving bonuses. We are easing the pressure on small businesses and providing, as I said, many programs that support small businesses. When it comes to investing in small businesses –

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was around the gas ban, not what the government wants to spruik. We want to know: what is Mark’s future?

Jacinta Allan: On the point of order, Speaker, if the member for Eildon wishes to ask a question on issues relating to gas and the regulation of the gas industry, she had best ask the relevant minister. Insofar as the minister was being relevant –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta Allan: How’s that respect going? Insofar as the minister was being relevant to the question she was asked, she was being entirely relevant in the confines of her portfolio responsibilities.

The SPEAKER: I did indicate that the Minister for Small Business would answer the question as it related to her portfolio.

Natalie SULEYMAN: As I was saying, we have continued to invest in small businesses across Victoria, and when it comes to gas connections, we continue to grow in Victoria. There is plenty of work that needs to be done, and of course the relevant minister can continue to answer this question in relation to in particular those questions that you have asked. But when it comes to, as I said, small businesses, we have continued to invest so that businesses in Victoria continue to grow. We have made sure that, as I said, we will continue to invest in small businesses, and if there are any questions in relation to specific questions on gas, I refer them to the minister.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lowan is warned.

Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (14:35): Mark also said that the Labor government has not ‘said anything about what is going to happen to me and every other person who works in the gas industry’. Why has Labor turned its back on workers and businesses in this industry?

Natalie SULEYMAN (St Albans – Minister for Veterans, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Youth) (14:35): Thank you very much again for that supplementary question. When it comes to small businesses, as I said, we continue to invest. Let me tell you, I visit a lot of small businesses across Melbourne and regional Victoria, and we have continued to support small businesses, including close to $16 million in investments to small business precincts, including multicultural precincts across Victoria and in particular in Melbourne. The message that I continue to get from small businesses is that we have their backs, and we will continue to work with small businesses so that they can prosper and grow within Melbourne and Victoria.