Tuesday, 12 November 2024

 Matt FREGON (Ashwood) (13:34): Once again it is Australian Music Month, and as Bliss n Eso said, home is where the heart is. Everywhere I go young Victorians are looking down the streets of your town. They are caught in the crowd. They stand where I stood decades ago and they are saving up, but their own home is on a pedestal. They think they have no say in it. They are standing on the outside in their rentals saying, ‘We’ve got to get out of this place.’ Well, in this city we are all in this together. That is why this government has been asking the question: where will we be in 50 years? We have got plans. We do not need 20 good reasons, but we will have 50 new activity centres and the Suburban Rail Loop to boot. Do you see what I see? Help is on its way. There is a change in mood. We have heard what you need, and we are all fired up to help. Not everyone wants a home amongst the gum trees miles and miles from where they know.

We are planning ahead, making it better, and it will not be accidentally Kelly Street, Charcoal Lane or somewhere near Footscray station. Is Balwyn calling or maybe Carlton for some Lygon Street limbo? From St Kilda to Kings Cross – no, stick in Melbourne – maybe old Fitzroy or even Brunswick, Northcote or South Melbourne near the Star Hotel. Maybe 14 years in Rowville sounds amazing; a little home in Spotswood or Thomastown – you never know; or Chapel Street et cetera if you are a Toorak cowboy. Victorians, let your hair hang down. From little things, big things grow. If you want to live under the Milky Way, better days are coming before too long, so get set for more homes and more opportunity.