Tuesday, 26 November 2024

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. Compared to all other Australian states, Victoria’s gross household disposable income per capita has fallen from second in the year 2000 to fifth today, with prominent independent economist Saul Eslake saying:

It ought to be embarrassing for Victorians that it now has lower per capita income than Tasmania …

Why has Victoria’s household disposable income fallen under the Premier’s watch?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:28): I was asked a question by the leadership aspirant from Sandringham about the comparative strength of Victoria to other states. I am delighted to share with the member for Sandringham that Victoria is creating more jobs than any other state in the nation. On top of that, we are attracting more businesses –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this basic economic question was specifically about disposable income. It was a very basic question, and I would have thought the limbo Premier could answer it.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Manager of Opposition Business to be succinct with his points of order. The Premier was being relevant, but I do remind the Premier about the specific question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was asked about the Victorian economy, and I am giving some information on the Victorian economy.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: The Leader of the Opposition is a bit grumpy today. Did he get his latest invoice from his lawyer in the mail? Has he received the latest invoice?

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: The member for Brighton is aware that I cannot compel the Premier how to answer a question. I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Again, I was asked about the Victorian economy, an economy that is creating more jobs than any other state, that is attracting more business investment than any other state and that is building and completing more homes than any other state. We have a strong economy, as demonstrated by Deloitte Access Economics, who say that we are amongst the strongest growing economies –

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, there is no point of order. The Premier is not debating the question; she is addressing the question. She is taking the opportunity to outline the very many reports that indicate what a strong economy we have here in Victorian, one that grows jobs. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the Leader of the House to raise points of order succinctly. I do ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Of course we are firmly on this side of the house focused on households. That is why this week households are receiving their $400 school saving bonus. It is why we are serving tens of millions of breakfast club meals to kids right across the state. It is why we are supporting families with free kinder so our littlest of learners can go to kinder and not miss out on their lifetime of learning. We know those opposite do not support households in the way we do; that is just a fact.

John Pesutto interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: And the Leader of the Opposition has just confirmed that that is a fact. He has just interjected to say that that is a fact.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is repeatedly defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: I cannot compel the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier will come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Of course being focused on households means being focused on jobs, because with every job that is created, behind every job is a worker and behind every worker is a family who relies on that pay packet going home to their family every single week. Whether they are on our government infrastructure program, which those opposite want to cut, those are the jobs, those are the workers, those are the Victorian households that those opposite would punish with their debt ceiling. We will support households with real cost-of-living relief and building for the future to ensure that we continue to have the homes and the renewable energy and the infrastructure our growing city and state need.

 Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:33): The Victorian average increase in gross household disposable income per capita in the past financial year was $1498 lower than all other Australian states. Why are Victorian households going backwards relative to other states under this financially incompetent Premier?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:34): We know households would go backwards under a Liberal policy that would introduce a debt ceiling that only results in cutting frontline services, bringing about an American-style public health system.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: You got the right train today, mate? I need to give you a train lesson.

Matthew Guy interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bulleen can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Matthew Guy interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bulleen can leave the chamber for an hour.

Matthew Guy interjected.

The SPEAKER: Make that an hour and a half.

Member for Bulleen withdrew from chamber.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, again the Premier is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: As I was saying, we are focused on supporting households with real, meaningful cost-of-living relief that is focused on them. Of course no amount –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: No amount of uncontrollable interjections from those opposite, particularly the Leader of the Opposition, is going to deny the fact that we are firmly focused on supporting households, providing real cost-of-living relief. Four hundred dollars is going to make a meaningful difference to those families to help them buy a uniform and to support them with getting ready for school next year, a particularly important support at this busy time of the year.