Thursday, 28 November 2024

 Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:37): Absolutely everybody knows Victoria is the live music capital of the nation, and the Allan Labor government backs that in with Always Live, 10,000 Gigs, the Live Music Festivals Fund, songwriting in schools and helping music workers doing it tough through the work of Support Act. This is our last sitting day and it is also Ausmusic T-Shirt Day, and I urge every member of this place to support Aussie live music in their communities but also to support Support Act, who do great work looking after people.

Other states envy our live music, our culture, our arts, our sports and our major events, but everybody knows that we are the real funky town. It is such a great place to live that it is no wonder our state is growing as people run to paradise. The Allan Labor government has Victoria heading in the right direction, investing in education because we know that from little things big things grow. That is why we are building more homes and fighting the blockers, even if we are haunted by that Brighton image of someone standing on the outside looking in. We are doing everything we can to take the pressure down on household budgets, investing in our hospitals and ambulances, while we know that those opposite would gut health. And we are standing firm on treaty with our First Peoples.

Meanwhile, in contrast, we have seen the Nationals this week quite unfairly say to the member for Murray Plains, ‘You’re just somebody that we used to know.’ I say to those who think they are the new sensation that there are plenty behind you with ego – yesterday’s hero even, who might have been an easybeat – who are asking the question that many people will be asking over summer: am I ever gonna see your face again?