Wednesday, 19 March 2025

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:30): I rise to update the house about how the Allan Labor government are helping families with the cost of living through their record-breaking investment into the outdoors. We know busy families deserve a great holiday in the great outdoors, and some of the best places are right here in Victoria. They can do that for free under our government. Currently all national and state parks have free camping. This builds on our government’s half-price camping, which started in 2019 and since then has saved a staggering $26 million for families. We know this initiative provides a big boost to regional economies, with heaps of Melburnians and others going there. While those opposite like cruising in other states, Victorian families like spending money in Victoria at campgrounds.

Over 10 years our government has invested heavily in the great outdoors in Victoria – $106 million in just one program in the great outdoors program, creating new assets like the Point Nepean National Park, 155 kilometres of upgraded four-wheel drive tracks and much more. Add to that mix the fare cap that we have provided to all of regional Victoria. It is much easier to go into the great outdoors. Every year there are 50 million visits to our national and state parks – camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, four-wheel driving and a lot more. While others talk a big game about investments in regional and rural Victoria, this side of politics continues to invest in rural and regional Victoria.

I would like to give a shout-out to the Grampians. I just got back from there a couple of weeks ago. Even though I do not boast about it like some others, I have been there about half a dozen times at least in the last 12 months. I went and met with businesses –

Members interjecting.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: A bit brittle, aren’t we?

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, a ministers statement is not a time to critique the opposition, particularly when I was there on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and –

The SPEAKER: The member for Lowan can leave the chamber for an hour and a half. There is no point of order.

Member for Lowan withdrew from chamber.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: I met with many business owners, and I expect everybody in this chamber to go down there in the next few months and support that great community.