Wednesday, 27 August 2025

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): These past couple of days have been among the toughest our state has known. After yesterday’s tragedy in Porepunkah, two families are now living with grief most of us just cannot imagine: the loss of people they loved most, taken by the most senseless act of violence. And just this morning outside of Geelong a school bus carrying kids on their way to school has overturned. We know that there is more information to come to light, and our thoughts are with those kids, their families, the driver and the broader school community.

In both of these tragedies, our emergency responders have been there. At the side of families, at the scene of great heartbreak, they have carried out their duties in dangerous, confronting and deeply difficult conditions. On behalf of everyone in this place I want to thank them – Victoria Police, paramedics, firefighters, SES workers and volunteers – for the courage, professionalism and great care they have shown through the most trying of circumstances. Also to the community of Porepunkah – this great community has been scarred. A long shadow is hanging over what is a beautiful, tight-knit community, a welcoming community, and our thoughts are with the community of Porepunkah.

Victoria Police, together with our emergency responders, continue to go to work, doing their job, keeping us and our community safe in the most difficult, treacherous and dangerous of circumstances. Our government and indeed this Parliament are grateful. Victorians are grateful. And as a response, too, each of us has a responsibility to walk beside them, to wrap our arms around them and to provide every support they need, not just now but for as long as it takes. This is a time of grief. It must also be a time of unity, a time to stand with these families, to stand with these communities and also to stand with every member of Victoria Police and every one of our emergency services, and that is exactly what we will do.