Wednesday, 27 August 2025

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (19:23): The member for Kororoit had a matter for me, asking me to meet with her regarding the state government’s support for the CFA and volunteers who are in her electorate, which I am absolutely very happy to do, and we will organise a time. Thank you very much.

I also thank the member for Gippsland East for his strong support for his community and for asking me to confirm Life Saving Victoria’s funding and how it compares to previous years. I am happy to tell him that. I am sure he shares my view that Victoria’s lifeguards and lifesavers go above and beyond to protect the community and save lives, and I thank them for their vital support and service to our communities. We all – and I know that includes the member for Gippsland South – want Victorians to be able to safely enjoy Victoria’s spectacular waterways, of which he has quite a few. It is a very beautiful coastline that you have, as well as your riverways. We have doubled the funding for Life Saving Victoria since coming to government, and this has helped employ more lifeguards, build new clubs and deliver new boats, drones and equipment. It is thanks to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund that we have doubled the volunteer emergency services equipment grant, which Life Saving Victoria can also apply for, which they have in the past and I know they will continue to do.

The member for Euroa sought for the Minister for Health to restore birthing services to Benalla. The member for Lara’s adjournment matter was for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, seeking a visit to a community hub in her electorate to see firsthand the support offered to multicultural communities. The member for Mornington asked the Minister for Health to increase health investment in his community. The member for Narre Warren South asked the Minister for Community Sport to provide information regarding how the government’s Get Active Kids vouchers have benefited his community. The member for Ringwood had an adjournment matter for the Minister for Children, seeking a reversal of the decision to end funding for Parentline. The member for Laverton had a matter for the Attorney-General seeking information regarding the implementation of the government’s recent anti-vilification laws. The member for Brunswick had a matter for the Minister for Environment, asking the government to ban single-use plastic items such as sushi soy sauce plastic fish containers to reduce microplastics in our environment and in our brains. The member for Glen Waverley had a matter for the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, to meet with local business members of the Kingsway precinct in his electorate. These will all be referred on to the relevant ministers.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The house stands adjourned until tomorrow.

House adjourned 7:26 pm.