Thursday, 28 August 2025

 Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (17:12): (1291) My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister for Agriculture, and the action that I seek is for an update from the minister on the supports available to the horticultural industry across my district of Monbulk. This week we have all been treated to the magnificent floral display in Queens Hall. I think I can almost say with complete authority that every MP loves this week, when the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria turn up and change that hall into a paradise for us all to enjoy – a feast for the senses, if you may. The smells and the sights are sublime, and it has an amazing effect and calms us all.

The horticultural industry is an incredibly important one to the district of Monbulk. In the areas of Monbulk and Silvan and out towards Cockatoo, Gembrook and Macclesfield – around those areas – we have incredible growers doing amazing things, and across Wandin East as well. I know the member for Evelyn too enjoys some of those areas, as we share a boundary. This industry is vital for us here in Victoria, where we produce incredible amounts of green life, and it is vital for the country as well. It is an incredibly important industry for the people of Monbulk but also for all of us here who enjoy green life. It is vital for us all. Those out west who are greening their parts of the state are using a lot of plants coming from my district. I am very proud, if you cannot tell already. So I look forward to the minister’s response.

I thank Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria for their work and the effort they have put in. I give a shout-out to Emily, who is the designer; to the growers I have spoken with, Warners, Biemond’s and Fleming’s, who I have had the chance to catch up with; and most of all to my beautiful primary school students from Monbulk Primary who were there on Tuesday talking with great knowledge, much more than I contain, about all things plant life. How wonderful were they, Deputy Speaker? I am sure you would agree that they were exceptional. To the four of them, including Angus and Angus: well done for what you did.