Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Minister for Finance) (14:20): I rise to update the house on the work underway to grow Victoria’s economy. There is good reason for Victorians to be positive about their economic future. Victoria is a great place to live, a fantastic place to work and a great place to invest. Over the last decade we have led the nation in economic and business investment growth. We have created more than 890,000 jobs since 2014, and job growth is expected to continue to grow. We are investing in crucial infrastructure, innovative ideas and the frontline services Victorians depend upon. While we are investing, the growing $10.8 billion budget black hole from those opposite can only mean one thing: cuts to front services.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Brighton will apologise to the house.

James Newbury: I apologise. On a point of order, a ministers statement, as you ruled on the previous ministers statement, is not an opportunity for the government to sledge, and that is exactly what they are doing with their template answers today.

Sam Groth interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Nepean can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Nepean withdrew from chamber.

The SPEAKER: I remind members of the correct way to raise points of order. I ask the minister to come back to his ministers statement.

Danny PEARSON: The reality is that up to 18,000 nurses, 9000 teachers and 4500 police officers would need to be sacked just to fill the black hole they have made so far. Our government must invest in infrastructure that sets us up –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister just defied your ruling.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, I am not aware that you made a ruling. The minister on his feet is taking the opportunity to compare and contrast the fortunes of Victoria under an Allan Labor government compared to what awaits them with a $10.8 billion black hole under the Liberals.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the House, could you be succinct in your points of order, please. I remind the minister that it is not appropriate to attack the opposition in his ministers statement.

Danny PEARSON: Our government must invest in infrastructure that sets us up for success, like the Metro Tunnel or the Suburban Rail Loop. A budget that does not add up, like those opposite are planning, leaves zero headroom to invest in the infrastructure we will need as the nation’s fastest growing state.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister has defied your ruling now for a second time.

The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the minister how to do his ministers statement, but I do remind the minister to come back to the statement, please.

Danny PEARSON: What I have got to say is it must have been a very bad day in the opposition rooms yesterday – unable to get their story straight, with the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Treasurer contradicting each other.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Kew, this is your last warning.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, may I seek your guidance. You have now three times made a ruling. I appreciate that you cannot direct the minister how to deliver a ministers statement, but if the minister is refusing to adhere to your guidance and your rulings, frankly, how does the chamber have any confidence in what the ministers say in their ministers statements?

The SPEAKER: I direct the minister accordingly. The minister to come back to his ministers statement.

Cindy McLeish: Speaker, on a further point of order, I would ask you to remind the minister that when he has the call he must give way when a point of order is taken. We have had three times where not only has he defied your orders but he did not make way and sit down. He continued to speak. This is a ruling from the Chair from Minister Brooks.

The SPEAKER: If you have concerns about appropriate behaviour in the chamber, I would invite you to come and speak to me after question time.

Danny PEARSON: I think it is important to compare and contrast the two. The unemployment rate here in Victoria at the moment is 4.7 per cent. Those opposite, when they were in power, were at 6.7. You are a bunch of 6.7s. It was 6.7 when they were last in power. We know that the Leader of the Opposition has overruled the new Shadow Treasurer in the last few weeks. Is that why the member for Brighton is calling himself the Shadow Treasurer still?

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this is an abuse of the chamber, and I think it is only reasonable for the minister to be sat down.

The SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.

Danny PEARSON: Unlike those opposite, we will never cut nurses, teachers, police officers or child protection workers. We will always support our front line. The Allan Labor government invests in workers, transport and jobs, and we are driving the economy. Our strong economic plan is protecting our future.