Friday, 14 November 2025

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (14:21): We are racing, and I want to provide an update on the biggest major event, the original major event here in Victoria, the Melbourne Cup Carnival. We had the largest Melbourne Cup Carnival crowd in nearly a decade, since 2018, with 286,000 Victorians and plenty of internationals – and a number of people in this place, who got out there to headquarters to celebrate the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Can I say, not only did we see some great racing, but we saw Jamie Melham make history, winning the Caulfield–Melbourne cup double 10 years after Ballarat’s own Michelle Payne won the Melbourne Cup, breaking through that glass ceiling. We have got a Premier who has broken through a few glass ceilings of her own. The glass ceiling for some is a bit of a protection racket, I think – I am not sure for whom.

Can I just say that it was not just about the racing on the track, but it was also about the entertainment. We had a massive crowd turn out to see DJ Fisher, with $1.7 million in major events funding from our Major Racing Events Fund supporting the carnival across the week. I just wanted to say that on this side of the house we do support racing. I know that there are many on the other side of the house that also support racing, which generates 35,000 full-time jobs right across Victoria. Maybe we did not all back a winner at the races, but it is very important that of those who did not back a winner, maybe – just maybe – some are thinking about whether they have backed the wrong horse. In a very big week – a big week for the government – and a very big Melbourne Cup Carnival with a record budget for the Melbourne Cup, can I just say that some might still be stuck at the barriers. Some wonder whether they backed the wrong horse. Some are jockeying for position. I do not know who they might be. (Time expired)

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Werribee can leave the chamber for half an hour. Two days in a row!

Member for Werribee withdrew from chamber.