Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:01): My question is to the Premier. Between now and the end of question time, the Labor government’s debt will have increased by $2 million. Premier, is this debt increase sustainable?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:01): I thank the latest Leader of the Liberal Party for her question today. I thank her for her question, which is focused on the government’s fiscal strategy, which I say is working. Evidence of the fact that the government’s fiscal strategy is working is the fact that we are the only government, federal or state, to be forecasting an operating surplus – the only jurisdiction on the eastern seaboard. More importantly, I will share with the house –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would like to hear the member on their feet. I would like to hear questions, and I would like to hear the answers to the questions. Members will come to order, and members will be removed without warning.

James Newbury: On a point of order on relevance, Speaker, promising is not the same as delivering.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: This year’s budget demonstrated the operating surplus that is being delivered by our Labor government. But more important is what this means for Victorians – what this means for the working people and families who need their government focused on what matters most to them. When you make investments, as we have done through the budget –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, this was a very, very direct question. A minute into the answer, the Premier has not even dealt with the substance of the question.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, there is no point of order. The Premier is being entirely relevant to the question that was asked of her, and I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: When you have a fiscal strategy, when you have an economic plan that is focused on Victorians, focused on what matters most for Victorians, it is what you deliver with those investments that counts. It is record levels of support that we are providing – real cost-of-living relief right now for working people and families – whether it is through the free breakfast programs in our schools, the free glasses or the Smile Squad, delivering critically important investments. We remember a time when Fresh Fruit Friday was cut, but we are investing in cost-of-living support –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this question was very directly about debt. Halfway through the answer, the Premier is yet to deal with any of the substance of the question. The Premier is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant in relation to sustainability of the fiscal strategy.

Jacinta ALLAN: That is not a very good audition if you want to be Shadow Treasurer again, member for Brighton, because the fiscal strategy is focused on where you can then make those investments that matter to Victorian families. I will tell you what those investments also go into: productive infrastructure that supports thousands and thousands of workers around our state who need a government focused on a pipeline of projects, because it means a pipeline of opportunity for them and their families.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I seek your guidance on relevance. We are now 2 minutes into the answer, and the Premier has not dealt with at all the subject of debt. What is the point of relevance if the Premier just picks up a word in the question and debates that? By definition that is what the Premier is doing – debating the question.

Danny Pearson: On the point of order, Speaker, the government has got a five-step fiscal strategy. The first was about creating jobs. The fiscal strategy goes to the very point about debt management. It is at the core of the question that the Leader of the Opposition asked.

Bridget Vallence: On the point of order, Speaker, the first step of their strategy is to reduce unemployment, and unemployment under Labor is going up.

The SPEAKER: That is not a contribution to the point of order. I do not uphold the original point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: I am delighted to go back to step 1 of our fiscal strategy, as pointed out by the member for Evelyn, which we are delivering. Step 1 of our fiscal strategy is to deliver jobs. I know some said in their inaugural speech to the house that it is not government that creates jobs. I remind the house that the government has a vitally important role to support working people and families to have access to a job through the investment decisions that it makes through the budget. The decisions we have made to get the Metro Tunnel built, to get the West Gate Tunnel built and to see the Suburban Rail Loop being delivered are not only supporting jobs but also supporting that vital, productive infrastructure that our growing city and state need for the future.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Premier, when will Victoria’s debt stop increasing?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:08): I am delighted again to thank the latest Leader of the Liberal Party for a question on the government’s fiscal strategy. This goes to the heart of our fiscal strategy.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, I would ask you to remind the Premier to use correct parliamentary titles.

The SPEAKER: I am not quite sure what the member is saying, but the Leader of the Opposition is who you were referring to, Premier.

Jacinta ALLAN: Again, having the opportunity to go through in detail to the house how this government is delivering on its fiscal strategy, a fiscal strategy that is focused on supporting the investments that the Victorian community need and want, to support –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this was a six-word question. I do not understand what the point of question time is if the Premier can speak about whatever she wants and not be relevant to simple six-word questions.

The SPEAKER: That is not the correct way to raise a point of order, member for Brighton.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, in this chamber you have repeatedly advised the member for Brighton that he is not to use a point of order to repeat a question, yet he continues to defy you. I ask that you ask him to cease doing it.

The SPEAKER: As I have repeated many times, I cannot direct members how to respond to or answer questions. The Premier was being relevant to the question. She can be relevant in the sense that it includes the substantive question as well.

Jacinta ALLAN: Through our fiscal strategy, my government is focused on an economy that works for working people and families – an economy that is about growing jobs, like we are more than any other state; growing business investment, like we are more than any other state; and building more homes than any other state. You do that by having a fiscal strategy that is working – an economic plan that is focused on Victorian people, working families and their future.