Thursday, 20 November 2025

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:26): The Allan Labor government will modernise Victoria’s planning system to speed up approvals, cut delays and unlock the homes Victorians desperately need. Our planning reforms are all about more homes built faster in the places people want to live. But just last week those opposite lined up to block them; they voted against more homes. The millennial member for Kew had the chance to help her own generation into the market. What did she do? Turned her back on them.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are an opportunity for the government to countenance their own policy positions, not to attack the opposition. I would ask you to ask her to desist doing so.

The SPEAKER: The Attorney will come back to her ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Sonya KILKENNY: If the latest Leader of the Opposition were serious about housing, she would be supporting these reforms.

The SPEAKER: Attorney-General, I asked you to cease attacking the opposition.

Sonya KILKENNY: Last week the Business Council of Australia, who happened to be an employer of the Leader of the Opposition, was very clear that outdated, complex planning laws –

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the Attorney-General is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: The Attorney did not mention the Leader of the Opposition in her last contribution.

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, the Attorney knows full well that when she has the call she must give way. She continued to keep speaking twice.

The SPEAKER: The Attorney will come back to her ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Sonya KILKENNY: I was just saying the Business Council of Australia – who someone used to be employed by – was clear that outdated, complex planning rules hold back investment and productivity. Our reforms fix that, delivering more than $900 million of economic value every year and getting more homes off the ground faster. While the Liberals cut and the Liberals block, the Allan Labor government builds.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I think the minister is reading her speech.

The SPEAKER: Is the minister reading her speech?

Sonya KILKENNY: I am referring to notes.

The SPEAKER: The minister is referring to notes.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I will not tolerate frivolous points of order. The Attorney, without assistance.

Sonya KILKENNY: There has been a lot of talk about choices recently. Here is the choice: a plan that helps more Victorians find their home or a plan for net zero homes. This is not a line-in-the-sand moment; this is nimbyism with a millennial makeover. Here is the contrast. In New South Wales the Liberal Party voted with the Labor government to pass planning reforms, because they know the way to make homes more affordable is to build more of them. Where are the Liberals here? They are silent.