Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Nina TAYLOR (Albert Park) (17:49): (1474) I would also like to thank you, Speaker, for your tireless patience and endurance in keeping us on track and tidy in the chamber and beyond. Thank you so much.

My adjournment is for the Minister for Local Government, and the action I seek is for him to visit my electorate upon the completion of the upgrades to the Southbank library. The Victorian government is investing $550,000 in this vital facility, modernising equipment, expanding existing infrastructure and providing better access to programs and library services. The needs of our youth have been a priority in the Southbank library development, enlarging the children’s section and providing additional spaces for programs that young people can engage with. Libraries are at the heart of every community, and this new investment will provide safe spaces along with essential learning resources for Southbank residents.

As one of the fastest growing suburbs in the city, this extension of Boyd Village will help to bring together our community with tangible benefits and library services. The refit of the new library will allow the space it formerly occupied to be efficiently repurposed in order to provide additional community services. This is just one of 176 libraries that the Allan Labor government has invested $57.6 million in since 2014, with the infrastructure projects worth more than $522 million in total. Consistent with the great progress being made in libraries across the state, I look forward to having the minister join me to support the progression of this important development within the Boyd community hub and that whole area in recognition of the importance of the libraries infrastructure program across Victoria. I do want to thank Hunter and Finley from Albert Park College, work experience students who have assisted with this adjournment today.