Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): My question is to the Premier. This government has imposed 66 new or increased taxes. These include emergency services tax, GP payroll tax, land tax, schools tax and a death tax. Will the Premier rule out a tax increase in the upcoming budget?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:16): Of course the Leader of the Opposition neglected to mention the many taxes and charges we have cut and reduced over our period of time in government, but I appreciate that is not convenient for the Leader of the Opposition. I could perhaps refer the Leader of the Opposition to the lowest payroll tax in the country, which can be found in regional Victoria. I could refer the Leader of the Opposition to the off-the-plan stamp duty concession that we have done. Why have we done this? To build more homes. I know the Leader of the Opposition does not like talking about building more homes. Of course the other thing the Leader of the Opposition does not like talking about is those areas that she and her opposition would cut to fill their $11.5 billion black hole.

The SPEAKER: I believe it is your birthday, Leader of the Nationals. On a point of order?

Danny O’Brien: Thank you, Speaker. I think you kicked me out on my birthday last year, so I will be careful. The Premier is debating the question and needs to come back to answering it.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Just as you can set your watch that it is your birthday every year, Leader of the National Party, you can set your watch that you will get this sort of fishing expedition from a desperate opposition right before the budget. You can always set your watch.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: My point is this: the budget is on 4 May, and I would expect the Leader of the Opposition to run around with her scare campaign. What we will deliver on 4 May is this: we will be the only jurisdiction on the eastern seaboard to deliver an operating surplus. The rest of the budget will be on 4 May.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, if it assists the Premier, the budget is on 5 May.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Rowville can leave the chamber for an hour.

Kim Wells interjected.

The SPEAKER: Make that an hour and a half.

Member for Rowville withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: I will confess to getting that date wrong. My family is a Star Wars family, so 4 May is a date that is in our family’s calendar. 5 May is the budget. 5 May is when we will reveal how it is only a Labor government that will continue to invest in frontline services and continue to invest in schools and hospitals and also how we will continue to support families with those very real cost-of-living pressures. And the Victorian community will also know this: that the Liberal Party are all about cuts, division and extremism.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question again.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has concluded her answer.

 Jess WILSON (Kew – Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): This government has already doubled the emergency services tax on every home owner in the state. Will the Premier guarantee no increase to her tax on the family home?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:21): The Leader of the Opposition has identified the emergency services levy – a levy that was introduced by the Liberal–National government, just for the record. The Leader of the Opposition is keen to be factual; I will share that one with the Leader of the Opposition.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Well, you joined him in closing schools and hospitals.

The SPEAKER: Premier, through the Chair. It would be very disappointing to have the Premier removed from the chamber.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Sandringham is warned. The Leader of the Opposition is warned. The Leader of the House is warned. The member for Euroa will leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Euroa withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: I reiterate: the budget will be on 5 May, and it will be a strong budget because it will be focused on families. It will be focused on providing meaningful relief to families. It will be focused on delivering frontline services for families. It will be focused on supporting Victorians when they are doing it tough and are facing challenges. I reject what the Leader of the Opposition has claimed will be in the budget.