Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:05): Our Labor government is a government that backs the services that working people and families need, and they need them now more than ever. We are a government that is focused on making life easier, safer and more affordable, and in our budget delivered in this place last week we are delivering real help with cost of living. What does that mean? It means, when times are tough, looking where you can to put a bit more money back into the household budget. We are doing this through investing in schools so every child can get the opportunity to have a great government education close to where they live. We are doing this by investing in hospitals and in more health workers so families can get the care when they need it, and of course we are backing and investing in our Victoria Police, the biggest policing force in the nation, and also those frontline services they deliver. You also do this by investing in the people who do the work, those who staff the wards, support the children and particularly too care for kids with a disability. These are real people delivering real services that Victorians rely on. These are the services that we continue to invest in and protect. These are the services and the people that those opposite would cut given the opportunity. While we are focused on delivering real cost-of-living help, we have those opposite that would rip $40 billion from the services that families rely on.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity for the Premier to attack the opposition or lie – just simply lie; just lie, lie, lie.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will not use unparliamentary language. The Premier to come back without attacking the opposition.

Jacinta ALLAN: The member for Brighton knows – and maybe the number is higher than $40 billion – you cannot cut this amount of money without cutting into the front line. You cannot cut one in seven public service jobs and pretend that families and real people will not feel this.

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

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business and the Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Brighton and Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: We have made a choice. When times are tough, we are going to back working people and invest in the services they rely on.