Wednesday, 13 May 2026

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Violence Reduction, Minister for Finance) (14:14): Last week the Allan Labor government delivered what we promised we would deliver: an operating surplus, the first since the pandemic. Our Labor budget has delivered that surplus while also helping Victorians with immediate cost-of-living support. This is what good governments do: they back working people and they invest in the future. They make responsible decisions now, while continuing to plan for and build the roads, rail, hospitals and schools this great state needs. That is exactly what this budget does, and we are up-front about that.

But, as the Age reports today, not everyone seeking government is being up-front and honest with Victorians about their plans – plans independent economists have said ‘did not stack up’ and do not show ‘a credible path’ forward. Some seeking government choose to hide out in lavish penthouses in nice hotels, with the big end of town, bragging and laughing about how, if given the chance, they would cut, slash and burn thousands and thousands of Victorian jobs. Some seeking government want to block investment, slam the brakes on our economic growth and cause catastrophic damage – outright sabotage – to the vital work of our nurses, teachers, ambos and police.

Victorians know better. Victorians know that economic growth and future prosperity do not come from cuts and chaos. Victorians know better than to trust someone whose only plan for this great state is to rip out $40 billion with no credible or honest detail about what would be slashed and how much it will hurt.