Tuesday, 2 June 2026

 Michaela SETTLE (Eureka – Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture) (14:58): I rise to update the house on the record investment of the Allan Labor government in regional Victoria. This government has invested more than $50 billion in regional Victoria, and in this budget alone there is $2.7 billion invested. In this budget over 30 per cent of Labor’s investment in upgrading and modernising schools goes to regional and rural communities. Of the record $1 billion investment to repair and resurface roads, 70 per cent will go to country roads. More than 50 per cent of the local sports infrastructure projects in 2025–26 were in regional Victorian communities.

We do not just talk about percentages, we deliver. These are not just slogans in an election year, these are schools built, hospitals upgraded, TAFEs expanded and communities seeing real investment where they live. In towns right across regional Victoria, people can point to projects that are already making a difference because this government backed them with funding and got on with the job. Last week a member for Eastern Victoria in the other place and I visited the towns of Loch and Nyora to unveil project numbers 99 and 100 of completed Tiny Towns projects. While those opposite are talking about percentage guarantees, we are delivering on outcomes. By contrast, the member for Gippsland South is in the country talking about percentage guarantees and the member for Kew is talking about $40 billion cuts in the city.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity for ministers to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to her ministers statement.

Michaela SETTLE: Regional Victorians have been down this road before. The member for Kew’s cuts will mean cuts to regional hospitals, schools, TAFEs and vital services. A friendly reminder to the member for Gippsland South: 25 per cent of nothing is nothing.