Tuesday, 2 June 2026

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill – Minister for Local Government, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Corrections) (15:04): Every Victorian deserves to be safe at home, safe at work and safe in the community, and that is why this year’s budget is investing $1.7 billion to keep Victorians safe – new funding for our hardworking Victoria Police, new funding for our emergency services and new funding for our criminal justice system. This is the next step in the Allan Labor government’s community safety plan, which is delivering serious consequences for violent offending. In my portfolios that means investing in the capacity we need in our corrections and youth justice systems to make sure that serious offenders face serious consequences, like the Western Plains Correctional Centre and the Cherry Creek youth justice facility, both designed, built and now operating by this Labor government. That is more than 1200 new, modern beds added to our corrections and youth justice systems.

If we compare and contrast to when those opposite last sat on the government benches, our prisons were underfunded and overcrowded. A leopard does not change its spots, and that is exactly what those opposite are offering again, with their plans for $40 billion in cuts.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I know the minister is new, and I feel terrible doing this –

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order, member for Brighton?

James Newbury: A ministers statement is not an opportunity to attack the opposition.

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, I draw your attention to Rulings from the Chair, ‘A minister may refer to a range of policy positions’ – Speaker Brooks, 21 February 2018 and August 2019.

The SPEAKER: The minister did say he was comparing and contrasting.

Paul HAMER: This November Victorians will have a choice between a Labor government that is focused on cost of living –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I fail to see how direct electioneering in an attack on the opposition could possibly not be an attack on the opposition – clearly.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Paul HAMER: This is a choice between a Labor government that is focused on cost of living, with 20 per cent off rego, half-price public transport and investment in the schools, hospitals and prisons that we need and a Liberal outfit that will cut $40 billion out of vital services.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I renew my twice already raised concerns about the misuse of the ministers statement.

The SPEAKER: The minister will come back to his ministers statement without attacking the opposition.

Paul HAMER: We are funding the services that Victorians rely on for community safety, to get treatment when they are sick or to provide the best start in life for our children. We know what the Liberal cuts mean for crime and community safety, because we have seen it before.

The SPEAKER: I remind ministers that there is a fine line between comparing and contrasting previous governments and attacking the opposition.