Wednesday, 3 June 2026

 Paul EDBROOKE (Frankston – Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Cost of Living, Minister for Renters, Minister for Men and Boys) (14:24): I rise to update the house on how our government is doing the work to put money back in the pockets of Victorian families. We know that the cost of living is putting pressure on family budgets and family time. They are feeling it at the petrol pump; they are feeling it at the family kitchen table. They are feeling it in every walk of life, and only this side of the chamber has a real plan to back families. A great example of this is that, within 48 hours of it opening, more than 1 million Victorians have applied for 20 per cent off their rego. And I dare say a lot of them have too. That is 1 million families getting the help they need right now, because Labor backs them. At the petrol pump our fair fuel plan is also helping families save money every single week. We will always do everything we can to back Victorian families, because after all that is what we are here for.

I will tell you what we will not do. We will not stand up alongside criminals who rip money from the pockets of Victorian families, because there is only one side of the chamber with a history of that – eating a lobster with a mobster –

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to not hit the table during his ministers statement.

Michael O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, when the youth minister has been giving references to criminals like Joe Biden with an autopen –

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order?

Michael O’Brien: It is wrong for the minister to attack the opposition.. You have drawn a number of ministers’ attention to that protocol before.

The SPEAKER: State your point of order succinctly, member for Malvern. I remind the minister that it is not appropriate to attack the opposition. Come back to your ministers statement.

Paul EDBROOKE: Thank you, Speaker, and I take that on board. But there is only one side of this chamber that has been caught out campaigning with a con man, someone who took money from kinder kids – standing next to someone who took money from kinder kids at a campaign opportunity. Who was that?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am loath to remove any more members from the chamber, member for South-West Coast.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is clearly defying the ruling you just gave him.

The SPEAKER: Minister, if you cannot come back to your ministers statement, then I ask you to stay in your seat.

Paul EDBROOKE: Victorians need real action right now, and that is what this side of the house is consistently delivering for our communities. We are not there dealing with people who steal from kinder kids. We are not out there –

Danny O’Brien: I renew the point of order, Speaker.

The SPEAKER: The minister will stay in his seat.