Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (14:06): I am honoured and humbled to have been elected unanimously to serve as the 50th Premier of Victoria.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for an hour. I will not tolerate this level of interjections across the chamber.

Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.

Ben CARROLL: The stakes at this election are simply too high. Polling shows Victoria is on track for our first Liberal–One Nation government, and we know what a Liberal–One Nation government will do: cut health care, cut services, cut cheaper child care and cut TAFE. All the services Victorians rely on will be cut.

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

Anthony Carbines: On the point of order, Speaker, the Premier is entitled to compare and contrast in his response and in his answer, and that is appropriate.

The SPEAKER: All members know the rules about ministers statements, particularly the ministers on their feet.

Ben CARROLL: This election, only Labor can stop the risk of a Liberal–One Nation government that will hurt and go after working people, and to do that we are going to go in a new direction. The government I lead will be in a new direction. We will be focused on the basics: on education, on health, on cost of living and on community safety.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Caulfield! Leader of the Nationals! Member for Polwarth, this is your last warning.

Ben CARROLL: I have already announced my first action as Premier, which is to call a royal commission into the construction sector, and the government I lead will ensure every dollar spent is treated with respect and will make sure that it goes to the people that matter most. I also want to be crystal clear that when it comes to crime there will be zero tolerance. That is why, after being sworn in, my first phone call was to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police to tell him he will have every resource that he needs to fight and combat crime. And I am going to make sure that Victoria is a great place for business to invest and start a company.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I will not accept you yelling across the table.