Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Leader of the House, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy, Minister for Major Events, Minister for Medical Research, Minister for Racing, Minister for Economic Development) (14:29): I rise to update the house on the work the Caroll Labor government is doing to deliver a strong, high-skill, high-wage economy right here in Victoria. That is because we are pro jobs. We are a pro-investment government. We also know that we are a government that will roll out the red carpet for those wanting to do business here in Victoria. Some want to cut nurses and want to cut teachers; they give them the bird. That is what we have seen in the past. What I would say, though, is that Labor is the party of working people, but also the economy is a partnership between working people, the government and business. We respect that partnership, making sure Victoria is the best place for business to invest.

As Victoria’s first Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy, it is my top priority to make sure our state is the epicentre of innovation and investment. We know that AI has the potential to generate some $30 billion for the Victorian economy over the next decade. Harnessing that growth means more jobs and more opportunities for working people. Earlier this year we saw that the Labor government delivered more than half of all jobs created in Australia right here in Victoria. We know that for major events and medical research we are the capital. We lead the country when it comes to major events and medical research. We also want to make sure that we work very hard to continue to be the economic engine room for the digital economy into the future.

Some in this place do not even have a spokesperson for economic development, and they do not even trust anyone over there to be their Shadow Treasurer. But we also know what they do trust. What you can trust them to do is cut – cut by $40 billion. What we will do on this side of the house is invest in working people and invest in jobs for working families, and the digital economy provides every opportunity for our government to do that. We will continue to make sure that you cannot cut your way to economic prosperity here in Victoria. You must invest in Victorians, invest in working families and make sure that they have every opportunity to prosper and to thrive, and that is what our Carroll Labor government will continue to do. We will do that through our work with the digital economy and training our people for the jobs of the future.