Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Jobs, Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Minister for Defence Industry) (14:13): The word of the day is ‘Jesstruction’, where you go out of your way to destroy jobs. On this side of the house –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, it is completely inappropriate to refer to a member by their Christian name and try some stupid juvenile game of adding it to another word. This is completely inappropriate.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Minister for Jobs, be mindful of how you are expressing yourself.

Melissa HORNE: On this side of the house, we back working people, we create jobs and we support manufacturing. In fact just last week I took a trip down to the south-east to visit some of the fantastic manufacturers that the Carroll Labor government is supporting. In the member for Bayswater’s electorate, we are helping EVO Power to scale up their factory, where they build industrial-sized batteries that help businesses and communities take advantage of cheap solar power. In the member for Oakleigh’s electorate, we are backing Victorian manufacturer Axent to build smart traffic signals to be used across the country, and, let me tell you, there is a bit of a rush on for orange ‘Danger’ signs that warn of a Liberal–One Nation coalition. In the Deputy Premier’s electorate our support is intermodal, backing in boatbuilder Bar Crusher Boats to add a new production line and bus maker Volgren to expand their facilities.

When it comes to getting things built in Victoria, the Carroll Labor government is on the right track. We are supporting manufacturers to scale up and innovate. We are backing them in with our local content requirements through the $150 million Victorian Investment Fund. On the other side, however, they have an opposition leader who does not believe that governments can create jobs, so when –

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will be mindful. I do not mind comparisons and contrasts, but it is not appropriate to attack the opposition.

Melissa HORNE: Of course, Speaker. Thank you for your ruling. When the opposition announced their plan to buy new trains, Victorian workers, particularly those in Ballarat, were quite right to ask where they would be built. The opposition leader’s plan is one carriage short of a train set, and her promised cuts will derail Victoria’s manufacturing advantage. While those opposite are all marrow and no bone, on this side of the house the Carroll Labor government will continue to back in manufacturers.