Wednesday, 23 September 2026


Members statements

State election


David SOUTHWICK

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State election

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (10:21): There are 66 days to go until Victoria gets the fresh start that they have been hoping for, and we absolutely need to bring confidence and hope back to this great state. You only have to talk to businesses and you only have to talk to people that are struggling to get a home to understand how much they desperately need that restart. Last week I was with the Victorian Tourism Industry Council with Lisa Patroni and Scott Chapman, the chair, and those in the room were desperate for that restart. We know regional Victorian tourism has been neglected by this government. They have been so focused on Melbourne that they have neglected regional tourism. We will make sure tourism is the heart and soul. It is an economic driver, and it must be seen as such. We need a 10-year plan because that is what VTIC have been calling for. We need to ensure we grow this to a $70 billion industry, and that is what a Liberal–National government will do. We will ensure visitation comes back to Victoria. We will get Melburnians to go and visit the regions, because at the moment 70 per cent of Melburnians have not visited the regions. In housing we will make sure that Victorians can get a home. We have heard the Housing Industry Association, the Property Council of Victoria, Master Builders Victoria and the Urban Development Institute of Australia all come out today and say Victoria needs a reset because this government is not building enough homes. This government is all talk and no action when it comes to building homes. A Liberal government under Jess Wilson will build homes and give choice back to Victorians to get people into homes in this state.