Events industry
Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (09:54): Prior to entering Parliament, for 20-plus years I was involved in the events industry, and I am very proud to say that I put a smile on so many people’s faces, whether it was at a wedding, a bar mitzvah, a milestone event or a corporate event. Unfortunately there are no smiles on many people’s faces from the events industry right now. They have been left high and dry by the Andrews Labor government. Today as I stand in Parliament, there are people in 40-plus trucks from the events industry circling Parliament asking for action, asking for the Premier and for the minister to meet with them to give them some certainty about their industry going forward. They represent mums and dads and families that have been let down by the Andrews Labor government. These people do not get a handout. These people do not get help. These people are struggling to provide food for their family.
Damian from Action Events, which runs events for the fetes industry—carnival rides, jumping castles—cannot get in and run a fete. Those fetes provide lots of fundraising for the schools and for the kids. Those fetes have not been able to run because the Andrews Labor government have left the events industry high and dry and those families high and dry who cannot raise valuable money for their families. I ask the government to meet with the events industry and those people that put the smiles on all of our faces to keep us happy. There has been no joy with lockdown. There has been no joy in this state, the way the government has treated individuals. It is time that the events industry got a voice.