Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Ministers statements: business support

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (12:15): Today I would like to update the house on the COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Fund. In October last year a new $40 million fund was announced to help councils transform more outdoor areas so Victorians can enjoy local attractions safely as restrictions ease. The fund allocated $29.5 million to councils so that they could provide immediate assistance to businesses to operate outdoors through fee waiving and physical improvements such as new street furniture, landscaping, marquees, planter boxes, public art and entertainment to bring our outdoor precincts to life.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to attend and witness the work that has been done around the South Melbourne Market with one of my colleagues in here, Nina Taylor. What a fantastic representative of the area she is with her passion for her community. We were lucky enough to get a little bit of time together but also with the member for Albert Park, Martin Foley. It was fantastic. I have got to say, and I hate to break the opposition’s heart, that Ms Taylor and I were actually pretty chuffed that people—there were a lot of people there—were queueing up to get a photo with Martin Foley, so obviously they appreciate—

Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, I think the minister is straying in his cheerio way beyond ministerial business, and I think he should be brought back to something that is at least close to ministerial business.

The PRESIDENT: I thought the minister had finished.