Thursday, 24 February 2022

Responses

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (17:48): I thank all members who have contributed to the adjournment debate this evening, a range of issues from members for the attention of my ministerial colleagues. To Mr Ondarchie, Ms Taylor, Dr Cumming, Ms Burnett-Wake, Mr Limbrick, Ms Crozier, Ms Lovell and Mrs McArthur, I will seek a response as is the normal course of things from the respective ministers.

Mr Quilty’s matter, I think, asked something of the Minister for Planning that is quite difficult for him to do given his obligations in the context of the legislation, but it very much falls within the responsibilities I have within the resources portfolio, so we will seek a written response from the planning minister. But I just wanted to reflect on your comments and your observations. Everybody loves a level crossing removal project and everybody loves a freeway upgrade. There is nothing quite as exciting as moving into a new home. These materials do not come from thin air, and so providing certainty for our quarrying industry is really important and is something I am very committed to doing. So I concur with many of the sentiments that you expressed in your contribution on behalf of one business in particular, but I think the same can be said of these businesses, many of which are small businesses, right across the state that do an incredibly important job in keeping the rest of us moving around and doing the things that we want to do. So thank you for your advocacy. I will invite the Minister for Planning to provide a response as it was right in the grey area between our two portfolios.

Mr Davis raised a matter for my attention in the small business portfolio from a gentleman, Cameron Bradley of SE Bathrooms, in relation to an outstanding query around the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund. I managed to grab Mr Davis before he left the chamber to take Mr Bradley’s contact details, and my office is already in the process of following that up.

But I take this opportunity to thank Mr Bradley and his family and his workforce. Mr Davis made some comments about how they had done everything that had been asked of them throughout what has been a very challenging couple of years—restrictions, 5 kilometres, all kinds of things that have been difficult and hard. I just want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that and acknowledge that this family and this business have done everything that has been asked of them. With the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund most claims were able to be paid very, very quickly. There were a small number relative to the overall fund that had anomalies that needed to be attended to—numbers not matching, issues with registrations and some of the checks and balances that I think most members would agree are an important part of administering a fund of that scale supporting that many businesses. So what I would indicate to Mr Davis, through Hansard in his absence, but also to Mr Bradley is that if there is any way for us to determine that he is eligible for that grant, then we will get to that very quickly.

The PRESIDENT: The house stands adjourned.

House adjourned 5.51 pm until Tuesday, 8 March.