Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Ministers statements: Broadford manufacturing

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:37): Okay, I want to start with a question: what is the only thing that is better than a Mintie? The answer is a Mintie made in Victoria. Last week I was delighted to head to Broadford, the home of Allen’s lollies, to celebrate the fact that Minties have now returned to Victoria from New Zealand. And what a welcome they have received.

We are delighted to have been able to invest through Regional Development Victoria to ensure that more than 200 employees at the Allen’s factory, plus an additional 20 employees, including a fitter and turner, including quality assurance, including apprentices, will be able to call Broadford home. It was really wonderful to get a tour from factory manager Emily Bradbury, who is in fact a Broadford girl herself, who had gone to New Zealand as a food scientist and returned to run this operation. It is extraordinary. We have robotics that have been manufactured in Melbourne alongside pallets that have been manufactured in Melbourne, with a giant drum that in fact circulates mint nougat over a drum and then pumps out Minties at a rate of 1750 a minute. That is a lot of Minties. What we now see is that Minties are being produced at this particular facility alongside other delicious treats such as Snakes Alive. We have got other chews on the chew line, which is what I now know the subject matter specific lingo to be.

I want to thank all of the workers who took the time to show me around the factory. Eating hot Minties as they are given to you by a factory staffer is one of the great experiences. I am looking forward to seeing Minties go from strength to strength. I did not bring enough for the class today, but I urge you all to head out and buy some.