Thursday, 30 May 2024

Economy

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (17:57): (939) My adjournment is for the Treasurer. Victoria now has more debt than New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania combined, and things are getting much worse. By 2028 the projected repayments on interest alone are going to be $25 million per day. The action that I seek is for the Treasurer to outline exactly what actions he is taking to prevent this financial disaster.

From listening to the government and the way they talk about the state budget, you would think that they are doing incredibly well – and I am sad that they have all knocked off for the day so they cannot be here to hear this. They are in a constant state of celebration: celebrating themselves, patting themselves on the back about the incredible work they are allegedly delivering – although I have not seen it – and talking about all these plans for what they are going to do. From listening to them, you would think they are world-leading in education, health and the economy when in fact one in three kids in the school system cannot even read properly – and in my electorate that number rises to one in two. We have not got a hospital in Pakenham, because the government cannot afford to build one; it was meant to be opened this year, and they have not even started it. Once again the Warragul hospital has not had its funding commitments fulfilled because there is no money for it.

While the Labor Party are celebrating themselves, Victorians are suffering. This has a cost to all of us. It could be the Pakenham hospital, which has still not opened; every day people come into my electorate office and talk about how this is impacting them. It could be San Remo Primary School; they could actually have the upgrades that they were promised that were cut in this year’s budget. It could be Koo Wee Rup Primary School, which should be getting upgrades, but again, that was cut in this budget – the same with the Drouin secondary and primary schools. In fact I was on the phone to somebody from Drouin Secondary this week, and they said when the announcement of funding came through Harriet Shing came to the school, did the announcements – there were all sorts of celebrations; she got a great photo and spread it around on social media – but when it was cut there was no such courtesy, just stony silence from the government.

Warragul hospital has not received its funding. Constituents have also expressed their concern to me about the cuts to cancer research, and I can understand why they are worried. Labor’s financial management is hurting Victorians, and Victorians need to know what they are doing about it.