Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:38): (682) My question is for the minister representing the Treasurer. The Herald Sun reported on Sunday that the government is facing a $400 million black hole as the housing market continues to slump. The Metro Tunnel has blown out with an additional $837 million spend, and just this week the government has had to announce an additional $1 billion to fix our roads that are completely falling apart. We are clearly in dire financial circumstances, with investors getting cold feet and the weight of taxes and fees making life incredibly difficult for ordinary Victorians. Health and other social services in Melbourne’s west have long been underfunded. I am concerned that the state of the finances in this state will continue to degrade and Melbourne’s west will miss out again. How will the Treasurer ensure that residents in Melbourne’s west will receive the funding and infrastructure that they need?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:38): I thank Mrs Deeming for her question. There is a lot in that, but I am sure that the Treasurer, as a western suburbs MP himself, would be delighted to have a conversation with you about investment in the west. You particularly mentioned health, and the Footscray Hospital is a pretty significant investment. I am sure the Minister for Health can give you a bit of a run-down on how that is shaping up as well.

 Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:39): It is also well known that the western suburbs are the fastest growing in the state. Therefore will the Treasurer commit to allocating a significant base load of funding based on population?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:39): I thank Mrs Deeming for her supplementary question. I will pass that on to the Treasurer.