Thursday, 14 August 2025

Ballarat West

Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (17:31): (1850) I am wanting to address my adjournment tonight to the Premier, and it concerns a very important historical document that is from the Labor Party actually in 1999. Now, Mr McIntosh might actually have an interest in this. The document is titled ‘Standing Up for Ballarat West’. It is not the seat of Wendouree, Mr McIntosh, but we know you have an interest in that as well. It says that what the Bracks Labor government will do – now, get this – is provide a budget surplus every year, overseen by an independent Auditor-General. How far have the Labor Party stepped away from that? Quite a long way, you would have to say. They are almost unrecognisable, aren’t they, really?

The next thing that they wanted to do was to cut class sizes for grades prep, 1 and 2 – well, maybe going by some of the behaviour we have seen, we have got some students from those classes that we can talk to – and also make hospitals cleaner and reduce hospital waiting lists. We know that hospital waiting lists have blown out under you guys. I bet you that Steve Bracks would be so ashamed to see what is going on here.

This one, Mr McIntosh, you are going to love: guarantee reliable supplies of gas and electricity through an essential services commission. And get this one – here is another one that was promised: cut crime by boosting police numbers. What a revelation. But again, we see it not happening. This is one that I think is really, really great that you guys will like. It is: abolish the catchment management tax. You guys are addicted to taxes, but here your predecessors were wanting to abolish a tax.

You guys would be ashamed if the Steve Bracks of 1999 looked forward and saw what was happening right now. But this is the best one. The last one says: listen to the people of Ballarat West. I tell you now, that does not happen from the current member for Wendouree. It is an absolute disgrace. So the action I seek is: I want to know from the Premier how she is going to restore Victoria’s reputation, with all these policies that the Labor Party took to the people of Victoria completely and utterly trashed, because under this government Victoria is suffering. How is the Premier going to turn this around?

Ingrid Stitt: On a point of order, President, I know it has been a long week – well, not that long – but I am not sure I am clear on the action that Mr McCracken was seeking there from the Premier.

The PRESIDENT: I think the action was to deliver commitments from a Premier four premiers ago. Was it something like that? You can repeat the action.

Joe McCRACKEN: It was: will the Premier outline how she intends to restore Victoria’s reputation, given those things that were promised in the past? I want her to outline how she is going to restore Victoria’s reputation.

The PRESIDENT: I just do not think it is an adjournment.

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, a member for Eastern Victoria Region got up and said, ‘Give me an outline, Minister.’

The PRESIDENT: Update, yes.

Melina Bath: Yes, ‘The action I seek is an outline.’

The PRESIDENT: Update.

Melina Bath: And this member for Western Victoria Region got up and asked for an explanation about how the Premier would do something – they are virtually the same ingredient.

The PRESIDENT: I think Mr McIntosh asked for an update of a current program from a current minister, where Mr McCracken is calling on the current Premier to fulfil or implement what a Premier four premiers ago –

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I am sorry. It is this current Premier – 100 per cent you are asking the question of the current Premier about the actions of a previous Premier. Why don’t we just review it, and if it is okay, it will go through.