Thursday, 13 November 2025

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:43): I would like to take the opportunity to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is providing a big boost to our tiniest towns. Our Tiny Towns Fund is so popular, and it tends to really highlight the best of regional Victoria and some amazing people. That was certainly evident last week when the member for Macedon and I visited the Glenlyon Recreation Reserve to celebrate the completion of their project and to officially launch the opening of applications for round 3.

Hepburn Shire Council received $37,500 in round 1 of Tiny Towns, which they used for the construction of an accessible equestrian mounting ramp. The ramp is an accessible landing area that assists horseriders of all abilities to participate in the local pony club, adult riding club and Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia activities. We met Helen. Helen relies on the ramp and the assistance of amazing RDA volunteers to mount the very calm horse Jazz. It was lovely to see Helen be able to enjoy her ride, as well as the other enthusiastic riders that demonstrated the importance of this new investment. The Glenlyon project is one of more than 350 successful projects funded under the first two rounds.

Round 3 of the $20 million Tiny Towns Fund is now open for applications. It is about supporting community-driven projects that make a real difference. Grants of between $5000 and $50,000 are available for projects in towns with populations of less than 5000. Whether it is an upgrade to a walking track along the Lake Victoria foreshore at Loch Sport or improvements to the Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway facility, the Tiny Towns Fund is supporting projects that make a difference to these beautiful communities. The fund is just one of the many examples of our $47 billion investment in regional Victoria since 2014. We are a government that continues to invest in regional Victoria, and we always will.

Nick McGowan: On a point of order, President, under standing order 8.07(2), I ask you to please review the Minister for Youth Justice’s answers to today’s questions, in particular the correctional systems that relate to his responsibility for those prisoners on remand awaiting trial and sentencing.

The PRESIDENT: I am always happy to review answers to questions. I am going by the precedence of previous presidents. As I have stated – it is probably boring that I keep saying it – members have every right to ask a minister any question they like, but a minister has the right to respond that that particular question should be in another minister’s remit. But I am happy to review it.

Anasina Gray-Barberio: On a point of order, President, I ask if it is possible for the Minister for Children to table the document that she spoke about in her members statement in relation to the letter that was signed by 14 disability advocates.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, if the minister is prepared to do so?

Lizzie Blandthorn: Yes.

The PRESIDENT: The minister is prepared to do so, so that will be tabled right now.