Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:37): I would like to rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is supporting regional businesses to create more jobs. Last week I was delighted to be at Tongala Nutrition to announce support for the company’s expansion through the regional stream of the $150 million Victorian Investment Fund. Tongala Nutrition have been producing nutrition and UHT liquid products since 2023, after acquiring the former Nestlé factory. With the government’s support, they will upgrade their technology and infrastructure and create 40 brand new jobs. It was great to meet CEO Sidd Jani and Tongala local Shannon Tucker to hear about how they have brought the site back to life, employing locals and really immersing themselves in the community.

Established last year, the Victorian Investment Fund is fast-tracking strategic investments right across Victoria. Five priority sectors have been identified for investment: advanced manufacturing and defence, health technologies and medical and research, the circular economy, digital technologies and agribusiness. It is another success story for the small Victorian town of Tongala, where the government has also recently supported the expansion of Greenham Australia’s Tongala abattoir, which has seen them almost double their production and create 270 jobs. This latest investment in agricultural businesses reinforces Victoria’s position as a global leader in food production, creating jobs, driving economic growth and supporting regional communities, and that means jobs in country Victoria. This support is maintaining our low regional unemployment rate at 3.9 per cent, amongst the lowest in the states, and the Labor government is providing, of course, new solutions to make life easier by supporting regional businesses to thrive and creating jobs close to home.