Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:42): Labor’s drought response package is delivering immediate and future water security for western Victoria. Our long-term water strategy, funded by the drought package, is taking shape, with its first productive meeting in Ararat very recently. This was led by local farmer Mark Wootton, who I have appointed as chair of the consultative committee. As a farmer and former catchment management authority chair, Mark will ensure local knowledge guides our strategy as we consult intensively with farmers, community and water experts. Covering a third of the state, the strategy will deliver a lasting blueprint for water resource management in western Victoria for the next 50 years.

We are also taking immediate action. The drought taskforce recommended we explore the Dilwyn aquifer to strengthen water security in the critical Heytesbury food bowl, and we have listened. Today I commit to fund the Heytesbury feasibility study through Labor’s drought package to further explore secure water supply for the region. Our drought package is also investing $3 million to expand our network of emergency water supply points across western Victoria. We are applying this funding to sink new bores, repair and upgrade existing supply points and map forgotten locations. We have now funded 13 supply point upgrades. We have identified a further 18 new and upgraded supply points for investment, and we have refreshed the online database by locating and mapping over 60 forgotten supply points so farmers know exactly where to find emergency water. We welcome the VFF’s backing of this very important work. Labor’s drought package will continue to support impacted communities in western Victoria now and into the future.

Renee Heath: President, my point of order is on the supplementary question. I am unsure if the minister has potentially – I do not think he would have meant it – misled the house. He quoted a number about the crime statistics going down, and I have checked –

The PRESIDENT: I do not think that is a point or order.

Renee Heath: I have checked and they have gone up, so I just wanted him to maybe take that on notice to correct.

The PRESIDENT: You need to do a substantive motion if you are going to suggest someone may have misled the house.