Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:45): I am happy to rise and speak on the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–27) Bill 2026. I am pleased to make a contribution on the appropriation. I want to begin by putting on the record the opposition’s thanks to the many people who make this Parliament function: the attendants and the grounds staff, the clerks and chamber staff of both houses, and kitchen and catering staff, and the reception and front-of-house staff in the Department of Parliamentary Services, all of whom have done their job with cheerfulness, professionalism, good candour and sometimes under great pressure. We do appreciate what they do. That also includes of course the library, Hansard, IT and security teams as well.

To the Clerk of the Legislative Council, the Clerk of the Assembly and their deputies, and to the staff of the investigatory committees, thank you for the work that you do. I want to thank too the independent officers appropriated through this bill: the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Auditor-General, the Victorian Ombudsman, the IBAC Commissioner, the Chief Integrity Inspector at Integrity Oversight Victoria and the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission.

If members look at schedule 1, they will see the total appropriation rises from $297.204 million to $313.713 million. Despite media headlines, the bodies whose whole purpose is to hold this government to account have not done well in this budget. Integrity Oversight Victoria, the body that oversees the integrity system itself, rises by just 2.7 per cent. The Auditor-General moves from $20.419 million to $21.046 million, which is little more than indexation, and this is an office already missing its own reporting timeline targets. I would have thought that given the scale and importance of the Auditor-General’s work in this state there was a far stronger case to be made. And this is the real concern here: these are the agencies with the oversight of government and the government continues to fail in giving them adequate funding. The Auditor-General, IBAC and the Ombudsman jointly renewed their call for a transparent and independent funding model. Investigations into government corruption continue to be shelved due to a lack of government funding. Genuine integrity requires that the bodies enforcing it be funded adequately and transparently, not merely at the discretion and on the timetable of the government they are meant to watch. But that is how it works here in Victoria under Labor.

This bill provides the essential financial authority for the Parliament, and we will not stand in the way of that. But I would urge the government to take seriously a simple principle of accountability and transparency: the Victorian public are entitled to know why these decisions by their elected representatives to underfund integrity bodies are made. With those reflections, I will support the bill.

 Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:49): It is an absolute delight to speak on the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–2027) Bill 2026. Before I really get into the funding allocations for our departments and agencies, I want to take a moment to look around and reflect on where we are. Every single year in this Parliament’s term I have spoken on the Parliament appropriation bill, but I have got to tell you, this one feels particularly special. This is the final Parliament appropriation bill of this Parliament’s term, and as we start looking towards the upcoming election it gives us a real moment to reflect upon how this whole institution actually functions day to day, and most importantly, the folks who make it all possible.

This bill seeks an appropriation authority from the Consolidated Fund for our Parliament and our independent officers for the upcoming 2026–27 financial year. That is the funding that literally keeps the lights on, the water running and the doors open in this spectacular workplace. It is the funding that ensures our democracy not just functions but actually thrives.

But we all know that this building is much more than just sandstone, green and red carpets and the gold leaf on the ceiling, as beautiful as it is. I want to spend a really significant part of my contribution today giving gratitude to the people that make this building work. In here we parliamentarians use the phrase ‘public service’ a lot, but truly it is the folks that this bill pays for who are the absolute exemplification of what it means to be a public servant. You are the stewards of our democracy, and I know firsthand that the hours are incredibly long, especially for those dealing with this chamber. The demands are sometimes overwhelmingly high, and the public recognition is all too rare. But I want to thank every single staff member in this precinct, and I would like them to know this: you do not just serve us; by serving this Parliament, you are directly serving the people of Victoria. When you unlock the heavy doors in the morning, when you brew that much-needed coffee, when you fix the wi-fi so we can read our emails or when you print the actual bills, you are enabling this chamber to pass laws that build our state. You are a massive part of something so much larger than any individual in this room, and every single Victorian is better off for your service. I could go to each of the individual areas here that are supported by the Parliament, but I just need to say to each and every one of you: when you look at this bill before us, know that it is here to serve our democracy. I cannot support this strongly enough. With that I commend this bill to the chamber.

 Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (17:51): I just want to use this opportunity to thank those in Parliament that look after us. We have Hansard behind us. We have security. We have IT – I am sure to forget someone. We have catering. We have the chamber staff – I see Theo over there. We all do a job in this place, and they do as much of a job as we do; we just do different parts of it. I think the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–2027) Bill 2026 is an appropriate time just to say thanks to all.

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (17:52): I also rise on this Appropriation (Parliament 2026–2027) Bill 2026, because I want to put on record my sincere thanks to all the incredible people that work in here. I think you have one of the hardest jobs in the world, working with 40 sometimes high-maintenance politicians. It is a lot of type-A personalities put in one chamber and let loose on each other. I absolutely want to commend every single one of you for your patience and for being calm when things are a little bit intense.

I spoke this morning about the security team. From the minute you walk in or even see the steps there are people there making sure that there is always somebody that has got your back. Also, just when you walk out generally, it is the people around here. It is the Gregs of this world. It is the Theos. It is the people like that that you off-load whatever thought to first, and I just think it is absolutely fantastic, particularly when we do really late nights – that is not a regular job. I think it was last Thursday night everybody here – of course we are expected to stay until 5 am, because that is on us. We keep asking questions; we keep making speeches. But to the people that just day in, day out serve here, making democracy work and making sure everyone is safe, fed, well looked after: we are just so incredibly grateful for you. So thank you, and here is to another 12 months.

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (17:53): I would just like to echo the comments of Dr Heath and Mr Bourman. This is an extraordinary place, and what makes it so extraordinary is the people that keep it together on a day-to-day basis. It seems like it is never too much trouble. Whether we are going into tables, going in for a meal or just walking the grounds and meeting the garden staff and the security, it is just an extraordinary privilege that we enjoy. I am in constant awe of the people who work here, just at their sheer professionalism.

I would like to put in a plug, if I may, because I think one of the critical elements of this place is the committees. I think it is very, very clear that those committees are running on the smell of an oily rag, and they are critical to our function, particularly as a house of review, to understanding what we are dealing with, to coming to the truth. I look at the way in which at the moment they are covering each other and trying to fill the gaps, and I think that that creates gaps, potentially, in our own democracy here in Victoria.

Having got that off my chest, on behalf of Legalise Cannabis Victoria I would just like to extend our profound thanks to everyone who makes this place work.

 Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (17:55): I have spoken on my feet before about how incredibly lucky we are to have the democracy that we have in Victoria and indeed Australia. When I am out in community and those conversations arise, I talk about how much we should value it. Though people may have issues with various political parties or positions and all this sort of stuff, at the end of the day we should really value the democracy that generations before us fought so hard for.

Of course it would not operate in a way that enables our society to live relatively peacefully and respectfully without all the staff here, so I echo the comments made before me that have picked up on so many of the points. I think the committees do an incredible job, whether it is being asked to be mobile or to go out into the community and out into the regions in the work that we do. To the point Dr Heath raised before about the hours of work here, not only having to do the hours but having to listen to all of us is a massive task in itself. It would be remiss of me not to shout out the dining staff and the incredible toasted sandwiches that have been on the menu in recent years, because $14 for the size they are is quite incredible, and they provide the energy to keep us all going. But in all seriousness, to everybody right across the parliamentary staff – security, Hansard and everyone all the way – thank you so much for what you do.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (17:57): I was not planning on speaking on this, but I think I will jump in for a contribution. I am very delighted to jump in for a contribution on this one; it is one of my favourite things to speak on every year. I want to put on record my thanks to all the parliamentary staff who work in this building, from the clerks to the people in the table office to the cleaners to the catering staff and to all the other staff that work so hard so that we can do our jobs as members of Parliament. I think if it was just left it up to the members of Parliament, this place would be in disarray. We do rely heavily on the parliamentary staff, the parliamentary library and everyone that is involved in putting sitting weeks together, which is a meticulously planned process.

Can I particularly thank the security team that looks after all members of Parliament. I know we have had in my office in Meadow Heights a bunch of very serious incidents of crime around the outside of the office, and the security team have always had a really good working relationship with Victoria Police to make sure the community is safe. One recent example over the last 12 months was where a pedestrian was hit by a car right outside my office, literally right outside my office, and suffered serious injuries. We worked together, the security team and I, to put pressure on the landlord to put in some pedestrian bollards so that the community could be safe from both erratic drivers and people that might have their foot stuck on the accelerator and be driving too fast, because ultimately the safety of the community, particularly around Meadow Heights, is very important. The way that the security team in particular have cooperatively worked with Victoria Police to help solve a number of different assaults that have happened outside of my office has been commendable.

I would also like to thank the property team who help all of us. We have had quite a bit of water damage over our time at the electorate office, and they are always hugely attentive. They also were when for some reason or another the landlord thought it was appropriate to put out some poison and poisoned a whole bunch of pigeons, which very much distressed the community in Meadow Heights. Thankfully, that is not a practice that has been continued. I would like to particularly thank the property team and the security team for the work that they do. It is also a good opportunity to thank staff in particular. I would like to thank my staff: Ryan, Percy, Orshina, Adam and Baris, as well as Bernadette, who is leaving us to, hopefully, join this place as the number 2 candidate for the Northern Metropolitan Region. I would like to finish there, but again I thank all the staff around the Parliament for the work that they do.

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (18:00): I too wanted to put on the record my gratitude for the incredible work that the staff around Parliament do. As has been said, they keep this place running, and they are always so welcoming and accommodating. It is possibly not always well deserved, but it is something I always very much appreciate. They treat all of us so well. I always feel incredibly well supported and looked after. I also want to extend special thanks to the security team in particular, who have supported my team and me through some challenging situations over the past year. I really appreciate their hard work, responsiveness and accessibility at all times.

I do want to make a few comments on where we feel further funding is needed and some areas where we were disappointed with this bill. Firstly, I would like to see some more funding going towards supporting the work of parliamentary committees. A key function of this house of Parliament in particular, given the make-up of our committees, is conducting inquiries that dive deeply into subjects of interest to the community, but they are also a key mechanism for us to hold the government to account. The committee staff this term have done an absolutely extraordinary job. We have made a lot of committee referrals, and the demand has been high. We have also had a number of select committees. But it can be very challenging for them, given the limited resources that are provided for these committees. We would like to see more funding going towards this so this Parliament can do its job properly and so we do not have to feel, every time we make a referral for an inquiry or to establish a select committee, that that work needs to be constrained because of the lack of resources that are being provided.

I also want to touch on funding for integrity agencies. The government has again refused to give our integrity agencies the resources they need to do their job. In February the Ombudsman, the IBAC Commissioner and the Auditor-General took the extraordinary step of writing a joint paper to call for more funding to maintain confidence in our integrity system. Despite being asked to do more since its functions were effectively expanded in 2019, funding for the Ombudsman has not increased commensurately, effectively limiting what it can do and resulting in fewer own-motion and complaint-led investigations. Similarly, IBAC has got a backlog of complaints now, and it is having to rearrange its staffing to try and manage this backlog. Both of these are clear examples of the impact that failure to adequately fund these integrity agencies is having, yet this budget, yet again, has failed to deliver the funding they have been asking for and that they demonstrably need.

It is also a fundamental problem that still has not been addressed that the funding for these entities whose job it is to hold the government to account is determined by the very same government. The process lacks transparency: agencies request the funding, but these bids remain cabinet in confidence, and the agencies receive no explanation when they do not get what they asked for. This conflict of interest is not a new problem. In 2022 the Ombudsman, IBAC and the Auditor-General recommended that their funding be set through an independent process, but of course the government ignored those requests. So earlier this year they suggested a more modest change, which was ‘Okay, maybe the government can have the final authority, but at the very least there needs to be greater transparency and parliamentary scrutiny over the funding process’ – but again, nothing.

I have said it many times before in this place: strong integrity agencies are in everyone’s interest, foremost that of the Victorian public. Public trust in governments and other institutions is plummeting, and with scandals like the Big Build effectively brushed aside by the Victorian government and integrity agencies unable to look into them, who can blame the public for this sentiment?

These agencies are integral to ensuring transparency, accountability and proper oversight of the government and its agencies, and they are core to maintaining public trust. With this budget the Labor government has once again signalled it does not take integrity seriously, reinforcing the growing view that it is just here to maintain power for itself and not to serve the community’s interest.

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:05): I too rise to speak on the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–2027) Bill 2026, and I want to thank all of the parliamentary staff out here as well – they do a fantastic job – right down to those stewards who stand outside the chambers and those who come in and hand us the papers. It is so professional; everybody here is so professional in the way they behave. The people in the papers office – it is extraordinary work that they do, and they are always smiling, always pleasant and always easy to work with. Those who are at Hansard right now having to record, those who are transcribing and working on the details and even those in our dining rooms and our services: we are so grateful for the work that you do. I also want to acknowledge the security guys, because they have to put up with a lot, with us coming in and out and those lost tags or misplaced tags or left-at-home tags that we have to go through. We get to know them because they are often the first point of call. Quite often too security are the first lot of people that we will reach out to when we do not feel safe, and they go out of their way to work those hours and to be approachable and reasonable to make sure that we can do what we do here. In fact this parliamentary process would not even function if it was not for the fantastic staff.

I really want to take on board what Dr Mansfield mentioned too about the importance of the integrity of the process people have for actually being able to receive their funds and their wages and the importance of having a government that is transparent. We do not see that, unfortunately, with this government. That is why the community does feel quite outraged, because people are doing it tough, and no doubt there are many parliamentary staff who have things that they are having to deal with too. It just would be great to have that total transparency so that people can see where their hard-earned taxes are going when they have concerns with government, government processes and agencies.

I just want to thank not just the members of Parliament but everybody here that works to make this process work for us and for every Victorian. I know some of you work very long hours, and you put in that little bit of extra effort because you understand how much the Westminster system that we have matters and how much the parliamentary process matters. It matters to the Victorian people, and it matters to how we function. I know that wherever we go in this building we are met with people who are always highly professional in doing and going about their everyday jobs without any thanks, often without even any recognition. It is a thankless job most of the time, but this is one opportunity where members of Parliament can actually stand up and say to you: you are doing a great job out there. Thank you for making this place work, and thank you for the hours and the time and the effort that you put in.

I also want to acknowledge those who have worked on committee processes. Those guys put in an incredible amount of time and effort. There are some very, very clever people that work behind the scenes in committees, and they do work to produce some really interesting documentation that we can work through as a result of the questions and the things that are being produced in inquiries. I am very thankful for all the additional efforts that they put in.

We know that this whole parliamentary process also exists because of all those that are working down at St Andrews Place, and we thank them as well, even though they may may not be watching today. But to all of you that make this Parliament work: you deserve your wages. You deserve more. You deserve thanks, so today I just want to take the time to do that. And keep going, because we do have to do the very best we can by the people of this state and by this nation so that we can actually have a country that is worth living in. Thank you for doing your part to make that possible.

Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) incorporated the following:

I am pleased to speak on the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–2027) Bill.

A Bill that allocates resources to support the function of the Parliament of Victoria and related departmental support activities.

The Parliament of Victoria runs, every single day, on the work of hundreds of people who simply get on with their work, professionally, reliably, and without fuss.

In previous years I have been glad to express my appreciation for the work done here at Parliament and by the DPS. I have usually chosen one or two aread and focused on thanking them for their work. I have previously thanked the corporate services teams including human resources, finance, payroll, attendants and security staff during sitting weeks.

This year, I would like to start at the front door.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit our Parliament House.

Students on excursion, a constituent who has never been here before, a school or community group from Horsham or Portland, Geelong or Ballarat making the journey to Melbourne.

The first people they meet are staff members diligently doing security checks and they are then welcomed at the vestibule.

These staff are, in the truest sense, ambassadors for democracy.

They greet, screen, register and host guests across a long working day, with warmth and professionalism, regardless of who walks through the door.

That welcome matters.

For many Victorians, it shapes their entire impression of whether this place belongs to them.

I am grateful for every one of those interactions.

Behind that welcome sits an enormous architecture of risk assessment, security protocols and safety management.

Work that is largely invisible because, when it is done well, nothing goes wrong.

The people responsible for keeping guests, members and staff safe carry that responsibility every day without fanfare.

I checked in with my Electorate Office Security Advisor, Chris Pace to get a better idea of how many people are actually involved.

The Security Operations Parliament House is overseen by Adam, the Operations Manager.

He oversees the day to day running of security operations at Parliament. From protests, to liaising with Victoria Police and house departments.

There is the Security Support Team – Sunny, Tammy, Paramjit and Amit, their roles are administrative / technical back-end programming of our systems.

The friendly people who answer the phones from Electorate Officers, MPs or departments within POV.

They schedule maintenance calls, handle day to day monitoring of all things related to visitors and security.

Then there are the Security Advisers – Chris, Steven, Suzi and Courtney.

Their roles are varied, from security incident management, site visits, assisting MPs and staff with security advice, security risk assessments, assisting property services in assessments on new sites and liaising with Victoria Police.

They support security at 128 EOs across Victoria.

The Security Officers based at Parliament House are responsible for weapons and entry screening, mailroom duties and carparking management.

They all deserve our recognition for keeping us all safe and able to perform our duties.

One of my strong convictions is that Parliament must not just be a Melbourne institution.

Victorians in Warrnambool, Stawell, Geelong and Ballarat, right across Victoria’s regions deserve the same access to their elected representatives as anyone in the inner suburbs.

That access depends entirely on electorate offices and on the staff who run them.

Electorate Officers are the front line of representative democracy.

They are employed under the Parliamentary Administration Act 2005, but what no legislation can fully capture is the dedication they bring to that role every day.

They listen to constituents in distress.

They navigate complex government systems on behalf of people who don’t know where else to turn.

They are often the human face of a system that can feel very distant.

My electorate office team is also backed by Parliamentary Staff.

And I want to thank the property team who worked so hard to establish my office in central Warrnambool late last year.

It was, to put it plainly, a marathon effort.

Their persistence and professional outfitting of a new office meant that South West Victorians now have access to a Labor MP for the first time since 1955! And I say thankyou for that.

It is also true that we spend a lot of time here in Spring Street governing for the State.

Every law begins as an idea from a community to solve a problem.

It could be from a community need, or an election commitment, or an inquiry recommendation.

A minister and their department draft the Bill, which is then formally introduced, debated, and examined clause by clause.

Both Houses must agree before it proceeds to the Governor for Royal Assent and becomes law.

Inside this building, the Clerks of both Houses perform work that is foundational to the integrity of our proceedings.

They provide accurate procedural advice, process legislation, prepare documentation for sittings, and maintain the records of debate.

When we speak in this chamber, their work is what ensures our words are recorded correctly and that the business of government proceeds with the rigour it demands.

Our committee system is one of the most important mechanisms this Parliament has for scrutiny and community, stakeholder and technical engagement.

Victoria has joint investigatory committees, standing committees in both Houses, domestic committees and select committees.

At the moment they cover everything from electoral matters to early childhood education.

Each of these bodies undertakes time-consuming, substantive work on behalf of Victorians.

None of that work happens without secretariat support them.

Every committee is supported by a team.

A Committee Manager or Executive Officer, research staff administrative staff and the Hansard team.

They are, critically, apolitical.

They serve all members equally, regardless of party, providing unbiased advice and analysis.

In a polarised era, that impartiality is precious.

The research they produce, the briefing papers they write and the hearings they organise form the architecture of our accountability.

Committees also use media and communications to connect their inquiries with the public.

They call for submissions, publish reports, produce short videos, and reach Victorians through social media.

This public engagement work is coordinated by the secretariat alongside Parliament’s Communications and Public Engagement team.

For regional communities especially, who may not easily visit Parliament House, this outreach is vital.

The Department of the Legislative Council and the Department of the Legislative Assembly also each play a distinct and essential role.

They provide procedural support, process legislation, prepare sitting day resources and procedure guides, and promote public understanding of parliamentary democracy.

The Procedure Office, the Serjeant-at-Arms Office, the Clerk’s Office and table office provide expertise that members rely on. I want to make special mention of the LC Table Office team, Tom, Juliana, Theo, Annemarie, Kirra and Tash, who field all sorts of questions and requests with a happy smile every sitting day.

And then there is the Tours and Customer Service Unit which brings Parliament to life for thousands of Victorians each year.

For a child from Colac or Mildura who visits Parliament House for the first time and begins to understand what this place is and what it stands for, that experience can last a lifetime.

The staff who deliver these tours deserve our thanks.

I also want to acknowledge something we rarely discuss: the technology that underpins everything we do.

Parliament’s statewide information technology network links every electorate office to Parliament House, enabling members across Victoria to do their jobs.

An intelligent email security system protects all parliamentary users from thousands of on line security issues every single day.

This infrastructure is maintained by people who work methodically and often thanklessly to keep the institution running securely.

The House Committee oversees the management of parliamentary services.

This encompasses every aspect of this place. From our information technology, to the Parliament gardens, from refreshment rooms to the maintenance and renewal of this historic building as well as the new buildings.

They reflect the care this institution takes in presenting itself, as a place of public trust.

Every person I have described today, from the vestibule staff welcoming a first-time visitor to the researcher finishing a committee report late at night, gives their expertise and care to an institution that belongs to every Victorian.

These are the people that make democracy real. They do so quietly and often without recognition, and I say thank you.

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) incorporated the following:

President, I rise to speak on the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–27) Bill 2026.

This bill provides the appropriation authority necessary to support the Parliament of Victoria and a number of independent parliamentary offices during the 2026–27 financial year.

While appropriation bills are often viewed as procedural or technical in nature, they remain an important part of the parliamentary process.

They provide the practical means through which institutions are able to undertake their responsibilities and continue serving the Victorian community.

At its core, this bill is about ensuring that Parliament remains equipped to perform its constitutional functions.

It provides funding for the operation of both Houses of Parliament, parliamentary committees, parliamentary services and a number of independent officers whose work supports accountability, transparency and public confidence in our democratic system.

Without appropriate funding, Parliament would be unable to effectively carry out many of its responsibilities.

Members would be less able to represent their communities; committees would face constraints in undertaking inquiries and independent oversight bodies would be limited in their ability to perform their important functions.

This legislation therefore provides more than a series of financial allocations, but more crucially it provides the resources necessary for Parliament to continue serving Victorians and to continue fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to it.

Essentially these appropriation bills allow for this Parliament to withdraw funds to continue the basic operations of the government.

That can be anything and everything from the running of our Electorate Offices in our communities, to something as specific and straightforward as administrative staffing arrangements here.

But more importantly it ensures our democratic system can continue to deliver for Victorians.

Every member who enters this chamber does so carrying the views, concerns and aspirations of the people they represent.

While members may approach issues from different perspectives, the common thread that unites us is a commitment to serving our communities and contributing to the democratic process.

Our system is deliberative and allows for a range of voices to be heard, and as much as that might cause strong disagreements, it is also important that we continue to deliver on the basic needs people expect.

And President, that is why ensuring that there is a properly funded parliament is so important.

It ensures that the people’s business can be conducted smoothly and with assuredness.

It is crucial that Victorians have the confidence that this institution is well funded and up to the task of representing the great people of this state.

It’s not just the administrative and functional work and operations of this building, but the hard work that goes on out in the community.

People approach their local members seeking assistance with government services, navigating complex processes, raising concerns about local issues or advocating for change within their communities.

Electorate offices often serve as an important connection between individuals and government.

They help residents access information, assist people experiencing difficulties, engage with community groups, businesses and local organisations, and through their hard work we can advocate for local priorities.

They provide a forum through which community voices can be heard.

This work is often undertaken quietly and without significant public attention, yet it remains one of the most important functions of Parliament.

And that is why while these bills may seem mundane and procedural, they are important to the functioning of government.

These appropriations provide for the specific purposes set out in legislation and they do not lapse annually like the annual Appropriation Act, and thus need this separate legislation.

The Appropriation (2026–2027) Bill seeks authority for $102.1 billion in total for the ordinary annual services of Government for the 2026–27 financial year, whereas this Appropriation (Parliament 2026–2027) seeks permission from this Chamber for $313.7 million in total for Parliament, and independent officers of the Parliament, in respect of the 2026–27 financial year.

The bill also supports the vital work of parliamentary committees.

Parliamentary committees perform some of the most detailed and valuable work undertaken within this institution.

Committees bring together members from different political parties and different perspectives to examine matters in depth.

They investigate issues.

They conduct inquiries.

They review legislation.

They hear from experts and stakeholders.

They receive submissions from members of the public.

They provide opportunities for communities to engage directly with parliamentary processes.

Committee work frequently allows Parliament to examine issues in greater detail than is possible during debate in this chamber.

Complex issues often require extensive evidence gathering and consultation.

Committees provide a mechanism through which that work can occur.

They enable Parliament to draw upon expertise from industry, academia, community organisations and the broader public.

The recommendations that emerge from committee inquiries can contribute to policy development, legislative reform and improvements to government administration.

Over many years, parliamentary committees have examined issues across a broad range of policy areas including health, education, transport, justice, housing, environment and economic development.

While committee reports do not always attract the same level of attention as major legislative debates, and while they do not always have the same level of partisan exchanges and debate, they often make a significant contribution to public policy and public understanding.

The effectiveness of committees depends on having access to appropriate support, expertise and resources.

This bill assists in ensuring those functions can continue.

But President, the central premise of these Bills is to provide authority for the Government, Parliament and the independent officers of Parliament to spend money, allowing them to perform their functions, including delivering frontline services and the initiatives in the 2026–27 Budget.

That budget, President, delivered on the essential services Victorians expect from their government.

From investment in schools, to health, and critical cost of living relief, these are complex policy solutions which require the smooth functioning of government.

But most importantly, President, these Bills deliver on the initiatives set out in the Budget.

A Budget which is focused on what matters most.

As many in this Chamber should be able to personally attest to, we had free Public Transport in Victoria up until the end of May, and now half priced Public Transport, providing relief not just for rail commuters, but for drivers by taking off demand from petrol stations.

The enactment of policies like that require the budget to be executed by a highly professional team behind the scenes, whose work can only be financed through legislation such as this.

This is before we even get to the enactment of the 20% rego rebate for motorists, with one million Victorians already applying for this scheme in the first 48 hours.

It speaks to the importance of the work we do here, and the importance of ensuring it continues to function properly.

Closer to home, the legislation also provides funding for Parliamentary Services.

Much of the work undertaken by Parliamentary Services occurs behind the scenes, yet it is fundamental to the operation of Parliament.

Parliamentary Services supports members, staff and visitors and provides many of the systems and services that enable Parliament to function effectively.

This includes procedural support, information technology, building operations, security, broadcasting services, library services and a range of administrative functions.

In a modern Parliament, these services are more important than ever.

Technology has transformed the way members engage with constituents and access information.

Digital communication has expanded public access to parliamentary proceedings.

Committee hearings and parliamentary proceedings of all kinds can be viewed by Victorians regardless of where they live.

Information is available more readily than at any point in our history.

These developments have strengthened public engagement with democratic institutions.

They have also helped bring parliamentary processes closer to the communities we serve.

Maintaining and improving those capabilities requires ongoing investment.

This bill helps ensure Parliament can continue meeting those community expectations.

President, the two Appropriation bills this chamber has debated this week go hand in hand to deliver on the core needs of our constituents.

I’ve already spoken to our effective cost of living relief plan, as outlined by the Treasurer in her Budget several weeks ago.

I have not mentioned however other strategic policy decisions such as the Fair Fuel Plan, which ensures the Government can monitor the prices of petrol pumps across the state and, by keeping these tabs, guaranteeing Victorians aren’t being ripped off.

The daily fuel price cap is now a legal requirement.

Our anti-price gouging laws mean that fuel retailers must set a daily cap on fuel prices and publish it in advance, so you can find the best deal tonight and know the price won’t jump tomorrow.

It’s important work, delivering the priorities of the Allan Labor Government’s transformative budget, and we need to continue to support it.

With this Budget we’re providing further cost of living help with $120 million to support families with kids, including:

$28 million for the Affordable School Uniforms Program, saving families $93 on average on uniform costs per application.

$24 million for outside-of-school-hours care for young Victorians with disability.

$16 million to continue and expand the Glasses for Kids program to more classrooms, delivering free vision screening and glasses for kids who need them.

This was a budget which put our kids and their future front and centre, and it’s crucial that we allow for the enactment of these decisions.

Something which might not be as well set out with this Bill, but is equally as important to its outcome, is how the delivery of our budget priorities allows for the expansion of housing supply in this state, and as a result making it easier for aspiring families to own a home.

This is achieved through not just strong investments in social housing across Victoria, and my community of Southern Metro, but through relief on bills such as energy.

We have a proud record of delivering for Victorians with expanding our energy efficiency programs, supporting working families getting cheaper and more efficient energy solutions for their homes, driving down their bills and minimising their impact on the environment.

But President, something that will be of keen interest to people like me as a result of this bill, is the $1 billion pothole blitz.

As a former Branch Secretary and National President of the Transport Workers Union, I know a thing or two when it comes to roads and transport.

And with that, I want to emphasise how important the $1 billion pot hole blitz is.

In 2026–27 alone, we will spend over $1 billion on fixing potholes and resurfacing roads, the highest amount and therefore the biggest road blitz in Victoria’s history.

It reduces wear and tear on your cars and trucks, it makes the journey smoother, and without question makes your journey safer, especially for those transporting large cargo around the place.

While those Opposite often like to disregard our long term investment in this states infrastructure, it is something I am proud of.

Whether it is the large projects transforming how we move around Melbourne and Victoria, or something more straightforward such as this pot hole blitz, it is all important work which is delivering on both the immediate and long term needs of Victorians.

And these budget plans are enacted only through the passage of core procedural bills such as this Appropriation bill.

The Allan Labor Government wants to see our major investments through, and see that Victorians have a Government which delivers on what it promises.

We’ve already delivered city-changing projects like the Metro Tunnel, running right through my community of Southern Metro.

I’ve already spoken to our cost of living programs, but the importance of delivering on both these large scale projects and on schemes to get working families through their immediate household struggles is important.

Delivering on these matters is what Labor Governments do, and it’s what the Allan Labor Government’s budget for 2026/27 does for working families.

And while speaking on the Metro Tunnel, I want to mention another critical investment outlined in the Budget which is exciting for many rail commuters, many of whom live in Southern Metro.

Southern Metro is a very diverse community, ranging from Kew and Albert Park, all the way to Ashwood and Brighton.

We are very blessed to have an extensive rail network running throughout the region.

We’ve already announced as part of this government’s investments, that there will be more frequent train services across the network.

Not only has one of the busiest rail corridors in our hemisphere, that being the Pakenham and Cranbourne rail lines, seen a rapid increase in services to ‘turn up and go’ levels, but our other lines will now be seeing more services as a result of the untangling of our network.

Sandringham for example, will see more frequent train services, something I’m sure many across the line are overjoyed to hear.

But this budget, again which can only be put into force with these Appropriation bills, invests $1.3 billion for trains and services across our metropolitan network.

That includes new rolling stock and trains, with higher capacity, to roll out across the network to the joy of many train enthusiasts.

But it’s also core money for maintenance works, including but not limited to safety upgrades across much of the network.

And it’s also money dedicated to improving a lot of the active transport infrastructure in this state, particularly for cyclists, the number of which is growing across Southern Metro by the year.

And I want to of course mention how we’re investing in making these services more accessible with upgrades to ensure all Victorians can access these services, and that nobody is left behind.

To summarise that, President, this is a very important Bill.

It deals with the mundane and procedural matters of this place, but remains as important as anything else.

It helps ensure Parliament can continue serving the Victorian community.

And it helps ensure the Parliament of Victoria remains capable of fulfilling its responsibilities both now and into the future.

President it is for these reasons that I support this legislation.

So President, I support the Appropriation (Parliament 2026–27) Bill 2026 and strongly commend the bill to the House.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (18:09): I echo the sentiments of previous speakers. It is always a pleasure to speak on the Parliament appropriation bill, this one being the 2026–27 one. I am not quite sure how many I have spoken on. I reckon it is certainly over 10, if not all 12 since I have been here. But it is always a good opportunity to talk on a bill which is often somewhat short in comparison to others that are debated but is something that unites us in our recognition of the people in this place.

The bill also covers issues such as integrity and accountability functions and basically ensures that the important people that help democracy function get paid. I would like to put on record the government’s appreciation for the tireless efforts from the staff in this place, from the expert advice and stewardship of the clerks Robert and Anne and assistants Richard and Keir to the Usher of the Black Rod’s office, led by Sally and Michael, and support from Annemarie, Chris, Tom and the staff in the chamber support office, Nat in the President’s office and Council committees office, who provide amazing procedural and research support to our members on committee business.

A special thankyou to the chamber services team, who probably put up with us more than anybody else. In earshot we have got Michael, Greg and Theo out there, I think. Thank you so much for the work that you do. There is always a special shout-out for Hansard, who have to listen to everything that we say. Thank you very much for your skills and valuable service and sometimes enduring things that perhaps you should not have to, but thank you anyway, and also security, catering, gardening and all of the people that make this building function.

The hard work and dedication of the Council leadership team make the place run seamlessly. I think we all acknowledge – I think it was Mr Mulholland who acknowledged this – we are all pretty aware that this place would not function if it was left just to MPs. I also would like to say we work harder in the red place than the green place, and that extends to all of the staff that support that as well, so go team red. And it is always an opportunity to use the debate on this bill to acknowledge electorate officers. They are out there every day in the communities that we represent helping to deal with issues of the day. In my team I would like to extend my thanks to Jada, Ange, Makayla and Ruby. And with that, I commend the bill to the house.

Motion agreed to.

Read second time.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (18:12): I move:

That the bill be now read a third time.

Motion agreed to.

Read third time.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (John Berger): Pursuant to standing order 14.28, the bill will be returned to the Assembly with a message informing them that the Council have agreed to the bill without amendment.