Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) (10:06): Last week I was pleased to join the Glenelg Shire Council and the Victorian timber industry to celebrate the completion of the Portland future fibre hardwood timber manufacturing hub feasibility study – there must be a prize for the longest possible name for a project – marking the successful completion of stage 1 of Portland’s world-scale manufacturing precinct. Backed by a $500,000 investment from the Carroll government’s Portland Diversification Fund, the study has demonstrated that locally grown blue gum can be transformed into glue-laminated timber, which actually becomes high-value engineered timber that is as strong as steel. This is an exciting opportunity for our region. Importantly, the project has the potential for 74 ongoing jobs and 150 construction jobs, and this is very exciting for the south-west of Victoria. I congratulate Glenelg shire, the industry partners, the Warrnambool Timber Industries team and everyone involved in delivering this important study. It is another example of our government working with regional communities to create local jobs, support innovation and secure Portland’s future.