Thursday, 30 July 2026

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:37): (2661) My adjournment matter is to the new Premier, which this week is Mr Ben Carroll. The action I seek is for the Premier to clearly demonstrate the steps that this tired Labor government will take to stop the financial mismanagement in this state and to properly fund our frontline services – volunteer firefighters, teachers and medical professionals – acknowledging that this should include the Liberal–Nationals policy to scrap the GP tax. Premier, doctors are leaving the profession and moving interstate. CFA fire brigades are working with unsafe and outdated tankers and equipment. Crime is rampant, police are stretched thin and schools are dealing with increasing violence and behavioural issues. This Labor government has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, and Victorians have had enough.

Instead of pouring $15 billion into Big Build corruption and paying $589 million into the Commonwealth Games we never got to host, this taxpayer money should have been used to fund services that make a difference to Victorian lives. One of these services is the Skye CFA brigade, which plays a critical role in keeping the community safe but is forced to respond in dangerously unsafe and outdated tankers. In a recent visit Jeff Shelley, Liberal candidate for Carrum, and I sat outside on the back of a 24-year-old tanker that is fitted with noncompliant seatbelts, where firefighters breathe in large amounts of diesel fumes. These unsafe tankers were designed for rural towns with up to 30 calls a year, but the Skye CFA brigade is on track to respond to 280 calls this year.

The Wilson-led Liberal Party has a 10-year economic plan to govern with confidence and fix this budget and our growing economy – well, it needs to be growing. We will invest to strengthen our health system and retain our doctors and nurses. Medical centres are struggling to meet demand and many have been battling GP shortages for years. In Victoria demand for health care is growing faster than the available GP workforce. The Cove Family Medical Centre in Patterson Lakes has been advocating for more doctors for over three years so it can continue providing essential medical care to vulnerable communities. But this government continues to ignore and dismiss their needs. This Labor government has racked up almost $200 billion in debt. Its GP tax has been a catalyst for doctors leaving the profession and moving interstate. Our plan to scrap this regressive GP tax will attract more doctors, making it cheaper for Victorians to see a GP and reducing pressure on our emergency departments.

The Liberal Party also has a plan to keep Victorians safe, by recruiting 3000 more police and reopening more than 40 police stations that have been closed or had their hours cut. Labor wasted $13 million of taxpayer money on machete bins, which did nothing to curb the record level of crime in this state. Victorians are being traumatised, with a crime committed every 50 seconds. Teachers and students deserve to feel safe at school, but due to a rise in violence and behavioural issues, many no longer do. A Liberal–National government will introduce reforms to address classroom behaviour. Premier, you are part of the same old regime. How is your tired Labor government going to fix this state?