Thursday, 24 September 2026

 Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (10:03): I might start off by acknowledging everyone in the chamber. I hope everyone who is standing again makes it back who wants to be back, and for those who are leaving: it is great to have worked with you. I want to acknowledge everyone who is working hard in their communities in East Gippsland. Whilst the government has provided substantial support packages to families, businesses and communities, for some of our community funds the bureaucracy has been particularly challenging. But locals have stood up and stuck at it – people like Steve and Rob in Swifts Creek, Tristan and Bernie in Nowa Nowa and Gary and Liz in Orbost, with exciting businesses in agriculture, in tourism and in manufacturing. We have got Lachie and Luke at Built QA exporting truss and frame right across south-eastern Australia, Michelle at Snowy River Cycling bringing tourists from all over, Chris and Gab at Sailors Grave and Hannah at Little Drift. There are so many passionate people working so hard together to strengthen their local economy. The shire has a small revenue base and a massive geographic area, and I want to give a shout-out to Fiona as CEO, Jodie, John, Tom and Mark, who I have worked with as mayors, and Sam Forbes in my office, who has done an incredible job with the community.