Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I rise to inform the house about new achievements of the Andrews Labor government in securing jobs for all Victorians. Data released last week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms that Victoria is continuing to enjoy a golden summer of renewal. It might be cold outside, but these jobs numbers are glowing.

Victoria’s unemployment rate is down to 5.6 per cent, and more than 113 000 jobs have been created since the Andrews Labor government was elected. And even better, our youth unemployment numbers continue to show strong improvement, with more than 10 000 young Victorians having found a job since November 2014. Our youth unemployment rate is now 1.8 per cent lower than one year ago.

Contrast this with the performance of the previous government, where young people in employment dropped by 20 400 jobs. Those opposite cry wolf, and they desperately try to ignore the economic malaise that they inflicted upon this state for four long years.

But to borrow from a federal Liberal Party phrase, it is the Andrews Labor government that is delivering jobs and growth. We had the strongest employment growth in 2015, we have had the largest fall in the unemployment rate of any state since November 2014 and we have the best performing economy in the country. We are leading the nation in state final demand, and this is in just 19 months. Only an Andrews Labor government will invest in the services and the infrastructure that Victoria needs to deliver jobs for all Victorians. Only an Andrews Labor government is getting it done.