Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:38:11) — It gives me great pleasure to advise the house on the strength of the Victorian economy. Since we were elected we have created more than 340 000 jobs. Two‑thirds of those jobs are full‑time jobs as we invest in people, skills, infrastructure and services that Victorians need and deserve. It is a contrast to four years of nothing from those opposite. They fell asleep at the wheel, they slowed down the creation of jobs and of course they brought Victoria to a standstill.

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER — Order! The Treasurer will come back to making a ministers statement.

Mr PALLAS — This week Deloitte Access Economics upgraded its projections for the Victorian economy. Our economic growth is now predicted to rise to 3.7 per cent gross state product for 2018–19. That is the highest prediction for growth in Australia. It highlights the growth and the opportunity that this government has created right across the state, including, might I say, 45 000 new jobs in regional Victoria. Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics stats for the June quarter show that in regional employment 4200 jobs have been created. Unemployment has dropped by 0.8 per cent to 4.9 per cent. It highlights, really, what this government is about.

Let us give you some examples. BlueScope Steel this week reported it had added 100 jobs in Hastings, in contrast to its performance in 2013 when we saw it lay off 170 workers on the back of 200 jobs that they cut in 2011. So while we are building for the future, those opposite seem obsessed with the past. We have heard that Kennett is coming back. Now we know that Alan Stockdale, the architect of massive jobs cuts, energy privatisation —

The SPEAKER — Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat.

Mr Clark — On a point of order, Speaker, the minister’s time has expired, but I do invite you to caution him to comply with sessional orders, particularly as you had instructed him to do so earlier on in his statement.

The SPEAKER — I uphold the point of order. The Treasurer should not stray into attacking the opposition.