MR PALLAS (Werribee – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Trade and Investment) (14:15):

It gives me great pleasure to update the house on the state’s latest regional employment figures. With 156,000 new jobs created over the past eight years, it is clear that regional Victoria is in a class of its own when it comes to job creation. In November 2014 there were over 46,000 unemployed regional Victorians. There are now nearly half that figure, at a tick over 23,000. So not only are we creating jobs but we are reducing the level of unemployment. Indeed, unemployment in regional Victoria in November 2014 was 6.6 per cent.

MR ANDREWS: How much?

MR PALLAS: 6.6 per cent. It is now just 2.8 per cent, the lowest it has been since records began and equal lowest in the nation. How have so many jobs been created in regional Victoria? It is no accident. This government has invested over $36 billion in regional Victoria over the past eight years. Now, compare that to the $7.2 billion between November 2010 and November 2014. Payroll tax in regional Victoria is just one-quarter of the payroll tax level for metropolitan Melbourne and the lowest rate in the nation, while stamp duty concessions for eligible commercial, industrial and extractive businesses in regional Victoria add to the attraction to start a business and of course to hire workers in regional Victoria. If those opposite want to know why regional Victoria supports this job creation agenda, I suggest that they talk to the member for Ripon. I suggest that the reason that member is in this Parliament is that she understands the needs and the aspirations of regional Victorians – their desire for jobs – and I welcome her to the chamber. The numbers are in, and it is great to be living in regional Victoria.