Mr PALLAS (Werribee) (09:37:56) — I rise to acknowledge to the house the 40th annual celebration of the Weerama Festival in my electorate of Werribee. It was great to be with the community on this fabulous day as it celebrated local culture and talent. Weerama means ‘to..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (12:24:16) — It gives me great pleasure to advise the house on the progress the government is making in delivering the vital West Gate tunnel. Today work started on the construction of an enormous tunnelling hub that will process excavated dirt and rock. Of..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:33:06) — I would like to update the house on the work that this government is doing to insulate Victorians from the greatest risk to our health system: the federal Liberal‑National government and their acolytes and apologists. Victoria is the fastest growing state in..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:29:11) — I rise to update the house about the work that is going on delivering the infrastructure that Victoria needs and to supplement the advice from the ministers who have already addressed this place. As we know, of course major infrastructure works come..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (09:42:29) — Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and I rise to recognise the wonderful contribution of Jennie Barrera, an outstanding humanitarian in my community of Werribee. Werribee is home to some extraordinary women — women of remarkable strength, compassion and achievement. Jenny Barrera is one..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (10:56:41) — I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Speech as follows incorporated into Hansard under standing orders: Prior to the 2014 election, the Victorian Labor government committed to: ‘work with relevant stakeholders on the introduction of a mandatory, statutory..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (12:25:53) — It gives me pleasure to update the house on the continued investment that the state of Victoria is making in infrastructure and of course the federal government’s refusal to contribute to that effort. It has become a pretty regular thing. We saw..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:23:18) — I rise to inform the house about the government’s ongoing actions to secure a positive economic outcome in Fishermans Bend. The Minister for Planning, a great planning minister, has called in 26 planning applications pending a final planning strategy for the area. Of..

Mr PALLAS — Secondly, I would like to quote constituent Sam DiBlasi’s views on the West Gate tunnel. Sam writes: As a long‑time resident of Werribee, I’ve seen the growth of our local community in Wyndham. With this growth comes increased traffic, yet we still have the..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (09:38:26) — I am delighted to inform the house that on 16 February I attended the opening of St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee. The hospital will employ around 350 staff and provide health services for up to 16 000 people living and working in Wyndham. I am thrilled that..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:24:56) — I rise to inform the house about the continuing resurgence of a Victorian jobs market and of course the success of the Andrews Labor government in creating jobs and putting Victorians in work. The most recent job start‑up of course shows that..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (12:29:20) — I rise to update the house about a threat facing Victoria’s health system: the federal Liberal government. In our last budget this government invested an additional $1.67 billion in our hospitals to meet demand and also to cut elective surgery waiting times. After..

I rise to inform the house of my recent visits to Werribee Secondary College and Manor Lakes College where I announced funding for two projects through the Shared Facilities Fund. Just four years ago, I conveyed to the house the concern of parents I had..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (09:44:14) — I rise to inform the house about a recent celebration of the inaugural graduating class of Victorian certificate of education (VCE) Karen students. The event was held at the Victorian School of Languages (VSL) centre in Werribee. I also had the pleasure..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:32:23) — I rise to update the house on the strength of the Victorian economy. Recent state accounts data shows that in the 2016–17 financial year Victoria had the highest gross state product growth of all the states, well above anything achieved under the..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:18:43) — I rise to update the house on the outstanding work of the Victorian public service and how it is creating jobs and helping grow the Victorian economy. As we know Victoria is the best performing of all the states: state final demand..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (14:32:18) — It gives me great pleasure to rise in support of the matter of public importance because, quite frankly, the Andrews government is instituting a real change to make housing more affordable for first home buyers and also to make renting fair. Importantly,..

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (14:18:03) — I have great pleasure to rise to update the house about the progress of the Andrews government’s reforms to support first home owners to get into the market — and it is working. We have made very clear where we stand when it..