MR PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (09:36):

I am pleased to congratulate my local federal colleague Joanne Ryan for her re-election as the member for Lalor, and I look forward to working with Joanne and the newly elected Albanese Labor government for the benefit of my electorate of Werribee. We know that Labor has always been committed to the health and wellbeing of our communities. The Andrews government has demonstrated this over the past eight years with its significant investments in the health sector in Wyndham and right across Melbourne’s west. The recent state budget provided $109.6 million to upgrade the emergency department at the Werribee Mercy Hospital, and the Albanese Labor government has committed to delivering a Medicare urgent care clinic for Lalor and making Wyndham a priority area for local GP recruitment. Providing wider access to efficient and reliable health care will mean safer communities and healthier families in Werribee.

We now have a real opportunity for collaborative partnerships between the state and federal governments to deliver vital infrastructure committed by federal Labor to counter the growing mess, such as the Wyndham WestLink and Ison Road bridge in Werribee. The Andrews Labor government funded the early works and planning for the Ison Road bridge, and the Albanese government has now committed $57 million towards its construction. WestLink will ease congestion in the town centre to allow for faster travel around Werribee. I have no doubt that the Werribee locals will see a real improvement in their everyday lives with their state and federal Labor governments strongly committed to them and their families.