Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I want to talk about the budget; I really want to talk about the budget. I rise to update the house on the achievements of the Andrews Labor government in delivering economic growth to all Victorians. Last week I delivered the Andrews Labor government’s second budget. It is good to see that the Leader of the Opposition thinks the budget is tonight. So far as Victorians are concerned, there is nothing in it for us.

When I delivered our second budget we received an enormous response — a true marker that demonstrates that Victoria is in safe hands so far as stakeholders are concerned. The Australian Industry Group has welcomed the ‘significant increase in infrastructure spending, which will be an important growth vehicle’. The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has noted that the Andrews Labor government has ‘delivered a pro-business budget that backs Victorian business by lowering costs, creating jobs, delivering productivity enhancing infrastructure and opening doors to international markets’.

Organisations all over the spectrum, whether it be the Master Builders Association of Victoria or the Brotherhood of St Laurence, have been united in their praise of this budget. Perhaps the most interesting one is the Property Council of Australia, which put it best when it said the budget ‘invests decisively in the growth management challenge’. Even the Victorian Farmers Federation has warmly welcomed this budget, our payroll tax changes in particular, where 36 000 businesses have benefited.

Even the Herald Sun recognises the importance of the payroll changes, calling it ‘a tax cut aimed at boosting employment’. The tidal wave of positive comments from stakeholders is best summed up by the words of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, which said the government had ‘delivered a strong, ambitious and positive infrastructure agenda … that has been welcomed by the nation’s infrastructure sector’.

Mr R. Smith — On a point of order, Speaker, the Treasurer also referred to some quotes. Could he also provide his notes to the Clerk?

The SPEAKER — Order! Did the Treasurer quote? The Treasurer will provide the page which contained the quote to the Clerk.