MR PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (13:16): It may have escaped the attention of some, but yesterday I delivered a budget—a budget that was probably the most important budget in living memory for this state, a budget that is about creating jobs and is about getting Victorians back to work. A big part of that is rebuilding confidence in this state, and that is exactly what the budget has done.

The reaction to the budget has been outstanding. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia said that the budget:

… has delivered a pandemic pincer of infrastructure stimulus and economic reform …

Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King said:

This budget is literally brimming with positive, smart and effective social policy measures that will make real inroads into poverty and disadvantage …

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, Paul Guerra, said that the budget was:

… putting Victorian business and workers first and backing local business.

Also we had the Grattan Institute. They, I might say, do not necessarily always agree with us, but those opposite seem to agree with them. But what they had to say was that:

… the Andrews government has targeted some of the most effective stimulus measures—measures which most economists support but the federal budget ignored.

It was described as a ‘big and bold’ budget by the Property Council of Australia. The Housing Industry Association described it as a budget that:

… will provide a much needed stimulus over the next five years for the Victorian economy …

Even the member for Ripon on ABC radio yesterday said that the budget was clearly designed to get Victorians back to work. We have got fans in all places. The only person who does not see the joy of this is the former Treasurer, the member for Malvern, who managed to get unemployment to 7 per cent under his watch.