MR PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (11:19): I rise to update the house on the positive feedback to last week’s budget. Berry Street described it as a once-in-a-generation budget, while the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia said the Victorian government continues to trailblaze for early childhood education in this country. The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry no less said it ticks a lot of boxes for business in the areas of job creation, addressing skills gaps, powering innovation and manufacturing and of course creating more inclusive workplaces for women. Equity Economics believes that the businesses will ultimately benefit from the budget, with Standard & Poor’s describing the budget as making the state well placed to begin its fiscal repair in coming years. The City of Melbourne described the budget as one that brings residents, visitors and jobs back to the city, while the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria has welcomed the Victorian government’s record investment into Aboriginal self-determination and healing. The Victoria Tourism Industry Council commented that it is great to see the Victorian government’s commitment to training and skills development, while Tenants Victoria described it as an expression of the type of long-term social infrastructure we need to build social and human capital in our state.

I have said it before: this is a government that says what it will do and does what it says. This budget demonstrates the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and sustainability while putting fairness at the heart of everything we do. Our record investment in services that people need is nation-leading and our infrastructure pipeline is the envy of every other state.