Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I rise to inform the house about the Andrews Labor government’s achievement in passing the 2016–17 budget and about its continuing efforts to create jobs in Victoria. Last night the State Taxation and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2016 was passed in the Legislative Council. Those opposite are yet to ask me a single question on this budget — $60 billion worth of expenditure and not a question from those opposite. We should not be surprised by that, because clearly they are more interested in playing to their strengths — fundraising, fraud and fearmongering.

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Mr PALLAS — Of course those opposite spent their time in government cutting, and watching jobs dry up. I am pleased to say that today Australian Bureau of Statistics Victorian regional labour force figures are out for March to May. Victorian regional employment for one-quarter is up 17 100 jobs, and the unemployment rate is 5.7 per cent, down from the previous quarter, which was 6.5 per cent. But the outstanding achievement is that while over the entire period of time those opposite were in government they created 5500 jobs in regional areas, in our period in this one-quarter 17 100 jobs have been created.

That is what government is about. It is not about picking at the scabs of fear and uncertainty and trying to fundraise on the back of it; it is about getting down and delivering infrastructure and delivering jobs for Victorians. That is what integrity and achievement in public life is about, and that is why those opposite are irrelevant to the future of Victoria.