MR PALLAS (Treasurer) — In the spirit of the season, ’tis the season to be jolly and I see too many long faces in front of me. I rise — and I bring news of great economic joy — to advise this house about the Andrews government’s commitment to creating jobs, improving integrity and also restoring competence to the Victorian economy. Yesterday we found out that Victoria has the highest consumer sentiment of any mainland state at 106.8, up from 92 last year. Twelve months ago Victoria began to emerge from a very dark place, a very deep dark tunnel, but hard work and integrity helped turn it around.

Mr Clark — On a point of order, Speaker, you have previously made clear that under sessional order 7 ministers statements are not simply an occasion for the government to provide information at large to the house — they have to be informing the house about government initiatives, policies and achievements. So far the Treasurer is embarking simply on a dissertation about various economic facts. I ask you to bring him back to compliance with the sessional orders.

MR PALLAS— On the point of order, Speaker, I have just taken the house to the highest consumer sentiment for any mainland state, released yesterday. It is new information, and it is critically important in the progress that the state is making in creating jobs, improving integrity and restoring confidence to the Victorian economy.

The SPEAKER — Order! The Treasurer is entitled to provide a framework and set the scene. The Treasurer has done that. I ask the Treasurer to come back.

MR PALLAS — The Victorian economy has turned around and is improving quite dramatically. Virtually every metric shows that our state economy is in a stronger position than under those opposite. State final demand has grown 4.2 per cent. Retail trade is up 5.4 per cent. Building approvals are up 28.7 — —

Mr Clark — On a point of order, Speaker, the Treasurer does not appear to have understood your guidance. He is not at liberty to go through a recitation about economic statistics. His obligation is to inform the house about new government initiatives, projects and achievements. These are the sessional orders that the government has brought to the house. These are the sessional orders with which ministers must comply, in accordance with the motion brought by the Leader of the House. The Treasurer needs to relate any economic statistics that he refers to to government initiatives, projects and achievements. So far he has not done so. I ask you to bring him back to compliance.

Mr Pakula — On the point of order, Speaker, the member for Box Hill could not be more wrong. The Treasurer is outlining a range of positive statistics in regard to consumer sentiment. The former government always claimed positive statistics as an achievement, and its members are now seeking to deny the Treasurer the same opportunity. These positive statistics are a result of many actions of the government. The member for Box Hill might not like to describe them as an achievement, but that is exactly what they are.

The SPEAKER — Order! The Treasurer is to continue in conformity with sessional orders.

MR PALLAS— The statistical evidence is in, and it is quite compelling. It shows a government that is making every post a winner, unlike those opposite, the dead men smirking over there, who sit and take every opportunity to talk the state down. What we know is that we are getting on with delivering the vital infrastructure that the state needs. Yesterday’s Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report shows that those opposite are not even worthy of sitting on the opposition benches.

Honourable members interjecting.