I rise to inform the house about new information relating to the Andrews Labor government’s pledge to create jobs and to build a people-powered economy in Victoria. I have more good news for the Victorian economy. Despite the insidious dead hand of economic incompetence at the federal level, the national accounts figures released yesterday show that Victoria is growing. Victoria’s state final demand rose 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, and in fact for the first six months of the year Victoria’s state final demand growth was 2.6 per cent. It is the highest of all the states, and the Andrews government is making sure that the benefits of the growth are enjoyed by all Victorians, not just those who live in Melbourne.

A year ago Victoria’s regional unemployment rate was 6.5 per cent, and the junior coalition partners — the people who purport to represent regional Victoria — refused to act. Instead they were just riding out there last days in government. A bunch of political rhinestone cowboys wearing big hats…

We are standing up for rural and regional Victoria. Under our stewardship, focused on infrastructure creation and job creation, regional unemployment is down to 5.6 per cent. That is why I will be in Horsham tomorrow talking about our $200 million Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund. I will be talking about the biggest upgrade to regional Victoria freight in decades — the Murray Basin rail project. When we say we represent all Victorians, we go ahead and act like it — not like those opposite, who are all hat but no cattle. The Andrews Labor government will work for every Victorian, and we will deliver what Victorians voted for.