Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — It gives me pleasure to rise to update the house on the record strong jobs growth that Victoria is experiencing right across the state. The latest employment statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics bear this out.

Since taking office the Andrews government has created nearly 350 000 jobs, with more than 211 000 of those jobs being full‑time positions. That is five times more than those opposite managed. Unemployment is now at 5.1 per cent — the lowest rate since January 2012, just before it soared to 6.7 per cent under the previous administration. That is because those opposite closed TAFEs, cut jobs and dithered around infrastructure projects, unlike this government. On this side of the house our focus is on jobs, and part of our record jobs growth is of course attributable directly to the Victorian Industry Participation Policy — and a shout‑out to the great Minister for Industry and Employment. It is all about ensuring that we buy local and we hire local, whether it be for level crossing removals, new trains, roads or new hospitals.

The other employment program getting some attention at the moment is the Liberal lawyer program, where those lawyers seeking to get a bit of money have found a great and worthy beneficiary due to the in‑fighting that is going on in the Liberal Party. Meanwhile, we are ensuring that apprentices and trainees get a chance to hone their skills and their craft on big projects through our Major Projects Skills Guarantee, which of course ensures that jobs are there for the future for our young people. That said, the Liberal Party will be giving apprentices like plucky Marcus Bastiaan an opportunity — he came in like a wrecking ball.
Those on this side of the house love Miley Cyrus. Those on the —