Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) (11:18:43) — I rise to update the house on the outstanding work of the Victorian public service and how it is creating jobs and helping grow the Victorian economy. As we know Victoria is the best performing of all the states: state final demand grew by 4.7 per cent, nearly twice the national average; we have created 280 000 jobs since we were elected; we have a AAA‑rated economy; and we have a strong surplus of $2.7 billion. So it is no surprise that yesterday the Auditor‑General indicated that Victoria’s budget is operating sustainably and Victoria is well‑positioned financially.

How did we achieve this? Well, it does not take a pet shop galah or an adjunct professor to know the answer. We have invested in the services people need. We are building the infrastructure today that we are going to need for tomorrow, and of course, we have restored confidence back in the public service. That means we have also restored confidence in our economy. We have the highest level of consumer confidence on the mainland.

While we have built confidence and restored jobs and services, those opposite took an axe to the public service. They cut services, they reduced infrastructure and of course they reduced infrastructure investment to a mere trickle. Compare that to the ongoing investment that we are making to schools, to hospitals, to our TAFE system, to our paramedics and to our police. The contrast could not be more stark. Indiscriminate cuts to the public service are mean‑spirited, and they never get the right outcome. They are a blunt tool, much like the member for Malvern. While we restore services and grow jobs, those opposite will keep slashing.