I am very, very pleased to stand up here to talk about this important landmark legislation that we are debating today and also have the opportunity to clear up some misnomers that have been presented by the opposition.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Creative Industries, and the action that I seek is for the minister to visit the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, the most significant biennial photographic festival in Australia.

Happy 60th birthday to Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, a fantastic primary school in Wendouree. OLHC was established in Gillies Street on 15 October 1961 by the Sisters of Mercy with just two rooms on site. Sixty years on, the school is continuing to provide Catholic education to 125 students and employs 24 staff.

Congratulations to Black Hill Primary School teacher Chloe Dew on being recognised in the 2021 Victorian Education Excellence Awards as Victoria’s most outstanding physical education and activity teacher.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced that the Andrews Labor Government is supporting the Ballarat Cemeteries Trust with a grant of $128,000 to restore two significant rotundas; one at the Ballarat New Cemetery and one at the Ballarat Old Cemetery.  

I would be delighted to take the Member for Wendouree up on her invitation to visit Lake Wendouree and I congratulate the Ballarat Fish Hatchery on celebrating their 150th anniversary last year, truly an outstanding accomplishment.

Redan and Lake Wendouree Football Netball clubs are among more than 150 grassroots clubs across Victoria that will share in more than $1 million as a reward for playing their part in keeping our roads safe.

The Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) is going from strength-to-strength with five new tenants bringing more than 150 new jobs to the precinct – cementing BWEZ as an engine room for growth in regional Victoria.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing, and the action that I seek is that the minister provide me with an update about further opportunities for investment and job creation in my electorate of Wendouree as we deliver the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.

I welcomed the recent news that up to 10 000 racing fans will be at Flemington for the 2021 Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November. My question is for the Minister for Racing about crowd numbers for the 2021 Ballarat Cup to be held on Saturday, 20 November, at Dowling Forest Racecourse, one of Victoria’s premier racing and training venues.

Last Sunday, Mount Rowan Secondary College in Wendouree hosted one of the state’s first pop-up vaccination clinics as the Andrews Labor government focuses on increasing vaccination rates in 100 priority postcodes across Victoria.

I too am pleased to rise and speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Senior Secondary Pathways Reforms and Other Matters) Bill 2021 as we continue in our commitment to making Victoria the Education State and transforming Victoria’s education system.

The Victorian Government is bringing vaccines to the areas that need them most, by launching a massive community pop-up vaccination program targeting 100 priority postcodes across the state.

The Victorian Government is ensuring people living in Ballarat and the Western region have access to the world-class healthcare they deserve close to home.

Crews will commence major works at the level crossing at the earliest available opportunity following Thursday’s decision from Heritage Victoria.

More families in Ballarat and around regional Victoria are joining Australia’s largest-ever child and parent research project, helping drive better health outcomes for the next generation of young Victorians.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Mental Health. The past 18 months have been challenging for many Victorian individuals and families due to the global COVID pandemic. I am incredibly proud of the response of our government in delivering additional mental health programs to support Victorians struggling with the impact of the pandemic.

I am pleased to speak in support of the Firearms and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2021. Thank you to the Minister for Police and the Attorney-General in the other place, as well as their ministerial offices and the Department of Justice and Community Safety.