I commend Karen Heap, CEO and her excellent team at the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) for their hard work and commitment in providing critical care services to the Aboriginal community of Ballarat and surrounding areas.

I rise to speak in support of the Bail Amendment Bill 2023, which makes changes to Victoria’s bail laws to ensure that those accused of minor offending are not subject to harsh bail tests, while at the same time ensuring strict bail tests remain for those who pose a risk to community safety.

Victoria’s young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer communities will have more safe spaces and crucial mental health supports with QHub in Geelong and Ballarat with outreach to Surf Coast.

Seven Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades in Western Victoria are now home to new heavy tankers ahead of the upcoming fire season as part of a $3.2 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government.

More than 2,500 Ballarat drivers are using Victoria’s first digital driver licences as the local pilot builds momentum ahead of a statewide rollout.

Students in Wendouree and across Victoria are benefitting from the Government’s $738 million Tutor Learning Initiative, the single largest investment in targeted learning support in Victoria’s history.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, and I am glad she is in the house. Minister, how is our government listening to Aboriginal Victorians and enacting what they need to determine their own future?

Congratulations to Elizabeth Lewis-Gray, who has been honoured at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards for services to industry for her work as co-founder and chair of Gekko Systems

Well done to Ballarat Clarendon College students Katie Jackson and Lucy Richardson on their success at the World Rowing Under 19 Championships in Paris

Congratulations to Karenne Ann and Heather Horrocks on the opening of their Effacement exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

Well done to the wonderful young people nominated for the 2023 City of Ballarat Youth Awards.

It is very, very good to have the opportunity to rise to contribute to the debate on the Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, because energy security and supply is an important issue for Victorians. It is an important issue for my electorate of Wendouree.

Newcomers to freshwater fishing will catch tips and tricks from experts next month at the Ballarat Fishing Festival on Saturday 2 September. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Sonya Kilkenny today announced the free festival will mark the opening of the trout fishing season and celebrate all that fishing in the Central Highlands has to offer.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Energy and Resources about moving towards a less gas-reliant future. Would the minister please explain to me the benefits for households in my electorate of going all electric.

The Wendouree Senior Citizens Club is an outstanding organisation in my electorate, providing social and recreational activities for residents aged 55 years and over. It is so important that older community members remain physically active and socially connected, and the Wendouree Senior Citizens Club plays a vital role in providing opportunities for this.

Thousands of cycling fans are set to line the streets of Ballarat when the AusCycling Road National Championships return in 2024, thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government and the City of Ballarat. Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Ben Carroll today confirmed the prestigious tournament will return from 4 to 7 January next year.

From a fully accessible Ballarat station to 5,000 extra seats at Eureka Stadium, athletics track and more affordable housing across our region, we'll deliver the lasting benefits people in Ballarat have asked for.