Ballarat lost a good man when Reverend John Furness died on 18 May, a man I deeply admired and whose friendship I enjoyed.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure regarding disability access at the Ballarat train station, a timely question following the excellent session today with the Victorian Disability Advisory Council.

The Victorian Government is committed to growing educational opportunities for all Victorians. We have invested $16.9 billion over the past 10 years to build new schools and modernise educational facilities across Victoria.

I thank the member for Wendouree for their question and I am pleased to reply that the Allan Labor Government has made significant progress towards implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing system with work having commenced on more than 90 per cent of its recommendations.

What we are doing with the Financial Management Amendment (Gender Responsive Budgeting) Bill is seeking to embed gender equality and inclusivity considerations within the Victorian budgeting process. Addressing gender equality is a hallmark of this government.

It was terrific to be Sovereign Hill yesterday with the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos and the member for Ripon to announce that the Regional Events Fund has now been extended to 2027.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today visited Ballarat to announce the new Food, Fire and Light Festival which will light up Sovereign Hill this October and announce the latest round of the Labor Government’s $38 million Regional Events Fund.

Premier Jacinta Allan today joined Member for Eureka Michaela Settle, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and the Mount Clear Junior Football Club to announce the Victorian Budget 2024/25 invests an extra $6 million to extend the Labor Government’s Get Active Kids Voucher Program.

Racing clubs in Western Victoria will benefit from new infrastructure that will help boost local economies, benefit trainers and racegoers and protect animal welfare thanks to investment from the Allan Labor Government. Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines today visited the Ballarat Racecourse, Burrumbeet Racecourse and The Ballarat Greyhounds at Morshead Park to announce the latest milestones across three racing infrastructure projects backed with almost $3 million from the Labor Government.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. How will the new roundabout that is under construction at Dyson Drive and Ballarat-Carngham Road improve traffic flow and make the intersection safer for my community?

On Mother’s Day we honour our mums. We celebrate the joys of motherhood and pay tribute to the women in our lives who are mother figures.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Wendouree for White Night Ballarat on 1 June.

One year on since its establishment at Ballarat Station, the Travellers Aid service continues to provide vital assistance to more than 2,000 passengers.

I too am pleased to rise to contribute to the debate today in support of the Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Reform Bill 2024. The reason I am so pleased to do it is because this legislation provides a sensible and comprehensive approach to transitioning over time to an annual commercial and industrial property tax as a replacement for stamp duty currently levied on commercial property sales across Victoria.

John was a wise and good man who was intelligent, compassionate and humble. He was committed to social justice and spoke to me often about the importance of members of Parliament always serving their community, words that I will never forget and will always live by.

I was glad to meet with the Member for Wendouree on 8 February 2024 to discuss the progress being made on the upgrades to Eureka Stadium.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action that I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Wendouree to celebrate the practical completion of construction works of new classrooms and facilities at the Ballarat Specialist School.