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.

I commend the Victoria Police members who responded to the recent tragic events in your electorate of Wendouree. Their dedication to the community will not be forgotten. My deepest sympathies are with those who have been impacted by these tragedies.

All women have a right to feel safe in their community but for too many this isn’t the case – that’s why the Allan Labor Government will provide immediate support to the City of Ballarat to implement initiatives to prevent violence against women.

Final works are underway on a new roundabout in Ballarat’s rapidly-growing west as part of the Allan Labor Government’s $60 million investment to cut congestion and boost safety across the city. The new roundabout at the increasingly busy Dyson Drive and Ballarat-Carngham intersection will help motorists get to their destination safer and sooner.

I thank the member for her question, and for her strong advocacy for local manufacturing in her community.

The Allan Labor Government is delivering world-class sporting facilities in Ballarat, with huge upgrades to infrastructure so more grassroots and elite players and fans can enjoy the sport they love, close to home. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today visited Eureka Stadium to announce the Ballarat Sports Package and unveil three renders of the Eureka Stadium Precinct, which is one of three major projects in the region as part of the Labor Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.

The Allan Labor Government’s record-breaking fish stocking program has again hit a high-water mark with 10 million fish stocked this year, so more recreational fishers can wet a line close to home across the state. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos today stocked more brown trout at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat and announced the major milestone for Victorians.

Victoria’s container deposit scheme, CDS Vic, commenced on 1 November 2023 and is a central part of ambitious reforms to transform Victoria’s recycling system under the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy.

It was great to visit St Patrick’s College Ballarat last week with the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and the member for Ripon to launch the Road to 120 program.

I want to acknowledge the great work of Soul+Food in my electorate of Wendouree, a service which offers non-judgemental support to those who need it by supplying food items and personal care products.

I too am very saddened to rise to express and share my condolences to the family of Kurt Hourigan, who was fatally killed – he did not die at work, he was killed – at work.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Police. How is the Allan Labor government’s record investment in Victorian police and community safety supporting my electorate of Wendouree?

The Allan Labor Government has kick-started production of Victoria’s new X’Trapolis 2.0 in Ballarat, supporting up to 150 direct jobs, and up to 750 local jobs across the supply chain.