The only thing I have heard from the so-called opposition is just opposition for opposition’s sake. They are not coming up with any real alternative policy, apart from basically dragging themselves down low into the gutter and wasting the time of this house.

I take the opportunity to also rise to speak on the Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Bill 2019.

Today Victoria’s landmark voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect, with patients suffering from a terminal illness able to make an initial request for access to the scheme.

I also rise to speak on the motion moved by Ms Wooldridge. I am somehow pleased that the opposition has started talking about local content and talking about encouraging companies and projects in Victoria to actually use local content.

The interim report by 29 August and the final report by 29 November 2019. Motion agreed to.

This is the third time in nearly as many months that I have stood in this place to speak on senseless violence—that is three times too many.

I want to congratulate the Alex Fraser Group on their efforts and congratulate the whole team, particularly their managing director, Peter Murphy. We are finally getting there in relation to the recycling issue and putting these recycled materials to good use

The government also made an announcement a couple of weeks ago and asked Infrastructure Victoria to put a strategy in place to start implementing some policies around recycling and waste in general, because we need to now start talking about finding a solution.

I welcome the recent announcement that a further 709 officers are set to begin work over the next year. This includes an extra 207 family violence officers, a testament to the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to real action on family violence. In addition, this increase includes an extra 105 police allocated to the frontline to support parental leave, ensuring our hardworking police get that important time with their newborns.

What a pleasure to stand here and speak on the 2019 Andrews Labor government’s budget, the first budget after the recent election victory in which Victorians voted in big numbers to return an Andrews Labor government basically based on the record which it delivered in the previous four years. Victorians voted with their feet and believed in a government which delivers on what it said it will deliver

Let me turn my mind to what this budget is all about and where the priority of this house should be. It should be about delivering for Victorians. We got elected to this place in 2014 with sets of priorities to build massive infrastructure programs over the subsequent four years, and we have delivered on every single project we said we were actually going to deliver on during that period.

As previous speakers have outlined, this bill allows the Andrews Labor government to fulfil its commitment in the last election campaign to reform suppression order laws in Victoria, to make sure that suppression and closed court orders are the exceptions to the principal of open justice and that they are only made when necessary.

I note the recent fires that have occurred across Melbourne’s suburbs at industrial sites in Footscray West in August last year and Campbellfield in April this year. It is concerning to see that in both the case of Campbellfield and that of Footscray West the owners of these premises look to have illegally stockpiled dangerous chemicals against existing regulations and licenses.

The motion talks about addressing a very important issue, which is the stress suffered by emergency service personnel. Mental health is obviously a big issue in the workforce, whether it is volunteers or full-timers. I think it is important that we as a society, or a government, address that.

I note that yet again Victoria is the strongest performing economy in the country. In the latest CommSec State of the States report, Victoria boasts Australia strongest jobs market, economic growth, wages growth, retail trade and construction work

My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and those who survived these terrible events.

The west is one of the fastest growing regions in Victoria, with many young and prospective families. This hospital will make sure more local women and their families can get the world-class maternity services they need closer to home. The hospital will include 20 maternity delivery rooms, 237 beds, 39 special care nursery cots, four theatres and additional clinics.

Having looked at what the motion refers to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, it is to inquire into pretty much every major infrastructure project this government took to the election, implemented or is in the process of implementing. Mr Davis, the only motive I can say is behind this one—I do get it, that public accountability is very important, and there is no argument on that—is basically to try to bog things down.