Mr J. BULL (Sunbury) — It certainly gives me great pleasure to speak on the Appropriation
(2016–2017) Bill 2016. This budget is all about getting it done, and getting it done we are. This is a great budget for Sunbury. I am so pleased that collectively over $9 million has been allocated to Sunbury College, Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School — and I know that the member of Macedon is very proud of that school — and Kismet Park Primary School.

The Andrews government understands that nothing is more important than delivering on the commitments it made to the Victorian people and staying true to its word. Like last year, the budget delivers more in one year than those opposite managed to get done in four. Those long, dark years resulted in massive cuts to TAFE, ambulance services in crisis, unemployment up and the disaster of the east–west link — a dud project from a government that was riddled by leadership instability and shambolic chaos.

In November 2014 Victorians voted to change all that and elected a government that was committed to investing in major projects that create jobs, keeping up with population demands and supporting services that give each and every Victorian the very best chance to succeed. I do not need to sell this budget. The selling has been done outside of the Parliament and outside of the Labor Party. It has been done by the business sector. It has been done by health services. It has been done by community groups and by the media. The budget has been extremely well received. The only group that wants to talk this budget down is the group opposite. It talks the state down, and we get on with it. That is the difference.

The budget has been so well received because it delivers and builds on our commitment to put people first and make Victoria the very best state in Australia. Compare this to last night’s very disappointing federal budget — a budget with very little good news for Victoria, a budget that does nothing for people earning less than $80 000 a year, a budget that does nothing for innovation, health, education or, importantly, infrastructure. In contrast the state budget is literally bursting with good news. We have heard a lot of that good news today.

I cannot resist starting on the Melbourne Metro rail project, the no. 1 transport project for this government and the most important project in the state. Our decision to fully fund and deliver Melbourne’s new metro tunnel, the biggest and most important public transport project in Australia, once again shows our commitment to getting on with it. Five new stations, two 9-kilometre tunnels and a direct connection of the Sunbury line to the Cranbourne-Pakenham line is fantastic news.

We cannot wait for the federal government any longer. The Prime Minister likes to talk a big game on public transport, but he has not done much to match this. He certainly has not shown us any substance. This budget delivers metro rail in full and ensures a world-class public transport system that will obviously cater for our huge population increase. On top of this the city loop will undergo a $134 million safety upgrade, ensuring it remains safe for the 130 000 passengers that use it every day.

Our good friends in The Nationals like to say that this government is city centric, but if they look more closely, they will see that only Labor delivers for country Victoria. This budget invests $1.3 billion for better regional rail services. The Ballarat line will undergo a massive upgrade, with $518 million to duplicate the line to Melton, build new crossing loops, car parks, platforms and stabling and run more services for Ballarat and the suburbs in Melbourne’s west.

More than 170 V/Line services will be added, meaning trains will run more often from Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Gippsland, Maryborough, Shepparton and of course Warrnambool. We are getting on with removing 50 of our most dangerous and congested level crossings to reduce congestion and save lives. Not only are we getting rid of these crossings; we are also ahead of schedule. I know that the Minister for Public Transport and her office were very pleased on budget day. We can add to this the $140 million to be invested in the upgrade of the Hurstbridge line and the Mernda rail project, which will be fully funded by the Labor government, with $588 million to build the 8-kilometre extension from South Morang into the heart of the Mernda-Doreen growth corridor.

The government is also aware of the significant pressure that population is putting on car parking at train stations across the state. That is why an extra 1500 commuter car parking spaces will be created at railway stations in the outer suburbs and regional Victoria. I am extremely hopeful that some of this funding will help relieve congestion in parking at Sunbury.

I have spoken a number of times in this house about the importance of health care, and I think one thing that distinguishes Australia from a lot of places around the world is the quality of our healthcare system. The doctors and nurses in our hospitals, our paramedics and everyone involved in health care do a wonderful job. The Andrews government is delivering in health with an extra $2.45 billion. Hospitals will be able to admit 79 000 extra patients, treat an extra 43 000 patients in emergency departments and reduce waiting times as part of a $1.63 billion boost for hospitals, ambulances and health programs.

Victorians are very worried about cuts coming from Canberra, not to mention the four years of neglect by the former government. All members of the house would have been extremely pleased to see the Minister for Health and the Premier announce a huge boost in this budget to slash the elective surgery waiting list. Nearly 200 000 Victorians will get the surgery they need sooner, with the largest single boost in investment to assist the elective surgery waiting lists in the
2016–17 budget. This will of course be of great benefit to my community and communities like Sunbury, Gladstone Park, Tullamarine, Diggers Rest, Bulla and Gowanbrae.

This funding is equivalent to around 3100 more coronary artery bypass grafts, 6700 more hip replacements, 6800 more knee replacements, 22 000 more sinus and ear operations and 34 000 more eye surgeries. It is a significant investment, and it is certainly an investment that this government is extremely proud of, not to mention the $817 million boost to infrastructure upgrades for our hospital ambulance stations, which will give our paramedics, doctors and nurses the modern facilities they need to do the very best job they can. I am conscious of the time, but I want to speak about a very important investment in mental health.

Obviously this is a critical component for oneself. This government takes mental health incredibly seriously, and we are determined to reduce the devastating number of suicides we see each year. This budget provides a $356 million investment in mental health with a focus on providing better access to services and investing in prevention. I certainly commend the Treasurer, the Premier and the minister for the funding allocation in this area. I know that many people in Sunbury have raised issues of mental health with me, and there has been a widespread call right across the state for additional funding for services in mental health.

As part of the Andrews Labor government’s 10-year suicide prevention framework which aims to halve the number of suicides over the next decade, $27.5 million will be provided for suicide prevention initiatives, including trials of intensive community-based support for people who have attempted suicide and communities impacted by suicide in selected locations across Victoria as well as local community approaches to prevent suicide across six local areas. These trials will support communities to implement strategies, including workforce training, school-based support and mental health and literacy programs. I have heard a number of speakers talk about the values that underpin a budget, and I think that if you look at the funding allocation, you will see that this government has delivered for mental health with the programs I have just mentioned. I think that when it comes to the values of this government the proof is in the pudding.

The education state is happening. Last year’s budget delivered in spades for education, especially in my electorate, and this year is no different. We believe that every Victorian child deserves to be the very best they can be and to be able to reach their full potential. The 2016–17 budget delivers over $924 million to build new schools and upgrade classrooms, the largest ever single investment by a Victorian government in school infrastructure. That is why Victoria is the education state.

We will establish the Victorian School Building Authority to deliver the construction boom. This will not just benefit students but also create jobs for construction workers and local tradies. Included in this package is $287 million to acquire land to build or complete 23 new schools, many in Melbourne’s growth areas where they are needed most; $92 million for our 10 cutting-edge tech schools, something this government is extremely proud of; and $68.5 million to upgrade 20 specialist schools in the poorest condition, including $10 million to boost the Inclusive Schools Fund for students with disabilities.

I mentioned Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School earlier today, and I know the member for Macedon when she joined the Premier and the Minister for Education was extremely proud to stand with the principal, Joanne Nolan, and Brendan, the senior school principal at the Bullengarook campus. There are two campuses, one in Bullengarook and one in Sunbury. I know the member for Macedon was thrilled to be able to work with the Minister for Education to deliver such vital funding, something we are extremely proud of. That once again goes to show the values underpinning this government. All up, this means an additional $1.1 billion is being spent in this budget to build, upgrade and maintain Victorian schools. This side of the house believes in education, and we stand by education.

An honourable member interjected.

Mr J. BULL — Thanks for the support from the other side! A key issue facing my electorate of Sunbury and many in the northern and western suburbs is population growth, and last year the $50 million interface fund delivered key projects like the Sunbury warm water pool, which was a fantastic announcement — and I am very pleased to see the Minister for Local Government in the house. The minister has worked very hard to ensure that the Growing Suburbs Fund has been included in the budget. It is a $50 million commitment. I believe there are 34 projects that got underway due to the fund in the last budget, and I certainly look forward to seeing projects roll out as a result of this year’s commitment. This government understands that growth areas like Sunbury and other areas in the north need additional support to provide key services, and this fund is vital to the delivery of those services.

The Andrews government also understands that keeping Victorians safe is vitally important. That is why Victoria Police will get 406 new officers, including 300 frontline police, as part of a $596 million package announced pre-budget by the Premier. This is also another fantastic announcement.

Since the Andrews government came to office, family violence has unfortunately been at the forefront of this government’s heart and mind, and I know that all members will share with me in understanding and recognising the importance of and the devastation caused by family violence. I do say ‘unfortunately’ because I am sure that we all wish that it did not occur. It does occur, to the extent that it is the single biggest cause of death and disability for women under 45.

As we know, Victoria’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence produced 227 recommendations, and this government has agreed to implement every one of them. We have provided a $572 million funding boost in this budget, responding to these recommendations, and obviously the 65 urgent recommendations that we have already made announcements about, including more housing and crisis refuges, more counsellors, more prevention programs and more support for children who are sadly victims of family violence.

I am so pleased, as I mentioned earlier, that over $9 million has been provided for Sunbury College and Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School. Kismet Park Primary School has received $700 000 as part of this budget. This is obviously fantastic news for the school community and fantastic news for education in Sunbury. Sunbury College received $3 million last year and in this budget receives $4.8 million, another commitment by this government that is wonderful news and certainly welcomed by the school. I just want to put on record my thanks to the school and my congratulations on its advocacy for funding.

I have to say, though, that the highlight of this budget is the funding for special education. If we go back to values and the things that truly matter, I think funding for specialist education — funding for students with disabilities — is something that all governments should not walk away from but should stay committed to. A budget is a values statement which shows the priorities of a government, and I could not be prouder of our values. This is a great budget for Victorians. We are getting on with it, and we are getting it done. I would like to congratulate the Treasurer and the Premier on their outstanding efforts, and of course all the ministers. I commend the bill to the house.