I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate and speak in support of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Integrity, Defamation and Other Matters) Bill 2024. This is a bill which proposes a variety of small but important improvements for our justice system and our integrity agencies.

Great news for the North Ballarat Football & Netball Club and the North Ballarat Cricket Club, with $5 million from the Allan Labor government to deliver new clubrooms and facilities at north oval 2.

It was great to attend the Ballarat Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre Inc. AGM with the member for Eureka and the member for Ripon.

Congratulations to Forest Street Primary School principal Jillian Burt on achieving the incredible milestone of 50 years in public education.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.