My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister please provide me with an update of how the tutor learning initiative is benefiting students in my electorate of Wendouree?

It is an absolute honour to be re-elected to represent the electorate of Wendouree in the 60th Parliament. Thank you to the Ballarat community for your strong support, and I promise to work hard every day to make Ballarat an even better place to live.

I am very pleased to rise today to support the Racing Amendment (Unauthorised Access) Bill 2022, which will further ensure the safety of Victoria’s racing events – especially in my electorate of Wendouree, which is home to Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club and Ballarat & District Trotting Club in Redan.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action that I seek is for the minister to provide me with an update on the progress being made to deliver the Keeping Ballarat Moving projects that are upgrading and improving key intersections across my electorate of Wendouree.

Primary school students in Wendouree can look forward to brand new learning facilities, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today announced Forest Street Primary School will be improved, with local builder Nicholson Construction appointed to carry out the works.

Geotechnical testing will begin at Eureka Stadium’s playing field this weekend as the Andrews Labor Government gets the ball rolling on works for the home of athletics at the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Andrews Labor Government is improving accessibility at more than 80 priority bus stops across the state to increase access to public transport, including in Ballarat. Works are now underway in Ballarat on the first six stops to be upgraded under the project and at least 80 bus stops are planned for upgrading across the state by June 2024 under the project.

The Andrews Labor Government is getting to work on upgrading a major interchange in Ballarat which will improve traffic flow and cater to the demands of the growing residential community. The $5.6 million upgrade will build a new roundabout at the Western Freeway and Ballarat-Maryborough Road interchange, as well as install shared user path facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Andrews Labor Government’s half-a-billion-dollar redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital is a step closer, with a builder appointed to deliver the next stage of the major project. Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas today announced John Holland has been appointed to deliver stage two of the $541 million redevelopment, which includes the new power supply building and support services building on Drummond Street.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will support the Continuous Voices Survivors Memorial in Ballarat. We’ll provide a $500,000 grant to help build the first Australian memorial to acknowledge all survivors of sexual violence.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will deliver new PET scanners for better patient care at eight hospitals across the state – ensuring Victorian patients have the care and compassion they deserve.

The Andrews Labor Government is more than doubling the capacity of Victoria’s Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) network, giving more young Victorians access to the mental health care and support they need. Acting Minister for Mental Health Colin Brooks today announced the sites for new YPARC centres in Heidelberg, Traralgon, Shepparton, Ballarat and Geelong.

The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to support Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative with the infrastructure it needs to grow and thrive. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced three separate grants for BADAC to support the organisation’s work with local Aboriginal artists and community.

Victoria’s strong economy is continuing to drive a dynamic labour market with the regional unemployment rate at a near all-time record low – and the lowest of all the states.  Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released this week show that the regional unemployment rate is 2.9 per cent, while the national rate sits at 3.1 per cent.