The Andrews Labor Government is boosting education, skills and innovation in the heart of Victoria’s second biggest regional city, with the launch of Federation University’s Co-operative Centre of Excellence. Minister for Training and Skills and Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney today opened the new centre for industry and education in Ballarat’s CBD – made possible by a $9.5 million Labor Government investment.

I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question about how the Andrews Labor Government is improving mental health services and supporting consumers and their families, carers and supporters in her electorate.

I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to talk about how the Andrews Labor government is delivering cheaper fares, not only for regional Victorians but for all Victorians.

This bill will save lives. It will change outcomes. This bill will prevent deaths and it will change conversations.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Equality. What support is the government providing our trans community?

Congratulations to the Ballarat Keralites Foundation of Australia for their Taste of India fundraiser on Sunday night as part of Harmony Fest. More than 500 meals were cooked, with all funds raised being donated to the Ballarat soup bus to support people experiencing homelessness in our community.

Yesterday marked five years since the devastating trench collapse in Delacombe that killed Charlie Howkins and Jack Brownlee. There are not enough words to thank Jack’s parents Janine and Dave Brownlee and Charlie’s wife Lana Cormie for their extraordinary courage, determination and advocacy, which resulted in the introduction of Victoria’s landmark workplace manslaughter laws.

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Veterans, and the action that I seek is for the minister to visit Ballarat to meet with representatives of veterans organisations in my community and visit significant memorials to the fallen and to those who have served in my electorate of Wendouree.

I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question and for her outstanding advocacy for this important program for her community. The Andrews Labor Government is investing more than $60 million to upgrade six traffic hotspots and surrounding roads under the Keeping Ballarat Moving program.

Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat will be safer and more accessible for all theatre goers thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison visited the theatre to mark the start of Stage 3 restoration work on the nearly 150-year-old landmark, supported by a $10 million Labor Government investment through the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.

I am delighted to rise to speak on this motion, being:That this house notes that today is International Women’s Day and – (1) this year marks 100 years since women won the right to stand for election to the Victorian Parliament; (2) for many years First Nations women did not have the same political rights as other Victorians.

My constituency question is for the Minister for Women on International Women’s Day. Minister, how is the Andrews Labor government continuing to improve the lives of women and girls in Victoria?

International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate our government’s commitment to women and gender equality. From our first ever gender equality strategy to Australia’s first ever gender equality act, Victoria is leading the nation on gender equality.

I direct my adjournment matter to the Minister for Mental Health, and the action I seek is for her to provide me with a briefing about how we are improving mental health services and supporting constituents with mental health conditions and their carers in my electorate of Wendouree.

I am happy to be here and happy to be making an address-in-reply here today. Gee, it is good to be back in this house. It is good to be re-elected and representing my beautiful, wonderful community of Wendouree in the 60th Parliament.

I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question and her passionate advocacy for better and fairer public transport for her community.

I am very, very happy to stand up and support this bill. It is the Health Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023, which proposes legislative amendments to implement a secure information-sharing platform for Victorian health services.