Motion: Government Business Program

MOTION:

‘GOVERNMENT BUSINESS PROGRAM’.

Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (09:51):

I rise to speak on the Government Business Program.

For a second week in a row we will not be opposing the Government Business Program. That is twice in this term; do not expect any more before the end of the year. That is the fill.

In terms of this Government Business Program, this Government Business Program deals with the two Appropriation Bills, which are, as the Leader of the House mentioned, important Bills. They are important Bills, and it is a very important opportunity for all Members to speak on the Government’s Budget and the short Budget speech that the Leader of the House referred to earlier as well.

We were all here last week for what turned out to be a much shorter speech than I think we expected. We were all sitting down waiting to hear about a 15-minute speech from a Treasurer who came in and delivered a speech in half the allocated time that she was provided. Of course she did, because there was not much to say. Other than a few announcements that had been made over previous days, there was not much else for them to crow about. And hasn’t there been silence since?

By contrast, as the Leader of the House alluded to today, the Leader of the Opposition has an opportunity at about 11 o’clock, for everybody watching, to come and outline our vision and our economic plan. We have a 10-year economic plan, which the Leader of the Opposition will speak to in great detail. I know that all Members on this side of the House will obviously show our Leader the courtesy of being in the Chamber. We were all here for the Budget speech, and what will be interesting to see is how courteous the other side of the Chamber is. In previous years they have been very discourteous in their attendance – but why would they be anything else? That is true to their form. We are excited to hear our Leader outline our economic vision because it is a stark contrast from what this Government has provided.

Other than a few media releases which have not had much substance, the Leader of the House spoke to the registration announcement. We of course, on the day it was announced, called for immediate payment. Rather than going onto the web and trying to find some form, which I am sure that half of Victorians will not ever be able to find – some hidden form – pay them the money. Why don’t you just give them a bill that has the cut built into it, so people pay less? Why not just give them the money? Why not just charge them less in their registration? Well, why would they, because this Government is mean, sneaky and tricky.

We will be announcing and speaking to our economic plan through the Leader shortly, and we are excited to hear about it, and I know Victorians are excited to hear about the stark difference. What you will notice with the Leader’s contribution is a degree of substance and a degree of thoughtfulness which will run in contrast to the 15-minute contribution of the Treasurer last week. What a let-down that was. It is no wonder that the Treasurer has gone AWOL since, because what has she got to sell? Not that she is a great salesperson, but what has she got to sell? You are going to be excited to be here in the Chamber; you are going to be excited to hear the Leader of the Opposition’s contribution.

I know that all Members of this place are excited to speak about the economic differences between this side of the Chamber and the Government. I note the Leader of the House was speaking earlier to allowing an opportunity for Members to speak on the Budget. I note that every year the Government cuts off the Budget debate, and last year over 20 – I think it was nearly 30 – Members of this Chamber were not allowed an opportunity to speak on the Government’s own Budget. Can you believe that? I mean, how embarrassed would you be about a Budget if you do not even allow your own Members to speak about it? So, I take the Leader of the House at his word and hope that he has improved on his predecessor and that Members of this place will all have the opportunity to speak on the Budget, because they should. In our case, we can speak to the neglect and the lack of foresight in the Government’s Budget. I do not know what the other Members will speak about on that side of the Chamber, but we will not be opposing the Government Business Program.