Questions without notice and ministers statements
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:31): My question is to the Premier. The Premier and the minister just now were keen earlier to talk about jobs. AKD has today announced the closure of its Yarram sawmill, costing 73 workers their jobs. The company has blamed the ‘sustained slowdown in housing construction’. Why must Yarram and these 73 workers suffer because the Labor government consistently fails to meet its own target to build 80,000 homes per year?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for Tarneit is warned. The member for Werribee is warned. The Leader of the Nationals and the Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, please cease having a conversation across the chamber.
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:37): Victoria has a shortage of housing, rising rents and growing social housing waiting lists. How can we possibly see jobs lost in housing construction at a time when we need more houses than ever?