This morning I joined the Leader of the Labor Opposition, Daniel Andrews, and my fellow Labor Geelong-based members of Parliament at Alcoa as the announcement was made that Alcoa Point Henry will close in August this year. This is yet another dark day in Geelong, with more than 800 workers now facing unemployment in less than six months. It is a dark day for Geelong, it is a dark day for Victoria and it is yet another dark day for the Napthine government, which has stood by motionless whilst this state has bled jobs, day in and day out. For the last three years this government has been like a deer in the headlights whenever the time has come for it to act in the interests of saving jobs or creating new jobs in Victoria.
Those who listened to ABC 774 this morning would have heard yet another disappointing and lacklustre performance from the Minister for Manufacturing, David Hodgett. There was absolutely no passion, empathy or hope for Alcoa workers in his voice or in his words, just like there has been no passion, will or commitment to do any hard work in providing realistic pathways for workers in Geelong. All workers get is a media release from the Napthine government spruiking the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund. Submissions closed last September and still there is nothing. Geelong deserves better and Victorians deserve better. We have a government that has no passion, no work ethic, no leadership, no industry — —
The ACTING PRESIDENT (Mr Ramsay) — Time!