It is a well-known fact throughout the Victorian community that this Liberal-Nationals government has absolutely dropped the ball in terms of job creation and job retainment. We have seen unprecedented job losses since this government was elected. Not a week goes by without companies making closure announcements and more workers joining the dole queues. Victoria has gone from being the jobs capital of Australia in 2010 under a Labor state government to a state with some of the worst unemployment figures in the country.
Victorians hear all sorts of excuses from those opposite, but deep down they know that what we have here is a government that simply does not have a clue what to do. Victorians know that the Napthine government lacks the ticker when it comes to jobs on the line and does not take action to stop the jobs toll.
Time and again Victorian workers have been hung out to dry by the Napthine government, and this will be in the backs of the minds of all Victorians come 29 November.
Right now times are tough for 1000-odd workers at SPC Ardmona in Shepparton and fruit growers in the Goulburn Valley. There is lots of gnashing of teeth and wailing by those opposite but no action; all they are interested in is keeping their own jobs. Victorian workers are worried about their futures, and Denis Napthine is not doing enough to protect Victorian jobs, while the member for Shepparton in the Assembly has simply gone missing. Victoria deserves a lot better from this government.