Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (11:53:30) — (13 590) My constituency question is for the Minister for Suburban Development. What information can the minister provide on the outcomes from the recent Northern Metropolitan Partnership Assembly and the next steps in assessing priorities for communities in Melbourne’s north?

Residents from across Melbourne’s north turned out to the first-ever Northern Metropolitan Partnership Assembly last month, sharing their priorities and ideas for our region. It was a pleasure to be able to attend, along with a number of other MPs, including several ministers, the Premier and indeed yourself, Speaker. The establishment of the suburban development portfolio and the metropolitan partnerships initiative are both great ways of making sure that grassroots local priorities are heard, and I am sure that local residents would be eager to receive information from the minister on the next steps in developing plans for the future of our suburbs.

Response:

This year, the creation of the Metropolitan Partnerships has brought together community and business members with local and state government to identify key priorities for better community outcomes in their regions.

Each Metropolitan Partnership hosted an assembly to hear from the community about the challenges and opportunities facing their region. The assemblies were well attended, with excellent contributions from business and community members, local government councillors and Members of Parliament.

The Metropolitan Partnerships have used the feedback received from the community to inform their advice to government, which I have now received. This month, I will present this advice directly to all Minsters of the Victorian Government for their consideration.

Priorities may be considered as part of the annual State Budget or may be progressed independently of annual funding cycles by the relevant department. In May next year, the government will respond to the Partnerships and the broader community.

Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change
Minister for Suburban Development