Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): I rise to pay tribute to the people of the Northcote electorate, and to recognise and thank them for their incredible resilience and compassion in the face of the hardship the coronavirus pandemic has brought to our doorsteps. We have seen our neighbourhood houses come together to provide meals and emergency relief, businesses innovate to keep their doors open and people perform acts of kindness—big and small—for friends, families and neighbours.

For our hospital and healthcare workers there have been many sleepless nights. In fact few may know that almost 5 per cent of workers in the Northcote electorate are employed within the hospital system. It is the largest proportion of workers we have in any one sector. Their enormous contribution to keeping Victorians safe while terrifying stories from around the world filtered through to us leaves me in awe. Alongside them we have seen our schools and early learning centres be pillars for our community, even amidst so much uncertainty. I cannot thank them enough.

Northcote is known for its cafe and bar scene, small businesses and creative industries, and I know it has been confronting to see doors closed and empty shopfronts. Each and every individual is facing their own unique challenges, but we know the steps we have taken are saving lives. As a state we are in a strong position to support our communities as we recover, rebuild and reopen. I have said it before, and I will say it again: now is not the time to chase surpluses. Plain economics tells us that the recovery will be quicker if we invest in our community, stimulate the economy and grow jobs, and that is exactly what we are doing, because we know that for many the hardship continues.