Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My constituency question is to the Minister for Employment and relates to job creation as Victoria forges on with our economic recovery plan. What is the latest information on the number of jobs created in the electorate of Northcote through the Working for Victoria program and other Victorian government jobs initiatives?

Late last year I joined Bridge Darebin to induct their newest team members, 15 positions made possible by the fantastic $500 million Working for Victoria program. Local businesses and workers in Northcote have been hit hard by the pandemic, particularly in our vibrant hospitality, retail and creative industries. Workers have been doing it tough, and even as Victoria kickstarts its recovery, locals are reaching out to me, anxious about the Morrison government’s premature and heartless plan to axe JobKeeper. Our Labor government will keep driving jobs creation in our communities, and I look forward to sharing an update on the difference our programs are making for my community in Northcote.