Melbourne Assembly LIVE: First home buyers in Carroll’s sights as Labor pledges $1b election sweetener

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has admitted to driving away from a service station without paying on Monday night.

In a statement this morning, Carroll revealed his mistake and that he had now paid for the petrol.

“Late Monday night, I was running some errands and filled up the car with petrol,” he said.

“Found out yesterday I forgot to pay.

“I fixed the bill straight away. Grateful for the team at the servo for their understanding.”

Thousands of new houses and apartments built on government-owned sites will be set aside for first-time buyers under a $1 billion state election pledge aimed at getting more people into home ownership.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll will announce today at Melbourne Assembly that if re-elected next month, Labor will build 25,000 homes across Melbourne and regional Victoria on sites already earmarked for publicly funded development. This includes the Arden precinct, the old Footscray hospital and the disused Highett gasworks.

The state government will provide $500 million in land, while the Commonwealth will cover development and construction costs through $499 million in grant funding.

Residences will be built at the public’s expense before being sold at market rates, with only first-home buyers eligible to register to bid.

The final day of Melbourne Assembly begins with Premier Ben Carroll’s opening address, followed by Q&A with The Age’s state political editor Chip Le Grand.

Our keynote speaker is Franco-Colombian urbanist Carlos Moreno, pioneer of the 15-minute city concept.

A panel discussion will follow on our key pillar of healthy places and people, moderated by Nine’s Alicia Loxley.

Speakers include Kelvyn Lavelle, board member of the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance, (WoMEDA) Liam Wallis, founding director of HIP V HYPE, Deputy Sydney Lord Mayor Jess Miller, Dr Nic Woods, chief health officer of Bupa, and Alison Leighton, chief executive of the City of Melbourne. A Q&A session will follow.

Hello and welcome to day three of Melbourne Assembly, The Age’s landmark forum bringing together world-leading thinkers, industry leaders and the community to help shape the city’s future.

Today’s key pillars are healthy places and people and sport and the arts.

As the election race nears in Victoria, we will also hear from Premier Ben Carroll and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson.

Please stay with us as we bring you all the action live from The Edge at Fed Square.