Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:55): (2606) My constituency question today is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and my constituents ask: why has the Department of Transport and Planning handed over all contracts for the maintenance of electrical assets to two big companies and cancelled all existing contracts? A constituent recently contacted my office with huge concerns around the cancellation of contracts between the department and smaller contractors in the Northern Victoria Region. This constituent has been working in the industry for decades and knows the equipment inside and out. The contracts have instead been given to Ventia and Service Stream. He also raised concerns about the downgrading of safety signage due to the government not being able to pay for repairs and maintenance. These smaller companies are now on the brink of collapse. Is this yet another case of Labor jobs for their mates? This type of contract has been tried in many other states and has failed. Why remove the contracts from those who know what they are doing and give them to two citycentric companies? It is like this Labor government does not care at all for the small businesses in northern Victoria.