Vic premier Napthine pledges to grow jobs NEW Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has pledged to grow jobs, as figures show a significant improvement in the state's unemployment rate. Victoria's unemployment rate fell to 5.5 per cent in February, from 6.1 per cent in January. Dr Napthine said the $1.6 billion Port of Melbourne expansion would create 1100 new jobs and 1900 indirect jobs in the export, import and freight sectors. "I'm concerned about growing the economy and jobs in this state, that's why this project is important," he said. The Doncaster rail link was another important project, with the feasibility study identifying the best route option would run along the Eastern Freeway, he said. Asked whether the government would commit money to the project in the May budget, Dr Napthine said it was part of the state's submission to Infrastructure Australia for federal funding. He nominated an East West Link road, a Melbourne Metro rail tunnel and the Port of Hastings development as vital projects for the state, needing both federal and private sector investment. "Victoria needs its fair share of federal funding for key infrastructure projects," he said. This is a shared responsibility. We're an important part of the Australian economy. Dr Napthine recast his cabinet this week, booting Deputy Premier Peter Ryan out of the police portfolio and making him Minister for State Development, and replacing Kim Wells with Michael O'Brien as treasurer. He has denied Mr Ryan was stripped of the police ministry due to the political fallout from the plot within his office to dethrone former police chief commissioner Simon Overland. "Peter Ryan did nothing wrong in police," Dr Napthine told Fairfax Radio on Thursday. Dr Napthine became premier last week after Ted Baillieu quit.