ANOTHER BLOW TO SOUTH WEST TAFE

In a major breach of cabinet confidence, the transition plans submitted by TAFEs to the Baillieu Government have been leaked to the media, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. The plans detail how each institution plans to deal with the budget cuts caused by the Baillieu Government’s $290 million cuts to the sector,…

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR FARMER HEALTH: FUNDING

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health, and it is  in relation  to the  National Centre  for Farmer  Health. The house is  well aware that the government made a  decision earlier  this year  to cease funding of $1 million per annum to the centre. The impact of that decision has been  felt throughout…

BRET RYAN

On  another matter, I would like to congratulate South West TAFE student Bret Ryan, who was named the Victorian Vocational Student of the Year on 24  August. On  receiving  his award,  Bret  spoke about  vocational  education, stating that his award was a once in a lifetime achievement and  a reflection of the life-changing  power of…

COLAC OTWAY YOUTH COUNCIL

On  28 August members of the Colac Otway Youth Council and their mentors visited Parliament  and Government House.  I would like  to congratulate all those who have participated in this great initiative for getting involved in community projects and  building  community  leadership  capacity  in  the Colac community and outlying districts.

CINDY LEHMANN

On  another matter, I would  like to congratulate Warrnambool’s Cindy Lehmann, who was recently awarded  the honour of Carer of  the Year at the Robin Clark Memorial Awards 2012. Ms  Lehmann has  been a foster care worker for 24 years, taking in more  than 300 children during  this time, which is a  truly amazing commitment…

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR FARMER HEALTH: FUNDING

To the Legislative Council of Victoria: The  petition of certain citizens of  the  state  of  Victoria  draws  to  the  attention of the  house the state  government’s decision to cease  funding for  the National Centre for Farmer Health. In particular, we note: 1.  the likely  closure of  the  National Centre  for Farmer  Health due  to the…

GARY COLE

On  another note, on 31 August  I had the pleasure  of attending the Geelong Father of the Year breakfast to  hear 10-year-old Chelsea Cole speak of her  father,  Gary, who won honours  as Geelong Father of  the  Year for this year.  This is  a sponsored  program that was initiated by Bethany, which is all about…

WESTERN VICTORIA REGION: JOURNALISM AWARDS

I also  take  this opportunity to  congratulate  the Hamilton Spectator,  which was recently crowned country Victoria’s newspaper  of the year at Victoria’s annual media  awards. I would also  like to congratulate Spectator journalist Danielle Grindlay, who was named journalist  of the year and also won an award  for best agriculture story for the year. Ted…

TEACHERS: ENTERPRISE BARGAINING

More than 15  000  Victorian teachers and support staff  rallied  at  Rod Laver Arena and marched to Parliament House last week as part of their campaign  to get this government to  abide by its election promise to give every single teacher in this state a decent pay rise. It was the biggest  education  protest in …

NORTHERN VICTORIA REGION: GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

 I  will start  by saying that we have  here today a  motion  that  has  been  moved  by  the  government,  seconded  by  the government, supported by the government and is essentially a pat on the back for the  government. It has tied up this house for some  hours today. One would have thought,  particularly given that …