PLAYGROUP FUNDING GIVES TERANG KIDS A GREAT START

Families in Terang will benefit from a new grant to help establish a community playgroup as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $50,000 Great Start Community Playgroup Fund. Terang Playgroup  has received $1000 to help get the resources needed like books, toys and play equipment as well as mentoring support to ensure a successfully run…

WESTERN VIC LEARN LOCALS URGED TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

Learn Local organisations in Western Victoria are being encouraged to apply to share in $2 million in Andrews Labor Government funding. The Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board has launched its latest Capacity and Innovation Funding Round with applications closing on December 15. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said funding is available…

Victoria Legal Aid

I rise this afternoon to speak on the annual report of Victoria Legal Aid entitled Helping Victorians with their Legal Problems. I have spoken on a number of occasions in this place on the Victoria Legal Aid organisation, as I take a particular interest in its progress and what it does, it being a very…

Maryborough Education Centre

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education and is in relation to the Maryborough Education Centre. I call on the minister to commit funds to improve the amenity of Maryborough Education Centre. The centre is a school where young people of the Maryborough community can learn and grow in a supportive,…

Victims of Crime Commissioner Bill 2015

It is with great pleasure that I rise this afternoon to speak on the Victims of Crime Commissioner Bill 2015. The bill before us is a fairly simple bill; however, its simplicity does not take away from its importance. The key to today’s debate is an acknowledgement that we can never, ever do enough in…

NDIS

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing. It is in relation to the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS). The action I seek from the minister is that he host a forum regarding the rollout of the national disability insurance scheme in the south-west in the near future. As members in…

Kenneth Cumming

I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Kenneth Cumming of Warrnambool, who was honoured with a Council on the Ageing Senior Achiever Award during the 2015 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards at Government House earlier this month. As a hospital visitor, Kenneth devotes his time to the care of others, making sure that ex-service members…

Kindergarten Funding

On another note, but consistent with the theme of the Labor government’s support for Victorian families, I congratulate all the kindergartens in my electorate that were successful in obtaining funding from the Andrews Labor government’s $50 million investment in the early childhood sector. The Andrews Labor government is also providing up to $83.7 million over four years…

Emma House Domestic Violence Services

Regardless of political stripe, everyone in this place agrees that domestic violence in Victoria is a stain on our great state. I am so proud to be a part of a government that is serious about tackling family violence and as a part of that is supporting Victoria’s community legal centres in the important work…

WARRNAMBOOL RECEIVES $219,680 TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY

A $219,690 Victorian Government grant will help increase community safety andconfidence in the East Warrnambool housing commission estate. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announced funding for the EastWarrnambool housing commission estate under the latest round of the government’s Public Safety Infrastructure Fund grants program. This funding grant will assist with the installation…

FOODSHARE RELIEF FOR COLAC COMMUNITIES

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP, today officially opened the new Colac and District Community Foodshare, which received $84,000 in funding support from the Andrews Labor Government. The Colac Foodshare will distribute rescued food to partner organisations across the Colac Otway Shire, that in turn then deliver the food to community kitchens, breakfast and…

NEW KINDERGARTEN UPGRADES BENEFIT SOUTH WEST FAMILIES

Local kindergartens in the South West are set to benefit from 20 separate grants as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s promise to deliver new kindergarten infrastructure improvements.  Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said 17 kindergartens would share in over $60,000 worth of grants to improve services for children and families.  Six kindas…

NEW KINDERGARTEN UPGRADES BENEFITS POLWARTH FAMILIES

Local kindergartens in Polwarth are set to benefit from 14 separate grants as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s promise to deliver new kindergarten infrastructure improvements. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said 10 kindergartens would share in over $60,000 worth of grants to improve services for children and families. Five kindas in Polwarth…

GRANTS STRENGTHEN EMMA HOUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES

Emma House Domestic Violence Services will receive two grants totalling $102,174 to boost its ability to help vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians, following a series of grant allocations announced by the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said the funding for Emma House Domestic Violence Services was vital to ensure that vulnerable…

Warrnambool Ministerial Visit

My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Minister for Training and Skills. The action I seek from the minister is for him to visit Warrnambool in my electorate to see firsthand the issues facing the south-west, in particular the high youth unemployment rate, and to discuss what actions the Andrews government can take…

Auditor-General’s Report – Regional Growth Fund

This afternoon I would like to make some comments in relation to the Auditor-General’s report, Regional Growth Fund — Outcomes and Learnings. Ms Pulford — That’s an interesting read. Ms TIERNEY — It is a very sorry tale indeed, Minister Pulford. The Auditor-General found that under the Liberal-Nationals government the Regional Growth Fund had weaknesses in design, a lack of transparency…

Mental Health Services

My constituency question is for the Minister for Mental Health, and my question relates to the minister’s recent announcement of $5.5 million in funding from the Andrews Labor government for mental health services and other services that treat people who are dependent on alcohol and other drugs. This investment by the Labor government is very important…

Mobile Black Spot program

I rise to congratulate the Andrews Labor government on its cooperative work with the federal government and Telstra to maximise funding for the elimination of mobile phone black spots. The mobile phone network is a vital piece of infrastructure for the 21st century. The mobile phone is ubiquitous these days. Mobile phone black spots are not…

Oberon High School

My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is that the minister join with me and visit Oberon High School in Belmont to take in the important work that school is doing and also to look at the future requirements of that school. Oberon High has…

Aboriginal Flag

I take this opportunity to reflect on the official raising of the Aboriginal flag above the Victorian Parliament during the last sitting week. As it should, the Aboriginal flag is permanently flying alongside the Australian and Victorian flags above the Parliament of Victoria. This is about the recognition and acknowledgement of the traditional owners of…

Aunty Marlene Gilson

It gives me great pleasure to speak about Aunty Marlene Gilson, a Wadawurrung elder who was recently voted the people’s choice at the 2015 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards. A self-taught artist, Aunty Marlene seeks to share Aboriginal culture and history to encourage our younger generation to keep stories alive through their own art. Aunty Marlene…

NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK 2016 GRANTS NOW OPEN

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting young people in Western Victoria with $187,000 in grants to celebrate National Youth Week in 2016, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP announced today. Council, local community organisations and schools in Western Victoria are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $2000 to assist with putting on…

TOP HONOUR FOR INSPIRATIONAL WARRNAMBOOL SENIOR

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP was today delighted to congratulate Kenneth Cumming, of Warrnambool, who was honoured with a COTA Senior Achiever Award during the 2015 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards at Government House today. Mr Cumming was among 14 seniors honoured, with awards presented by the Minister for Housing, Disability and…