GOVERNMENT: PERFORMANCE

Debate resumed from earlier this day; motion of Mr LENDERS (Southern Metropolitan):  That this house notes that the Baillieu-Ryan coalition promised the people of Victoria in 2010 to ‘fix the problems’ and ‘build the future’ but has failed to successfully plan, build or deliver on its promise during the past two years, in particular —…

EUREKA REBELLION: 158TH ANNIVERSARY

The third day of December this year marked the 158th anniversary of the Eureka rebellion, a day when people from many nations made their stand for democracy on Ballarat Hill. It was a struggle for better and equal opportunities. A number of events were held in Ballarat to mark the day on which we remember…

POLICE: GEELONG AND SURF COAST REGIONS

On a number of occasions this year I have brought to the attention of the Baillieu government the desperate lack of police numbers in the Geelong area, particularly on the Surf Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula. Local newspapers the Geelong Advertiser, the Surf Coast Times and the Surf Coast Echo have reported extensively on the…

GOVERNMENT: PERFORMANCE

We are now two years into the Baillieu government’s term of office, and the consensus from the overwhelming majority of Victorians is clearly being voiced: the Baillieu government is a do-nothing government. In Saturday’s Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight painted a picture that reflects what many Victorians are thinking. The cartoon shows the Premier waking…

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…

STUDENTS: EDUCATION CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE

My matter this evening is directed to the Minister for Education, and it is in relation to the school bus conveyance allowance. In what is considered to be yet another blow to rural and regional Victorians, this government has made a change to the school bus conveyance allowance that will essentially deny thousands of Victorian…

HIGHER EDUCATION: TAFE FUNDING

The Shire of Surf Coast recently made a submission to the Victorian Parliament’s Economic Development Infrastructure Committee as part of its inquiry into local economic development initiatives in Victoria. A number of local councils made submissions detailing their views on assistance measures and barriers to economic development and infrastructure in their region. The Surf Coast…

HIGHER EDUCATION: TAFE 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 plans to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from TAFE funding. In particular, we note: 1. the TAFE Association has estimated up to 2000 jobs could be lost as…

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…

LABOR TO INVEST IN SOUTH WEST TAFE

A Victorian Labor Government will invest in the TAFE system to ensure that all Victorians have affordable access to education and training, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. Ms Tierney said the commitment to fund TAFE was the central plank of Labor’s Plan for Jobs and Growth, released today. “The community in Warrnambool…

LABOR TO INVEST IN VICTORIAN TAFES

A Victorian Labor Government will invest in the TAFE system to ensure that all Victorians have affordable access to education and training, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. Ms Tierney said the commitment to fund TAFE was the central plank of Labor’s Plan for Jobs and Growth, released today. “The community in Colac…

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT VICTORIA: REPORT 2011-12

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I rise to make a contribution in respect of regional development in this state. On the eve of the Baillieu government’s second anniversary it is appropriate to examine what is the lifeblood of Victoria, and that is the health of its rural and regional cities and its townships. In 1999 rural…

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN VICTORIA

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) presented report, including appendices, together with transcripts of evidence. Laid on table. Ordered that report be printed. Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I move: That the Council take note of the report. I begin by thanking the committee staff for their work. Kerryn Riseley oversaw the conduct of the inquiry. Anita Madden, the research…

HIGHER EDUCATION: TAFE 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 plans to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from TAFE funding. In particular, we note: 1. the TAFE Association has estimated up to 2000 jobs could be lost as…

SPECIAL SCHOOLS: WESTERN VICTORIA REGION

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for  Education, and  it is about the review of special education in the Geelong  and South Barwon  region.  During the  last  parliamentary sitting  the member for South Barwon in the Assembly, Andrew Katos, tabled a petition of 1699 signatures, drawing the attention of the house to…

APOLOGY FOR PAST FORCED ADOPTIONS

I also rise to make a contribution in relation to this matter. As legislators it is our duty and honour to pass laws that protect Victorians. However, today we can only offer our deepest sympathies for a great wrongdoing in the past, a great tragedy that has caused ongoing pain on an unimaginable scale. Thousands…

JACK FINCK

Last Wednesday I was pleased to be among an overflowing crowd of people at Heathmere community hall who had gathered to celebrate the life of Jack Finck. Jack’s great love and first priority was family: his wife, Gwen, children Robyn, Warren and Grant, their spouses and grandchildren. Jack had good, solid values, and the Labor…

GLENELG PLANNING SCHEME: AMENDMENT

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for  Planning  and is in relation to the minister’s decision to approve amendment C93 to the Glenelg planning scheme. It is fair to say that many in the Narrawong and Portland communities have been stunned by the minister’s action in relation to the proposal to establish…

BALLARAT TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL: CIVIC CEREMONY

On  another matter, on Monday, 15 October, I attended a Ballarat City Council civic ceremony  to commemorate the  125th anniversary of laying  of the foundation stone at the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council. The ceremony was a timely reminder of the many issues unionists have fought for over the years — occupational health and  safety…

MARINE AND FRESHWATER DISCOVERY CENTRE: RESEARCH STAFF

On  Sunday,  7 October,  many  Queenscliff residents expressed their anger  at  the  Baillieu   government’s  decision  to  slash  funding  from  the Queenscliff marine fisheries and research centre. The centre, which was built in 2004 under a  Labor government, and its researchers are responsible  for helping to  save the state’s  mussel industry and  the  regeneration of Lake …

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY: BIG CATS — INVESTIGATION

To ask the Minister  for Higher  Education and  Skills (for  the Minister for  Agriculture  and Food  Security):  In  relation  to  the  Baillieu government’s funding to investigate the existence of ‘big cats’ in Victoria: (1) How  many departmental staff will  be involved in  the Baillieu government’s investigation. (2) What will be the total cost of this…

AGEING: MINISTERIAL VISITS — CITY OF BALLARAT

To  ask  the  Minister  for Ageing:  On which  dates between  2 December  2010 and  14 April 2011 did the minister visit any locality within the city of Ballarat, and on each occasion: (1) Who did the minister meet with. (2) Did the minister make any commitment of public funds; and if  so, for each  commitment…

EMPLOYMENT: REGIONAL AND RURAL VICTORIA

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Employment  and Industrial Relations, Richard Dalla-Riva, and it is in  relation to recent  Australian  Bureau of  Statistics  job and  unemployment statistics  for rural and  regional Victoria. I think  everyone would agree that the  August  and September job figures represented a bad set of numbers. Members…

RAIL: NORTH SHORE STATION

In February this year the Baillieu government made the decision to abandon the previous Labor government’s plan to upgrade the North  Shore  railway station in  Geelong. This decision was  met with criticism from the Geelong  community, because  as each  and every  person who uses or has family who uses this station knows, it is in…

DIABETES: FUNDING

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Health, and it is in relation to diabetes funding in Victoria. On 7 October  2010 the Victorian  Parliament’s Rural and  Regional Committee, a joint investigatory committee,  tabled its final  report, Inquiry into  the Extent and Nature of Disadvantage and Inequity in Rural and Regional Victoria. …

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES: REPORT 2011-12

I  rise to speak on the 2011-12 annual report of the  Department of  Primary Industries. As I hope  most people  in the  house would  be  aware,  the DPI  oversees  agriculture,  fisheries,  forestry,  earth resources and energy industries — — Mr Lenders — And the hunt for big cats. Ms TIERNEY — And  the  hunt for…

REFERENCES

I move: That this house requires the Environment and Planning Legislation Committee to  inquire  into,  consider  and  report on  the  following  departmental  annual  reports, together with  the estimates of expenditure, for 2012-13 that  are to  be tabled in the coming weeks — (1) Department of Premier and Cabinet; (2) Department of Sustainability and Environment; and…

BUSES: SHORT-TERM TICKETS

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister  for Public Transport, Mr Mulder, and it is in  relation to the use and future availability of short-term tickets for Geelong  residents using local bus services. The minister should be aware that over 60 per cent of passengers using the  Geelong  bus network  purchase  short-term tickets…

JILL MEAGHER

Over the  past few weeks Victorians have been stunned with  raw grief.  Many of  us  have  lost  close  loved  ones in  tragic circumstances, but  Tom Meagher’s grief is  something that I simply cannot begin to  contemplate. I wish to place on record my sincerest sympathy to Tom Meagher, Jill’s mother and father and her other…

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…

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 …

WINCHELSEA GUN CLUB: RELOCATION

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Environment and  Climate  Change,  and  it  is  in  relation to the Winchelsea  Gun  Club.  The  minister  may  be  aware  that  the  Department  of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)  has ordered the club to vacate its current premises at  the Winchelsea  Common by 31  December this  year.…

BELMONT COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN: UPGRADE

I  would like to  congratulate  the Belmont Community Kindergarten on  the  official opening recently  of  its new $400  000 playroom.  The community raised the  phenomenal amount of $100  000 towards this project, and I place on  record my sincere appreciation for its amazing efforts. Kinder is a really important time in a child’s development, and…

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY: STRATEGIC CO-INVESTMENT

Ms TIERNEY  (Western Victoria) — From the outset I  will just  clarify a  few matters. We are talking about the automotive industry today. That  includes the major  manufacturers but also  the  component suppliers. Some other automotive areas are not being dealt with today because  they do  not fall within the description of what  is considered…

ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING REFERENCES COMMITTEE: ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN VICTORIA

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Health, David Davis. This house endorsed the terms of reference for the Environment and Planning References Committee to  inquire into environmental design and  public health in  Victoria. On  24 May  this year  the majority  and minority  reports  were  tabled in this house. Since  that  time …

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY: WARRNAMBOOL ACCIDENT

It is with great sadness that I rise to speak on the  tragic  deaths of two drilling rig workers in western Victoria yesterday on  the Stena Clyde  mobile  rig stationed approximately  90 kilometres offshore from  Warrnambool. This  morning’s  media  reports state  that  the two  men,  a 32-year-old from  the Northern Territory  and a 60-year-old  from…

BAILLIEU MAKING NO PROGRESS ON FSL REPLACEMENT

The Baillieu Government has failed to deliver on its own commitment to introduce a new property-based levy to replace the Fire Services Levy (FSL), Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said. “The Government has sailed by its own deadlines to have begun the transition to the new arrangement, which was supposed to be underway…

GEORGE ROBERT CRAWFORD

 George Robert Crawford was born on 13 January 1926  and died on 7  August  2012. He was elected  to  Parliament after 41 years membership  of the Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees Union  of Australia, and he spent  30 years as a full-time official of that union, holding the  positions of both Victorian branch secretary and general…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: RAIL — LITTLE RIVER STATION

To ask the  Minister for  Planning (for  the Minister for Public Transport): What was the  average number of  passengers  that used Little  River railway station on a daily and weekly basis in — (a) 2009; (b) 2010; and (c) 2011. ANSWER: I am informed that, as at the date the question was raised: The  estimated …

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: RAIL — LARA STATION

To ask the Minister for Planning (for the Minister for Public Transport): What was the average number of passengers that used Lara railway station on a daily and weekly basis in — (a) 2009; (b) 2010; and (c) 2011. ANSWER: I am informed that, as at the date the question was raised: The estimated  average weekday, Saturday, …

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: RAIL — CORIO STATION

To  ask the  Minister for Planning (for the Minister for Public Transport): What  was the average number  of passengers that used  Corio railway station on a daily and weekly basis in — (a) 2009; (b) 2010; and (c) 2011. ANSWER: I am informed that, as at the date the question was raised: The estimated  average…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: RAIL — NORTH SHORE STATION

 To ask  the Minister  for Planning (for the Minister for Public Transport): What was  the  average number of  passengers that used  North  Shore railway station on a daily and weekly basis in — (a) 2009; (b) 2010; and (c) 2011. ANSWER: I am informed that, as at the date the question was raised: The estimated…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: RAIL — GEELONG STATION

To ask the  Minister for  Planning (for  the Minister for Public Transport): What was the average number  of passengers that used Geelong railway station on a daily and weekly basis in — (a) 2009; (b) 2010; and (c) 2011. ANSWER: I am informed that, as at the date the question was raised: The estimated average …

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: RAIL — MARSHALL STATION

To ask the Minister  for Planning  (for the  Minister for Public Transport): What was the average number of passengers that used Marshall railway station on a daily and weekly basis in — (a) 2009; (b) 2010; and (c) 2011. ANSWER: I am informed that, as at the date the question was raised: The estimated  average…

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: GREEN LIGHT PLAN

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Local Government, and it  relates to  the green light plan. Under a funding partnership agreement with the Baillieu government the Great South Coast program was to replace  7660  streetlights  with  energy-efficient  bulbs across municipalities including the  Colac Otway and  Corangamite shires, the  city  of Warrnambool,…

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…

JEFF KENNETT: COMMENTS

Members may be aware of recent  comments  by past Victorian  Premier  Jeff Kennett in  the Geelong Advertiser  advocating the closure  of  both  the  Ford  factory  and  the  Alcoa  plant  at  Point  Henry. Contributions such as this are entirely unwelcome to the manufacturing industry, and  to talk it down at a time  when  it is facing…

WARRNAMBOOL ALTERNATIVE VCAL EDUCATION SCHOOL: FUTURE

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education,  and it is in  relation to the  Warrnambool  Alternative VCAL  Education School,  or WAVE.  The WAVE program was established in 2010 as a satellite school to Warrnambool College. Prior to that it was auspiced by Brauer Secondary College, Mortlake College and  Hawkesdale P-12 College …

HIGHER EDUCATION: TAFE ASSETS

Ms  TIERNEY  (Western Victoria) — My question is to the Minister  for  Higher Education and Skills.  Can  the  minister confirm that TAFE boards will need his approval to sell off assets  or to sell off rural  campuses to help meet funding shortfalls,  and can he advise the house on  his  government’s  policy  on  such sell-offs?…

HORSHAM COLLEGE: REDEVELOPMENT

My  adjournment  matter  this  evening is directed  to  the  Minister  for  Education, Martin Dixon, and is in relation to Horsham College. Last  Tuesday and Wednesday  I  had several meetings  with  key stakeholders in the Wimmera, and in particular in Horsham, Stawell, the Pyrenees and  other  parts  of the Southern Grampians. The issue of the  Horsham …

THU SA LA

On another note I wish to  congratulate 11-year old Thu Sa La, a Karen  refugee who  arrived in this country nearly  four years  ago and  will be representing Victoria in the under-12 Australian Rules football championships in South  Australia  next month. What an  extraordinary  achievement!  A  wonderful example of what can happen in this country…

NATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL: VOLUNTEERS

On another note, I thank Una McAlinden and the  National Celtic Festival  committee  for their hard  work  in delivering a  magnificent event in Portarlington  over  the recent  long  weekend. Live  music  and highly  skilled artists were embraced by the town as they  worked their  Celtic magic  for three days  and three nights.  The events demonstrated …

PORTARLINGTON: BIGGEST AFTERNOON TEA

During the last sitting week I made mention of an extremely well-attended Biggest Afternoon Tea held at Portarlington on 3l May to  raise money  for cancer  research. At  the time  we believed the  amount raised was  of  the order of $11 000,  but I can now inform  the  house that the final amount raised was…

EDUCATION OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) presented report, including appendices, together with transcripts of evidence.  Laid on table.  Ordered that report be printed. Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I move:  That the Council take note of the report.  I am pleased to rise this morning to make some comments on the joint parliamentary Education and Training Committee’s…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS — WINCHELSEA AND MORIAC-WAURN PONDS AND TORQUAY SERVICE

To ask  the Minister  for Planning  (for the Minister for Public Transport): In relation to the Winchelsea  and Moriac to Waurn Ponds and Torquay Transport  Connections  service  that  has  recently been  cut  by the  Baillieu government,  what  arrangements will now  be  made to provide  the  vital public transport required by  those living in the  Winchelsea,…