MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:00): I thank the member for his question. Apprenticeships are incredibly important, and we know that right across the board. This has been the case and a very proud contribution that this government has made in respect to apprenticeships, and during my time…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Can I just correct the record? The fact of the matter is that the most recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research report shows that in the year to December 2019 there was a 7.3 per cent increase in construction trade apprenticeship completions…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:45): I am pleased to provide a summation from the government’s side. This bill is about delivering access to justice for ordinary Victorians by making it easier to bring class actions for things like silicosis, wage theft, consumer harm and other forms of…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (20:46): I move: That the bill be now read a third time. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is: That the bill be now read a third time and do pass. House divided on question: The PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.27, the bill will be…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:24): This week is Refugee Week. Originally celebrated in 1986, the week coincides with World Refugee Day on 20 June each year. This year’s theme is celebrating the Year of Welcome, and I think we can all be proud in this chamber that Victoria has…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:48): I rise to update the house on the critical work of the Andrews Labor government in opening a brand-new state-of-the-art campus at TAFE Gippsland’s port of Sale site. I recently unveiled the new designs for the TAFE Gippsland port of Sale campus,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:00): I am really pleased to update the house on how the Andrews Labor Government is supporting people who have been in out-of-home care to access education and training. Care leavers are significantly less likely to access university after leaving school. For too…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (20:08): From what I have heard of this debate this afternoon and this evening, the opponents of this bill, rather than tackle the substance of the issues, have sought to prosecute and will prosecute an amendment that will delay the introduction of this…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (23:08): I move: That the bill be now read a third time. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is: That the bill be now read a third time and do pass. House divided on question: The PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.27, the bill…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:11): Can I begin by acknowledging the families and friends of the victims whose lives have been dramatically changed as a result of their connection with the crimes that we will be talking about today, and I do extend my best wishes and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:29): I move:
That the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to.
Read third time.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.24, the bill will be transmitted to the Assembly with a message requesting their agreement.
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:24): On 15 May I announced the retrenched apprentices and trainees program, a collaboration between the Victorian government and the Apprenticeship Employment Network, the peak body of group training organisations here in Victoria. History tells us that at times like these, hard economic times,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:02): I move: That the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Motion agreed to. Ms TIERNEY: I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: I’d like to start by taking an opportunity to thank those people,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:03): I move:
That the bill be now read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Read first time.
Ms TIERNEY: I move, by leave:
That the second reading be taken forthwith.
Motion agreed to.
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:04): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:04): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:04): I move: That the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Motion agreed to. Ms TIERNEY: I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The purpose of this Bill is to amend: 1. The Petroleum Act 1998…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:05): I move:
That the bill be now read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Read first time.
Ms TIERNEY: I move, by leave:
That the second reading be taken forthwith.
Motion agreed to.
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:05): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Charter), I make this Statement of Compatibility with respect to the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:05): I move, by leave: That the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Motion agreed to. Ms TIERNEY: I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This Bill will deliver on the Victorian Government’s commitment to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:11): Can I begin by acknowledging the families and friends of the victims whose lives have been dramatically changed as a result of their connection with the crimes that we will be talking about today, and I do extend my best wishes and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:40): I rise today to pay tribute to the residents of Western Victoria for managing an unprecedented time in education across both the state school system and the independent school system. This time of COVID-19 has certainly given new meaning to the concept…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:30): The fact of the matter is that we have started traversing this. As I mentioned previously in response to a question by Mr Rich-Phillips, the Treasurer and I made an announcement on 19 May in respect of universities and assistance that will hopefully mitigate…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:56): It was just over two years ago that our government first announced the free TAFE for priority courses initiative. The initiative was rolled out for its first year in 2019. Everyone on this side of the house backed free TAFE every step…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:38): I rise to acknowledge the passing of a former member for Melbourne Province and good friend, Doug Walpole. Doug’s contribution to working people and progressive politics is well recognised across the labour movement, initially through his time as an Electrical Trades Union…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:23): Last week I had the opportunity to visit the new facilities of Southern Grampians Adult Education, located at the South West TAFE campus in Warrnambool. SGAE is a Learn Local provider. They deliver education and training programs for so many in the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:38): I rise to update the house on the brand-new GOTAFE Wallan campus, which I had the pleasure of opening last week. There was an absolute buzz in these new facilities, as I was joined by my parliamentary colleagues Minister Jac Symes and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:57): I rise to update the house on the work being done in our training and skills system in response to the coronavirus. As the Premier has said, the coming weeks and months will be tough on everyone. It will be tough on…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:31): I rise today to congratulate Wannon Water for its fantastic carbon neutrality action plan, which is delivering an Australian first in Portland. By investing $4.2 million in a 50-metre-high wind turbine that will reduce carbon emissions by an average of 2500 tonnes a year,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Last week I had the pleasure of attending the first graduation of the certificate III in learning an endangered Aboriginal language. This Victorian-first course started in 2018 and continued throughout 2019. The certificate gives students the understanding, skills and resources to build up…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:17): I rise today to congratulate two organisations that are doing a fantastic job in extending creative opportunities in south-west Victoria. Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery at Cororooke has received $75 000 to create a space for workshops, rehearsals and performance plus a…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:45): I rise to share that Wodonga TAFE was recently awarded the Australian Defence Force driver machinery and plant training services contract at the army school of transport at Puckapunyal. This is an outstanding achievement for a TAFE. The contract spans up to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:27): Last week was an important milestone for Melbourne’s west. I had the pleasure of joining Legislative Council colleagues Ingrid Stitt and Cesar Melhem, along with the member for St Albans, Natalie Suleyman, in the other place, to officially open Victoria University Polytechnic’s Sunshine…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:15): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to note that 28 Western Victoria constituents have been recognised with Australia Day awards. Three became AMs—members of the Order of Australia—20 were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia, two received Australian Fire…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:53:38): I rise today to reflect on the contribution to regional Victoria, and especially western Victoria, made by Geoff Handbury, PhD, AO. Mr Handbury died this week, aged 94, after a lifetime supporting the community at a local, regional, state and even national level.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:28:38): Last Thursday I had the opportunity to attend the Australian Training Awards. The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards for the vocational education and training sector, and again this year Victorian TAFEs did not disappoint. For the fourth year in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:37:55): Like so many other people in the chamber today I also have a deep personal association with this issue. The first time I knew of workplace deaths, I think, was from stories that my great-grandmother and my grandmother told me about what…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:22:58): Last Sunday marked the year anniversary of the re-elected Andrews Labor government. The gift of government is something we do not take for granted, and we have not wasted a day since. We have continued our proud record of building an education…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:50:20): I will try to be fairly quick with this, in responding to comments that have been made. In addressing this matter, firstly, I wish to indicate that I do have some answers to a number of questions that have been raised. There…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:06:39): Today is a historic day for adult community education in this state. At lunchtime today I will officially launch the ministerial statement on The Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020–25. The ministerial statement will give the sector the acknowledgement and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:08:53): Last night I had the privilege of attending the formal opening of the Geelong Arts Centre, the revitalised and redeveloped facility that was funded by the Andrews Labor government to the tune of $37 million, and it certainly is a great facility.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:19:41): I thank all the members who have contributed to this debate today and given accounts of what has been occurring in their electorates. In particular Mr Meddick, who shares my electorate, outlined some of the things that our constituents have faced in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:17:19): What I can advise the house is that when I go around and visit TAFEs, which I do on a very regular basis, people advise me that their classrooms are full and that there is a real emphasis on completing their course…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:14:41): This is sort of a re-run in terms of a matter that was before the media during the winter recess. Clearly the member still has not got the memo, and the memo is this: that the data is two years old. It…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08:36): I again thank the member for giving me an opportunity to talk about TAFE and free TAFE. I can say that I am a little bit surprised that Ms Wooldridge, who normally conducts herself, I think, in a very, very professional manner,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:05:39): I am aware of the comments made by the shadow minister, Tanya Plibersek, in relation to the underspend. It is very disappointing that that money was not spent in a way that was more targeted in areas where there are government priorities,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:31:20): I am pleased to rise and inform the house of a new Andrews government initiative announced last week to support free TAFE students to complete their studies. Last Wednesday I joined the member for Nepean, Chris Brayne, at the Chisholm Mornington Peninsula…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:26): I rise to update the chamber on how the reintroduction of trade papers by the Andrews government is rebuilding the status of apprenticeships. Last week I visited Ringwood Training with a member for Eastern Metropolitan Region, Sonja Terpstra, who is an absolute…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33): I thank Dr Cumming for raising this question. The provision of post-school education in our suburbs and our regional towns and provision for our rural communities is incredibly important but particularly so in areas where we have high population growth. I can advise…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:35): I thank Dr Cumming for her question again. The area of adult education is incredibly important and it is part of the post-school sector. I have had a lot of engagement in that sector in recent times. I called a summit of…
MS TIERNEY: Taya Davies from Barwon Heads is the 2020 Victoria Young Australian of the Year. Taya works with the Department of Education and Training in the Geelong region in support of disengaged young people of high school age, currently as a coordinator and manager. She brings her social values not only to these programs…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:08:21): I rise today to celebrate the achievements of two people whose work has impacted on the lives of western Victorians. I begin by congratulating Archie Roach, iconic musician and performer, who has been named the 2020 Victoria Australian of the Year. Archie…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:44:45): I wish to update the house on capital works in the TAFE sector. Recently I joined the Premier, along with the member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, the member for Mordialloc, Tim Richardson, and the member for Nepean, Chris Brayne, at Chisholm lnstitute’s…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (10:02:09): Last week I had the opportunity to take a close look at a project that will improve road usage not only for locals from Colac and its region but for all who use the Princes Highway through western Victoria. The replacement of…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:12:46): I would like to update the house on the Raising Expectations program. Last week I joined the member for Bayswater, Jackson Taylor, at Swinburne’s Croydon campus. We met with a number of the participating students in the Raising Expectations program. This program…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:40:28): I rise today to share a recent experience in which I felt privileged to gain an insight into what it means to live with a disability. I attended the opening in Geelong of Back to Back Theatre’s production The Shadow Whose Prey…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33:54): I wish to update the house on the Wurreker Awards and Indigenous language courses. Recently I had the pleasure of attending my third Wurreker Awards at the Aborigines Advancement League. The awards are an annual event hosted by the Victorian Aboriginal Education…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:55:00): Today I rise to inform the house of fantastic programs being put into practice in Western Victoria. Congratulations to the recently announced finalists in the Victorian Early Years Awards; seven of the 20 are located in my electorate. They are Delkaia Aboriginal…
MS TIERNEY: In the south-west, four colleges—Apollo Bay P–12 College, Lavers Hill K–12 College, Lorne P–12 College and Colac Secondary College—are leading the way in supporting the mental health needs of regional Victorians. Recruitment is already underway to appoint mental health practitioners to work with students in each school every week starting in term 4.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:13:01): I rise to update the house on Australia’s performance at the recent WorldSkills event in Russia, commonly known as the Olympics of skills and training. Recently our Australian representatives, known as the Skillaroos, including three Victorians, returned home after finishing eighth out…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:40:54): I rise to share several inspiring achievements of residents of Western Victoria. Last Friday I presented the Victorian Training Awards to some fantastic individuals. Outstanding amongst those is Tanya McDonald. Tanya’s award of Koorie Student of the Year recognises a student who…
MS TIERNEY: On another note, two constituents were recognised in the Ricci Marks Awards for outstanding young Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a range of fields. Staycee Charles won one of the top awards, which brings a bursary of $5000, for her work in climate change advocacy. Her passion for protecting the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:40): I rise to update the chamber on the outstanding success of regional Victoria at this year’s Victorian Training Awards last Friday night. Now in its 65th year, the Victorian Training Awards recognise the achievements of Victoria’s VET sector. Regional Victoria won big-time…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33:46): Last month I joined the Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne, and a member for Northern Victoria Region, Wendy Lovell, at the launch of the Education First Youth Foyer evaluation report. Youth foyers provide accommodation and training facilities for young people who are…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:55:28): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to congratulate the members of Find Your Voice all-abilities choir from Warrnambool on their recent successes. The choir, led by inspiring Warrnambool musician Tom Richardson and facilitator Kylie Thulborn, was recently awarded the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:11): I rise to update the house on data relating to participation in the Victorian training system. Yesterday the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, commonly known as NCVER, released its report on government-funded students and courses for the first quarter of 2019.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:31:27): This morning I rise to update the house on the tremendous success of Labor’s free TAFE initiative. More than 25 000 students had commenced training in free TAFE courses at the end of June this year, almost double the commencements in these…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:45:35): The Queen’s Birthday weekend saw the small Bellarine village of Portarlington transformed as the National Celtic Festival hit town. This festival attracts not only international and interstate performers but thousands of visitors. It is a festival that relies on the work of its…
MS TIERNEY: On another note I congratulate Warrnambool East Primary School on an absolutely wonderful achievement: first prize winner of the Community Leadership School of the Year in last week’s 2019 ResourceSmart Schools Awards, announced by Minister D’Ambrosio at the MCG. Warrnambool East Primary School were among a wide field of schools recognised for their…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:30:47): I wish to inform the house about a pilot that is helping to break down barriers when it comes to obtaining work in the construction industry. While there is a high demand for workers in this industry, thanks in no small part…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:12:52): I rise to update the house on matters pertaining to Federation Training—or it was previously known as Federation Training. Following extensive consultations with the Gippsland communities, Federation Training has now been renamed TAFE Gippsland. This new name means that local students will…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:18:15): I thank the member again for her surprising new and renewed and unexpected interest in TAFE, let alone free TAFE. The reality is that this government has encouraged partnership models between industry, private providers and TAFE. We have done that for a…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (14:14:55): I am pleased to rise and contribute to this debate. As I understand it, four members from western Victoria will speak on this motion today. That is of little surprise given that, one, we represent the area but, two, I think everyone that…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:14:19): Today I wish to update the house on a valuable education initiative that highlights the unique and important role played by Learn Locals. The financial literacy for women affected by family violence initiative is jointly run by the Department of Education and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:43:47): Today I congratulate Lorne P–12 College for its outstanding achievement in engaging students in the Victorian certificate of applied learning (VCAL). Principal Shane Elevato and his staff deliver a program that is an exemplar to educators and schools in Western Victoria. Their…
MS TIERNEY: That same emphasis on supporting students is reflected in a really significant initiative that will see schools having dedicated mental health practitioners on site. The Andrews Labor government understands the challenges faced by regional communities, especially young people living in farming areas. All schools aim to support students’ health and wellbeing, but welfare…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:40:31): On Monday I joined the vice-chancellor of RMIT, Martin Bean, at the reopening of the iconic Capitol theatre on Swanston Street in the city. By investing $2.5 million in the Capitol’s refurbishment, the Andrews Labor government has helped to make this world-class…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (14:04:40): Today I want to inform the house of yet another example of how the Andrews government’s revitalisation of Victoria’s TAFE system is changing people’s lives. In March I had the pleasure of opening the Berwick Centre for Health at the Chisholm Institute…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:49:12): Last weekend I was very pleased to join the Bannockburn community in opening the Bannockburn Victoria Park netball courts. The completion of two competition-standard netball courts with new lighting plus undercover seating and fencing was made possible by a $100 000 grant…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:21:56): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s further investment in Victoria’s TAFE infrastructure. Prior to last year’s state election Labor announced a $220 million Building Better TAFEs Fund, the largest single investment in Victoria’s TAFE asset portfolio in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:14:05): Thank you, and that is not what the budget paper says. In fact what we have is those on the opposite side being in absolute denial. They are the past masters of cuts. If you want to know about cuts, just go across…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:09:40): I am very pleased with the outcome for the skills and training, and higher education portfolios in last Monday’s budget. The fact of the matter is that there has been an additional $82 million provided in government-subsidised training. There is also an…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:28): I rise to update the house on an additional two courses that will be added to Labor’s free TAFE course list as a result of Monday’s state budget. Next year the certificate III in early childhood education and care and the diploma…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:28): I rise to update the house on an additional two courses that will be added to Labor’s free TAFE course list as a result of Monday’s state budget. Next year the certificate III in early childhood education and care and the diploma…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:50:54): Throughout the course of this debate, in the other place as well as in some of the points made in this house, issues were raised that require some clarification. Firstly, on the subject of medical treatment decisions under the Medical Treatment Planning…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:21:42): Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their contributions in this debate this afternoon. Suppression orders in courts are generally used at points that are very distressing for people, and I think that with everyone’s contributions today we have been able…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:32:21): Recently I had the pleasure of visiting GOTAFE’s Shepparton campus to speak firsthand with staff and students who are part of this growing institute. There is absolutely no doubt that GOTAFE is turning the institution around. This has happened through the sheer…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:37:06): On 29 March I was privileged to take part in the installation of the new chancellor of La Trobe University, the Honourable John Brumby, AO. John, who served as Premier of this great state from 2007 to 2010, could not be a…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (16:30:58): I rise today to acknowledge with great sadness the recent passing of Doug Phillips of Portland and offer my condolences to Doug’s wife Helen and children, Lachlan and Brianna. Doug devoted untold hours, over decades, to environmental activism, protecting forests, waterways and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:49:28): (By leave) I rise to pay tribute to two valued and very much loved members of the Victorian community in Western Victoria, Ross and Andrew Powell – a father and son who recently lost their lives while attempting to rescue a person…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria — Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:37:34): My ministers statement today is on the importance of not only training in regional communities but training that leads to good, sustainable jobs. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting workers at Benalla’s LS Precast facility who supply precast…
TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (16:49:32): I will make some brief remarks in picking up some of the points that have been raised by some of the members, and obviously we will have the opportunity in committee to explore other matters. I thank members for their contributions and for…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:48:34): Today I rise to pay tribute to the life of Francis Sutherland Hambly, whose career reflected long and dedicated service to tertiary education in this country. Frank Hambly passed away in November 2018, aged 83, in Canberra, although both his own education…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (10:00:47): I rise today to reflect on the life of Gordon Scholes, a man whose life was devoted to longstanding service to his community and to the Australian Labor Party. Gordon Scholes died in December 2018 at the age of 87. He represented…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (10:24:58) — I rise today to draw the house’s attention to two fantastic projects in Portland. Recently I had the privilege to officially open Portland Bay School, a school providing great opportunities for Portland students aged between five and 18 with special needs. This school on a brand-new site has…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (18:49:26) — As previous speakers have outlined, this is an omnibus bill that makes a number of important changes to various justice-related pieces of legislation, and I will not go through them because they have been canvassed to a significant extent, but I can touch on the coronial appeal reforms.…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:47:44) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s support for Victoria’s adult and community education providers known as Learn Locals. On 30 August 2018 I attended the 2018 Victorian Learn Local Awards and announced a new $5 million program to boost literacy, numeracy and language training for…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (10:27:38) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s game-changing free TAFE for priority courses initiative. I was delighted to join the Premier and Deputy Premier at Melbourne Polytechnic, Greensborough campus, for the opening of the Banyule-Nillumbik Tech School, a campus reopened by this government…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (10:39:19) — I rise to honour Joe Pearl. Joe Pearl arrived in Australia in 1953 from rural Turkenagh in County Clare, Ireland. Joe’s Gaelic name, Seosamh ó Seoid, means ‘jewel’, perhaps explaining the family name, Pearl. Joe looked to Australia for opportunity, bringing with him a lifelong love of learning despite…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) (11:32:07) — The government is continuing its historic work to transform Victoria’s response to family violence so that victim survivors are better supported and perpetrators are held to account. We have committed to implementing all to 227 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, and through the 2017–18 budget invested an…