CHILDREN: TAKE A BREAK PROGRAM

Recently I received correspondence from the Deans Marsh Community Cottage raising serious concerns about its occasional child-care service, which is currently operating under the Take a Break program, as well as the job security of its two child-care workers. The Baillieu government’s decision to cut funding for this vital service will force the Deans Marsh…

GEELONG RING ROAD: SECTION 4C ALIGNMENT

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, and it is in relation to the alignment of section 4C of the Geelong Ring Road. In saying that, I stipulate to the house that this is not just any old road; this has been a burning political issue in the Geelong region for…

TORQUAY: SECONDARY COLLEGE

It has come to my attention that the Baillieu government’s promise for a new, fully operational, stand-alone secondary school in Torquay by the first day of term one in 2013 is now in tatters. With a site for the school yet to be purchased, it is now near impossible for Torquay families to send their…

BATESFORD COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND: FUNDING

My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Like Mr O’Brien, the matter I raise is centred on the Golden Plains shire but is in relation to the Batesford community playground project. I recently met with representatives from the council, including the CEO and the mayor. We dealt with a number…

POLICE: GEELONG

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — A month out from last year’s state election the Premier was quoted in the Geelong Advertiser as having said: “There’s still very much a law and order issue in Geelong and there’s a shortage of police … We need more of them in the street …” That was on 1…

ANGLESEA RIVER: WATER QUALITY

My adjournment matter this evening is short and sweet, although the content of it is certainly not short and sweet — in fact it is a saga. It is about fish kills in the Anglesea River. Nearly 12 months ago fish kills became evident in Anglesea, and there was a lot of reportage of them…

PLANNING: AMENDMENT VC82

I rise to support Mr Tee’s motion, and in doing so I support regional jobs, regional development, renewable energy, investment in regional Victoria and sustainable communities and families. I will start by talking about jobs. We all understand that the creation of jobs and the investment of industry and jobs in regional Victoria is often…

CHILDREN: TAKE A BREAK PROGRAM

To the Legislative Council of Victoria: The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that funding for the Take a Break occasional child-care program, which is provided at more than 220 neighbourhood houses and community centres across Victoria, will cease after 31 December 2011. The…

LESLIE FISHER

In the time that remains I would like to pay tribute to Portland’s newest centenarian, Leslie Fisher, who celebrated 100 years on 27 September. After spending decades farming in the district, Mr Fisher is happily retired and leads a busy life, playing bowls and gardening regularly. He is an inspiration to everyone.

MATTHEW RYENBAKKEN AND TYLER BOOTS

I also want to bring to the attention of the house two year 11 Portland Secondary College students, Matthew Ryenbakken and Tyler Boots. These young men are among the 19 high-performing Koori students to be awarded the Wannik education scholarship. This scholarship is a fantastic initiative that was initially introduced by the Brumby government and…

GEELONG PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE: AWARD

I also mention the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, which was awarded the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association’s 2011 Drover award for best presenter. GPAC is the cultural heart of the Geelong community. It is the premier performing arts venue in the G21 region, and this award is extremely well deserved.

SOUTH WEST TAFE: AWARD

I take this opportunity to congratulate the students and staff of South West TAFE, who recently celebrated a big win. The institute, which offers more than 400 nationally accredited qualifications, was awarded the Victorian Large Training Provider of the Year award. The award recognises the TAFE’s commitment to delivering high-quality education programs and highlights its…

VICTORIAN CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED LEARNING: FUNDING

In what can only be described as an act of absolute insanity, the Baillieu government has now cut funding for the coordination of the Victorian certificate of applied learning (VCAL) program, which will affect 70 per cent of government secondary schools as well as TAFEs and registered training organisations. More than 12 000 Victorian students…

COMMUNITY SECTOR: WAGES

My adjournment matter this afternoon is directed to the Premier, and it relates to equal pay for women in Victoria. Members in this place are well aware that our community service workers are an integral part of our communities. They are people who care for children, the vulnerable, the elderly and the disabled. The majority…

PHILIP LYNCH

I take this opportunity to congratulate Philip Lynch, who recently received a Victorian Teachers Credit Union award for outstanding results in his bachelor of education. Mr Lynch began his tertiary education at the University of Ballarat, where he received outstanding results in his first year, and was subsequently awarded a scholarship by the former federal…

ROADS: PIONEER ROAD, WAURN PONDS — UPGRADE

To ask the Minister for Planning (for the Minister for Roads): In relation to the promised upgrade and duplication of Pioneer Road, Waurn Ponds: (1) Has the minister sought, and received advice from the Department of Transport on the upgrade and duplication of Pioneer Road; if so — (a) when will this upgrade commence; and…

SOUTH-WEST CANCER CENTRE: IMPLEMENTATION STUDY

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Health, David Davis, and it is in relation to the south-west cancer centre implementation study. Mr Davis would recall that in May last year the then Minister for Health, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Daniel Andrews, announced that a…

FOODBANK VICTORIA: FUNDING

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — Members of the house may be aware of the charitable organisation Foodbank Victoria, which for the past two years has provided emergency relief resources for Victoria’s most vulnerable. The food bank aims to deliver nutritious, healthy food to individuals and families experiencing hardship through a network of community organisations such…

CHILDREN: TAKE A BREAK PROGRAM

To the Legislative Council of Victoria: The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that funding for the Take a Break occasional child-care program, which is provided at more than 220 neighbourhood houses and community centres across Victoria, will cease after 31 December 2011. The…

VICTORIAN CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED LEARNING: FUNDING

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My question is to the Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Peter Hall. Did the department provide advice or modelling on the impact that the cuts to the number of VCAL (Victorian certificate of applied learning) coordinators would have on schools and students before the minister implemented these cuts, and…

MINISTER FOR SPORT AND RECREATION: MEDIA RELEASE

My adjournment matter this evening is directed to the Minister for Sport and Recreation and relates to a chain of events leading up to 21 July when the minister made two funding announcements in Geelong, including funding for the Grovedale sports club redevelopment project and funding for Barwon Rowing Club. As is the case with…

LIBRARIES: FUNDING

To the Legislative Council of Victoria: This petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the house the Baillieu government’s plans to slash recurrent funding for council-operated public libraries. In particular we note that the Baillieu government’s decision to slash library funding will mean that libraries will be forced…

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: ARMSTRONG CREEK

My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Public Transport, and it is in relation to public transport availability in Geelong’s new suburb, Armstrong Creek. At the beginning of August current and potential landowners in Armstrong Creek were informed by the member for South Barwon in the Assembly, Andrew Katos, that they will…

GORDON TAFE: REPORT 2010

I rise to make a statement on the Gordon TAFE annual report of 2010. When people think of Geelong, they often think of its icons — the Geelong Football Club, Deakin University and the Geelong Ford plant — but along with these important icons we have the Gordon TAFE, which is very high on that…

SHEEPVENTION

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Hamilton Pastoral and Agricultural Society on another fabulous Sheepvention, which was held on 1 and 2 August this year. The weather was much more favourable this year, and that no doubt contributed to the record number of people attending Sheepvention, with a very noticeable increase in patronage on…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — EDENHOPE

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Edenhope, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — LAKE BOLAC

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Lake Bolac, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — APSLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services to Apsley Primary School, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows:…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — KANIVA

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Kaniva, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — NHILL

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Nhill, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — STAWELL

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Stawell, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — MAROONA

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Maroona, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — CLUNES

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Clunes, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — HORSHAM

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Horsham, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — FORREST

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Forrest, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…

EDUCATION: SCHOOL BUSES — COLAC

To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to school bus services in Colac, can the minister guarantee that these services will not be cut or reduced as a result of the Baillieu government’s review of school bus routes. ANSWER: I am informed as follows: The Department…