MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) tabled following statement in accordance with 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 the Planning and Building Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability and…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This Planning and Building Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability and Other Matters) Bill 2017 introduces amendments to both the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s important programs that assist in the rehabilitation of prisoners, in particular Aboriginal prisoners in the corrections system. Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of launching the Koori Art Trail expansion at the beautiful Beaufort Lake, which features 12 artworks painted…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — This week I attended my 11th Sheepvention in Hamilton, a fantastic western Victoria agricultural show and a cultural institution celebrating its 39th year. As ever, it was a great opportunity to meet constituents. Sheepvention incorporates the Hamilton and Western District Sheep Show, Suffolk being this year’s feature breed. Diversity — around…
To the Legislative Council of Victoria: The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the proposed logging of native forests of far south-west Victoria by the government’s logging agency, VicForests. Western Victoria is over 85 per cent cleared of original vegetation and the remaining far south-west…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I would like to thank all of the speakers that have contributed to the debate so far today. I am sure that we will have the opportunity to go through a number of issues in the committee stage, but I do think it is important to cover off on a…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s investment in Victoria’s TAFE system and in particular the Holmesglen Institute of TAFE. Last Thursday I had the pleasure of joining the member for Bentleigh in the Legislative Assembly, Nick Staikos, to officially open the new $8 million…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to congratulate the 26 residents of Western Victoria Region whose achievements and contributions to their communities have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours recently. Three were awarded AMs, 22 received OAMs and one was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal. These western Victorians cover the full…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s support for apprentices in Victoria. As part of the 2017–18 budget, last Tuesday I announced an $8.2 million boost for apprentice support officers to ensure that Victoria’s first-year apprentices aged under 25 have the support they need to learn…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — On Saturday, 29 April, I had the opportunity to visit a really impressive example of revegetation and rehabilitation in my electorate of Western Victoria. The Basalt to Bay Landcare Network and the Green Line conservation and revegetation project from Koroit to Minhamite represents over five years of work under the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — One of the best features of the two Anzac Day services I attended was the engagement of young people and children in the ceremonies and the dignity and respect they brought to the events. This was especially so at Portarlington, where school students and sporting team members attended,…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s initiatives to further protect the Victorian community from violent and sexual offending. Recently I had the pleasure of officially opening the Catalyst Consortium at Swinburne University of Technology, which is conducting world-leading research into serious violent and sexual offending. With…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: Family violence is our number one law and order issue. More than 78 012 family incidents were reported to…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) tabled following statement in accordance with 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 the Family Violence Protection Amendment Bill 2017. In my opinion,…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — By leave, I move: That in relation to the Family Violence Protection Amendment Bill 2017 — (1) the statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 be tabled in lieu of that tabled on Tuesday, 2 May 2017; (2) the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s support for Learn Locals in Victoria. On Friday, 10 March, at the Wyndham Community and Education Centre — — Honourable members interjecting. The PRESIDENT — Order! Ms Tierney, can you start from the beginning? Unfortunately there was some noise across the chamber and…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to draw attention to the contribution of two women working at a local level and making a significant difference to other women within very different communities. Catherine Jenkins of South Purrumbete is a western Victoria dairy farmer who is switched on to issues confronting the industry…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s programs to strengthen Aboriginal prisoners’ cultural connections and reduce recidivism through grants worth almost $2.5 million. Last Thursday, 16 March, I joined the member for Geelong in the Legislative Assembly, Christine Couzens, at the Aboriginal Justice Forum in Geelong to announce the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — Last month the excitement of the Timboon P–12 School community past and present was absolutely clear as we turned the first sod of the long-awaited $5.2 million rebuild. This school community has laboured for years, never giving up, to realise a project beset by promises only to end in…
MS TIERNEY — On another note, this government’s $15 million emergency services volunteer sustainability grants program is boosting volunteer organisations statewide. Last week I announced 34 grants in my electorate for groups working hard to keep Victorians safe. These range from the Wye River Country Fire Authority (CFA) station extension to purchases of operational equipment and training for…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The bill will implement most of the outstanding recommendations from the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s 2013 Succession Laws…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The bill proposes amendments to the Education and Care Services National Law (national law) in schedule 1 to the…
Ordered that second-reading speech, except for statement under section 85(5) of the Constitution Act 1975, be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The bill will implement legislative changes needed to…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This bill continues the reforms to Victoria’s building system commenced with the Building Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Act…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s Stronger TAFE Fund program, for which I announced a total of $24.3 million in funding over three years at regional TAFEs last week. On Tuesday I had the pleasure of joining the member for Bendigo West in the other…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — Today is International Women’s Day. How distressing that we should be contemplating the impact of the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut weekend and public holiday penalty rates in industries that have a high proportion of women. Many women in my electorate work weekends in hospitality, retail, pharmacy,…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — In exercising the right of reply I thank all speakers on this bill before the house. As many speakers have indicated, this is not a controversial bill. It is a bill that is a result of court decisions, and its purpose is to encapsulate greater efficiency and practice…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This bill implements the government’s commitment to expand the range of matters that may be included in an…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This week marks the eighth anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires of 7 February…
Ordered that second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard on motion of Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills). Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (CMIA) abolished the Governor’s pleasure system, establishing…
Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This bill illustrates the government’s ongoing commitment to improving and updating the consumer protection framework in Victoria. It will amend several acts within the consumer affairs portfolio to improve their operation, clarify their requirements…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to speak about the enthusiastic response of western Victorian residents and industries to the Andrews Labor government’s funding for roads in the south-west — a response to calls for road upgrades and maintenance for well over a decade. In the past month the Andrews Labor…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — As part of the Andrews government’s response to the Harper review into the post-sentence management of serious offenders, on 13 February I announced that Labor will build a 20-bed secure facility to house Victoria’s most serious adult offenders near Ararat. The facility will be located next to the Hopkins…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to congratulate two very different high achievers in my electorate of Western Victoria Region. Henty’s Daniel Lutz, just 24 years old, is one of 12 young farmers from across Victoria to receive a government scholarship of up to $10 000. These scholarships go towards agricultural…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of joining the member for St Albans in the Legislative Assembly, Natalie Suleyman, and the member for Footscray in the Legislative Assembly, Marsha Thomson, to announce $10 million of Andrews Labor government funding for a brand-new world-class training facility at Victoria…
Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The government takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, children. Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. This bill proposes amendments to the Child Wellbeing and Safety…
Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit onshore unconventional gas activity in Victoria, to legislate a moratorium on onshore conventional gas activity until June 2020, and to prevent the state being the subject…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — This morning I launched a new, united TAFE Victoria brand. It is a new initiative that will position TAFE as delivering modern, contemporary qualifications that are available to all Victorians. This will enable TAFE institutes to retain their individual appeal so they can increase the effectiveness and range…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise on behalf of the government to provide a right of reply on this very important bill. I start by paying tribute to and acknowledging those who have been murdered, particularly those in the police force. I also wish to send my condolences to their families and…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to advise the house that the Andrews Labor government is putting people first with a multimillion-dollar boost to Victoria’s TAFEs. Over the past fortnight I have visited TAFEs across the state to announce some of the $89.4 million boost in funding to ensure that they are ready…
Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The main purpose of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Parole Reform and Other Matters) Bill 2016 is to strengthen our sentencing and parole laws to further enhance community safety and protection. As outlined in the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I wish to exercise the right of reply on behalf of the government. The Andrews Labor government respects people’s right to religious expression, but not at the cost of equality. The inherent requirements test for employment will ensure a fairer balance between the right to equality and the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I am pleased to rise to exercise a right of reply on behalf of the government. I think it is timely to reflect on exactly what this bill is before us. Firstly, the birth certificate reforms do not compromise the integrity of the Victorian births, deaths and marriages…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to sum up on the matter that was before the house before the dinner break, which is the Working with Children Amendment Bill 2016. As previous speakers have mentioned, the Working with Children Act 2005 was passed by the Victorian Parliament in 2005 under former Attorney-General…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to make a very short contribution in relation to this bill, given that the description of what this bill intends to do has been covered extensively by previous speakers. The main purpose of the bill is to restrict the use of community correction orders (CCOs) for…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I rise to congratulate two outstanding educational institutions — Warrnambool Primary School and Maryborough Education Centre — and their exceptional staff, most notably Warrnambool’s Jacqui Gore and Maryborough’s education support staff team. Both schools and Jacqui were recipients of 2016 Victorian Education Excellence Awards. The student bodies in these schools are very different,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — This afternoon I am very pleased to stand here and support the Traditional Owner Settlement Amendment Bill 2016. I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we stand today, the Kulin nations, and I pay my respects to their elders both past and present. This bill is…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Emergency Services, Mr Merlino, in the other place. Last Thursday I had the opportunity to visit Carisbrooke and Charlton and to sit down with residents and emergency service members to talk about the impact that the recent floods have had on those communities.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My adjournment matter this evening is for the minister responsible for WorkSafe, Robin Scott, the Minister for Finance in the other place. In June a farmer died in my electorate of Western Victoria Region as a result of a quad bike accident. The farmer, in his 60s, died as a result…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I rise to speak about the exciting work of an innovative group in my electorate, Geelong Sustainability, whose efforts culminated in Sustainable House Day Geelong on 16 October. This open house gave an opportunity to see inside 14 houses and gardens designed, built, renovated or retrofitted with sustainability in mind across Geelong, the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I am pleased to rise this morning to speak on the Land (Revocation of Reservations — Regional Victoria Land) Bill 2016. Permanent reservations can only be revoked by an act of Parliament, and for this reason we are proposing the revocation of permanent reservations over four areas of Crown land in regional…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. It is in relation to the growing population of koalas in the south-west of Victoria, and in particular in the Portland region. For some time communities in and around Portland have been drawing my attention to the growth in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — On Sunday I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the Warrnambool fire station along with Rohan Luke, acting assistant chief officer of the south-west region; Paul Marshall, Warrnambool Country Fire Authority station officer; Richard Bourke, operations manager, district 5; Craig Lapsley, emergency services commissioner; and Lance Baillie, life member…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Veterans. In June this year the minister announced three grants programs — the Victoria Remembers grant program, the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund and the Anzac centenary community grants program. The Victoria Remembers grant program helps communities make personal connections with the centenary of World…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place, James Merlino. Last week I visited the flood areas of Dunkeld, Casterton and Coleraine and attended a discussion between members of the local community and local emergency services. Flooding across western Victoria over the past months has impacted…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — The bill before us today will amend the Estate Agents Act 1980 to introduce new measures to address the issues of underquoting in the sale of residential property in the state of Victoria. All of us know someone who is buying a house or wanting to buy a house. I know…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I rise today to acknowledge the tragic closure of the Ford Broadmeadows and Geelong plants last week. The consequences are yet to be fully realised across the state, but the effects are immediately felt by the workers involved. They have to rebuild their lives, as do the communities who so heavily…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My member’s statement relates to the ongoing impact of the record-breaking spring rainfalls in western Victoria. The shire communities of Glenelg, Southern Grampians and Buloke, among others, are dealing with the lasting effects of flooding after two major September rainfall events, each a 1-in-20-year event. They produced emergency situations to which the…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place. The minister is more than aware of the impact that the floods are having on a significant number of assets in western Victoria and in particular the damage to and destruction of our roads. My question to the minister…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I rise to speak on the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme Bill 2016, and as the previous speaker has outlined and indeed the contributions in the other house have outlined, it is to provide a national recognition scheme for family violence intervention orders, family violence safety notices and other domestic violence orders.…
On Monday morning I had the pleasure of attending the site of the new Bannockburn P–12 school for the turning of the first sod. I want to thank all those who attended — students, teachers, parents and school councillors — for braving the weather to come out to help turn the sod. Construction is due to be…
On another note, I had the pleasure last Sunday of attending the official opening celebration for the Banyul-Warri Fields recreation zone along with members of the Torquay community, Surf Coast council representatives and other dignitaries. The Andrews government contributed $50 000 towards the project. The recreation zone was developed for people of all ages. It has…
Monica Hayes, a friend and constituent in western Victoria, passed away on 26 August. Monica was a community activist extraordinaire, an outstanding exemplar of commitment and advocacy in her communities — in Essendon when she was a councillor and mayor, and on the Bellarine from 2001. Monica was a social reformer and an agent of change, especially…
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, James Merlino. It is in relation to the Doctors in Secondary Schools program that has been recently announced. As I understand it, this $43.8 million program was definitely an election commitment that was made by us prior to coming to government. The reason that we have undertaken…
My constituency question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Since late last week the towns of Coleraine and Casterton have been inundated with heavy rain, causing severe flooding. The Glenelg River rose to about 6 metres yesterday morning, with more rain predicted this week. Already we have seen 14 homes across the two towns impacted by…
The highly successful Port Fairy Folk Festival has been operating for 40 years under the helm of its founder, Dr Jamie McKew, who has now handed over the reins to the new director, Caroline Moore. In 1977 Dr McKew — and the Geelong Folk Club — saw the potential for something special for the booming folk music scene in this…
My constituency question today is directed to the Minister for Women, Fiona Richardson. Recently the minister and I attended the Victorian gender equality strategy consultation in Warrnambool, held at the Lighthouse Theatre. The consultation was a chance for people from all walks of life to contribute their ideas and priorities for how the strategy should…
Can I also indicate that I speak on this with great pleasure, because it is so unusual for this house on a Wednesday to have a discussion that, one, is heard and I think also is seriously meaningful in a collegiate sense. I think across the board, regardless of our political flavours and colourings, the…
I am pleased to make a statement on the Cancer Council Victoria Annual Report 2015. I note from the outset that as a result of the Cancer Council Victoria’s conversion to a company limited by guarantee on 1 October 2015, the financial reports are for the period 1 January to 30 September 2015 only. The cancer council continued…
The Andrews Labor government is leading the way to create job opportunities and drive economic growth across regional Victoria. Before the 2014 state election Labor committed to creating 100 000 full-time jobs in the first two years of government, and we are on track to deliver that commitment and deliver it ahead of time. Data released in…
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place. It is in relation to fire safety in my electorate of Western Victoria Region. Fire season is fast approaching, and it is important for all people across the state to be prepared. Fire brigades within my electorate and across the state…
It will be of no surprise that my question also is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan. I do recall that I raised the issue of the state of roads in the south-west prior to the winter break. I am pleased that Mr Purcell also raised it again today, and I am…
Last month I had the pleasure of announcing $323 000 worth of Andrews Labor government funding for yet another road safety improvement project on the Forrest-Apollo Bay Road. This funding will address a history of run-off-road crashes, near misses and head-on collisions due to the curves along these roads, by installing guide posts, curve alignment markers,…
On another note, I was delighted to represent the Minister for Mental Health in Warrnambool last month at a wellbeing service provider forum. The forum was a chance to have a discussion with key figures in the mental health sector in western Victoria regarding the unique circumstances facing farmers in regional Victoria who may be…
On a final note, I wish to thank the Surf Coast shire and local members at Modewarre as well as the state government for providing moneys to revitalise the Mount Moriac Reserve at Modewarre with resurfaced tennis courts, the addition of basketball and netball rings and the creation of an open play space — — The ACTING…
Tonight my adjournment matter is for the Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert. I take this opportunity to thank him for ensuring that learning and further education are again at the centre of the state’s priorities in Victoria. The point I want to raise is the issue of the countless number of people who…
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August, Vietnam Veterans Day, I am pleased to congratulate two students from western Victoria who have been selected to take part in the 2016 Vietnam history study tour. The students, Lauren McIlveen of Camperdown College and Georgia Perris of Horsham College, are among…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — My constituency question today is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donellan. The state of some of the roads in south-west Victoria has been an issue in those communities for a long time and has had significant media coverage. Mr Ramsay interjected. Ms TIERNEY — Taking up Mr Ramsay’s interjection, I highlight the fact that…
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Women in the other place, who is also the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, and it is in relation to empowering women across Victoria. Gender inequality affects women in all areas of their lives. In terms of the Victorian workforce, the participation rate…
I congratulate members of the Colac community, who are thrilled that their outdated 1930s police station will be replaced thanks to a commitment by the Andrews Labor government to spend $11.7 million on a new complex — a new police station that the previous government talked about but could never deliver. Colac residents have long recognised the…
On Sunday, 12 June, I had the pleasure of representing the Minister for Families and Children at the official opening of the Lorne and District Men’s Shed. Over 200 people attended the launch, which is an example of the support the Lorne community has for its men’s shedders and the shed’s importance in the community. These facilities…
On another note, the new regional youth hub in Warrnambool held its first official event last week, boosting opportunities for local young people to participate in the community. The Andrews Labor government is providing $450 000 over two years for the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) to operate the new centre, which will be co-located…
My question is for the Minister for Training and Skills, and it is in relation to an announcement the minister made in my electorate last Friday. In another welcome boost for Gordon TAFE in Geelong, the minister announced that $5 million of the Andrews government’s TAFE Rescue Fund would go towards the $10 million redevelopment of the…
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Families and Children and Minister for Youth Affairs, Ms Mikakos. As the minister is aware, there has been a surge in the growth of child protection notifications across the state, with the Auditor-General highlighting that the number of children in out-of-home care has grown by 60 per…
National Reconciliation Week is a time for Australians to reflect on our shared histories, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and a time to think about how we can positively contribute to closing the gap for the benefit of all Australians. This year’s reconciliation week took…
I rise to speak on the recent repatriation of the bodies of 33 Australian service personnel who were previously interred at the Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia and at the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore. Under the arrangements in place at the time of their deaths, unless families were willing to pay £600 to have the…
I take this opportunity to speak about an important industry in Victoria that is responsible for hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the state. This week thousands of construction workers voted overwhelmingly to support a new enterprise bargaining agreement for the construction industry that will result in a complete modernisation of this…
With the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan this year, along with a number of other annual and one-off events, there is an unprecedented number of highly significant commemorative services that are set to take place during the remainder of this year and the next few years. Recently…
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Agriculture and is in relation to assistance provided by the Andrews government for dairy farmers in Victoria in light of the recent milk price cut. This morning I had the opportunity to give a members statement on the milk price cut and the devastating impact it is…
Victoria is the largest milk producer in Australia, and the south-west of Victoria boasts some of our best dairy country. In no uncertain terms, dairy is the backbone of agriculture in south-west Victoria. The recent milk price drop and the circumstances by which it came about have been devastating to the industry and those who…
I congratulate local sporting clubs in Warrnambool and Colac as they have been instrumental in fundraising and applying for grants to help improve their facilities and build their capacity to be even more successful. A $100 000 grant from the community cricket program was awarded for Warrnambool’s Brierly Reserve master plan to improve the reserve’s water supply…
This morning I rise to pay tribute to the Vietnamese War veterans amongst us in our community as well as the Australian Vietnam veterans, who have paid an enormous price — physically, emotionally and financially — for many, many decades. I, like so many others in this chamber, have not been directly involved in war. However, as…
I rise to make a contribution to this important debate. Can I say that as long as I can remember there have been complaints, allegations and sustained criticism levelled against the local council in the City of Greater Geelong. Indeed issues have been reported quite widely in the Geelong Advertiseras well as in the metropolitan…
I rise to speak this evening on the Health Complaints Bill 2016. This bill seeks to modernise and streamline the framework surrounding dealing with health complaints in this state. In doing so it also gives the newly created health complaints commissioner the powers to deal with health service providers that do not come under commonwealth…
I rise to speak on the upgrade of facilities at the Birregurra Recreation Reserve, which will serve the Birregurra netball and tennis clubs. On 30 March I had the pleasure of meeting with representatives of the tennis club and the football and netball club as well as councillors and officers of the Colac Otway Shire to…
My constituency question this afternoon is directed to the Minister for Training and Skills, Mr Herbert. It is in relation to the Warrnambool campus of Deakin University. It comes as no surprise to anyone in this chamber that its ongoing viability has been an issue for a long, long time, and it has been canvassed in…
My members statement today is to acknowledge Harmony Day, which took place on 21 March. Harmony Day is a celebration of the multiculturalism and diversity which makes our nation what it is. It is held in conjunction with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The central message of Harmony Day is…
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Public Transport, and it is in relation to VicTrack’s work in refurbishing disused but historical train station buildings. Last week I had the pleasure of representing the minister in Dunkeld to officially open the newly refurbished Dunkeld train station building, following a $360 000 refurbishment funded…
My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and is in relation to the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which is due to deliver its recommendations on 29 March. As the minister said in her ministerial statement in the other place yesterday, this will be the most significant report…
My constituency question is for the Minister for Sport. Over the last few months I have been having meetings with players and officials of the Torquay netball club. I have gone down and had meetings on site with them as well, where they have shown me that the current facilities do not by any measure…