CONSERVATION, FORESTS AND LANDS AMENDMENT BILL 2022

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:46): 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: Introduction The management of Victoria’s 7.8 million hectares of public native forests and…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:30): One of the fastest growing sectors in Victoria is the healthcare and social services sector. It is Australia’s largest employing industry, with nearly four in five workers being women. The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on this industry. We on this…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: JACK DIAMOND

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September 2021: Last week I attended the funeral of Jack Diamond, and today I rise to pay tribute to Jack, who was a champion of public education and made an enormous public contribution to improving…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE TEACHERS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:26): As I am sure everyone in this chamber knows, a great teacher can change lives. In the TAFE network we have incredibly dedicated and passionate teachers who share their industry expertise and skills every day. I am grateful to every single TAFE…

VICTORIA POLICE AMENDMENT BILL 2022

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (19:21): I thank Ms Taylor for her introduction in terms of the government’s position in respect of this. The introduction of the new Victoria Police Act 2013 changed the powers of deputy commissioners to appoint acting assistant commissioners. However, in practice Victoria Police continued…

VICTORIA POLICE AMENDMENT BILL 2022

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (19:10): 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 Bill before the House introduces urgent amendments into the Victoria Police…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: WOMEN IN TRADES

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:56): Today I rise to highlight the important role the post-secondary education and training system plays as a key driver to achieve gender equality in our society. TAFEs, Apprenticeships Victoria, Learn Locals and universities are instrumental in shifting cultural and societal change, and…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: APPRENTICESHIPS VICTORIA

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:09): I rise today to highlight how Apprenticeships Victoria is leading a renaissance for skills and training in Victoria. Since its establishment in late 2020 Apprenticeships Victoria has put in place high-quality career pathways and has set new benchmarks for earn-and-learn opportunities for…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER SUPPORT

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33): Last week I was proud to announce the Victorian government’s expansion of the asylum seeker VET and Reconnect programs, which is a $6 million investment from the 2021–22 Victorian budget. These programs ensure people seeking asylum can access training and support in Victoria…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: AGRICULTURE TRAINING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:02): Last week it was fantastic to be in the south-west to celebrate the completion of upgrades at Glenormiston. This is the government that reopened Glenormiston, and it is this government that committed $2 million at the last election to upgrade facilities. The fantastic…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: COMMERCIAL HOTEL, TERANG

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September 2021: I rise today to inform the house of a wonderful experience I had recently, spending time at Terang’s Commercial Hotel—an emerging creative hub in the south-west. The hotel itself is a heritage site—the…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:12): I am pleased to update the chamber on how the Andrews Labor government is making record investments in TAFE and making it the best it has ever been. Late last year the Premier and I visited William Angliss Institute to announce an…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: LEARN LOCAL AWARDS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:17): Recently I was joined by parliamentary secretary Cesar Melhem to celebrate the achievements, resilience and commitment of students, teachers, trainers and industry partners in the Learn Local sector. It was a wonderful gathering of exceptional people. All have worked together in these…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE LGBTIQA+ EQUALITY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): Last Sunday the Victorian TAFE network marched for the first time at the Midsumma Pride March. Staff and students from across Victoria came together to celebrate diversity and send a strong message that TAFEs are inclusive of every Victorian. You could not…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September 2021: I rise today to express Western Victoria’s pride in the 30 residents who received Australia Day honours. Foremost among them are Eve Kantor and Mark Wootton of Hensley Park, who became Officers of…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN HIGHER EDUCATION STATE INVESTMENT FUND

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:25): Last week I was pleased to visit Swinburne University of Technology’s Hawthorn campus with my Legislative Council colleagues Nina Taylor, Sonja Terpstra and Enver Erdogan and local member for Hawthorn John Kennedy MP to announce the Andrews Labor government’s $5.2 million contribution to…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:23): On the final sitting day of Parliament this year I am proud to rise to speak on the significant opportunities that have been created by the TAFE demonstration projects, which are delivering brilliant apprenticeship and training opportunities at the South West TAFE learning…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: OLIVINE PLACE

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:16): On Monday morning I had the great pleasure to officially open the shared space community centre at Olivine Place, Donnybrook, the first-ever growth area social planning tool partnership in Australia. Olivine Place is such an amazing place. I would encourage anyone to go…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: COVID-19 VACCINATION

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Bevan Hirst is a fourth-year medical student at Deakin University in Geelong. He recently signed up to our frontline workforce to help get more jabs in Victorian arms. Nearly 600 Victorian university students just like Bevan have signed up since we announced a…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: REMEMBRANCE DAY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: I was honoured to attend Portarlington’s Remembrance Day ceremony and pleased to have my staff attend services in other beautiful and diverse locations, like the Point Danger memorial wall in Torquay, and in Ballarat,…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: DEMENTIA AUSTRALIA

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: Today I rise to reflect on the important work of Dementia Australia, the peak body of people living with dementia, their families and carers. Its recent findings, that a dementia diagnosis results in discrimination,…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: CYBERSECURITY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:25): I use this opportunity to update the house on cybersecurity courses. Building opportunities and supporting partnerships between TAFEs, universities and industry remain a dedicated focus of the Andrews Labor government. Cybersecurity was identified as a major priority of this government, and that…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN TRAINING AWARDS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:55): Recently the Victorian government held the 67th annual Victorian Training Awards. People from right through Victoria joined us online to celebrate our world-class training system. Today I would like to highlight the achievements of our students and apprentices who were recognised at…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:11): I am pleased to update the chamber on the work underway to revive Aboriginal languages across Victoria. Preserving and reviving Aboriginal languages should be core business for any government. We cannot change the past, but we can work hard to right the…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN SKILLS AUTHORITY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:21): Today I am proud to speak on the Victorian Skills Authority, which was established in July to build on this government’s significant achievements in skills and training and job creation. The VSA was a key recommendation of the Skills for Victoria’s Growing…

FIREARMS AND OTHER ACTS AMENDMENT BILL 2021

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (22:07): I thank members for their contributions tonight in what is an important debate and for highlighting the importance of firearm safety as well as the benefits of other reforms that the government is wanting to introduce. Members have spoken about the importance…

TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:03) I thank Mr Meddick for his support of TAFE and free TAFE in particular. It is great to have genuine champions of the TAFE system in the chamber, Mr Meddick. Can I say that what is being proposed here has been based on a…

JUNE BRADBURY AND MERLE MITCHELL

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: Today I rise to pay tribute to two extraordinary women who have contributed so much to the people and communities of Victoria and have sadly passed away: June Bradbury, OAM, 19 June 1964 to 3 September…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIPS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:08): Every Victorian should have the chance to get a job that they want, no matter their background, identity or gender. That is why I was proud to launch the $5 million Women in Apprenticeships initiative last week. It will remove barriers for women…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:07): Free TAFE has been an incredible success since its commencement in 2019. So many Victorians have accessed free TAFE since it began—over 93 000 Victorians, in fact. Free TAFE is building the pipeline of skilled workers that we need for our hospitals, for our…

Ministers statements: research and development funding

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:13): The Andrews Labor government’s investment in research and infrastructure at our universities is significant and unprecedented, not just here in Victoria but also recognised across Australia. Earlier this week you may have heard the University of Sydney’s vice-chancellor express his admiration for the…

WARRNAMBOOL AND DISTRICT FOOD SHARE

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: I’m very pleased to draw the house’s attention to the achievements of Warrnambool and District Food Share, and to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Dedy Friebe, who has worked tirelessly as executive officer for…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:27): Today I am proud to speak of two trailblazing research projects that are great examples of the kinds of initiatives that will help drive Victoria’s COVID-19 recovery through more jobs, skills and research: the BatTRI-Hub 2.0 at Deakin University’s Burwood campus and…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:08): Today I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the adult community education sector. Adult Learners Week has just taken place, and it puts the spotlight on a sector that changes lives. In Victoria we are dedicated to an education system that…

TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:34): I do thank the member for his question and the opportunity to talk through the position of ambassador for TAFE. Of course I will continue to heavily promote TAFE. I do not think there could be any criticism whatsoever in terms of me…

Ministers statements: TAFE funding

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:25): I am pleased to rise and update the chamber on the fantastic success of free TAFE in getting Victorians into jobs and giving more Victorians access to training. Labor is the party of TAFE. We are the party that invests in TAFE and…

Ministers statements: TAFE funding

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:29): Teachers are important, and that is why the Andrews Labor government recently launched a new TAFE teacher recruitment campaign and TAFE teacher scholarship program. We promised that we would rebuild TAFE, and we have. TAFE enrolments are higher than in our first year…

Heywood Indigenous War Memorial Mural

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council earlier this day: I am so pleased to note that Heywood’s Indigenous war memorial mural is now complete, and that it is being really well received by the south-west Victorian community. This project is all about remembering…

Ministers statements: Respect and Equality in TAFE

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): Today I am proud to speak of Respect and Equality in TAFE, a project that I had the privilege to launch last week. At the heart of this project is ‘change the story’, and that is to achieve gender equality and prevent gender-based…

COVID-19

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:16): Barwon Heads has shown how a local community can pull together to help each other through the challenges of COVID-19. This small Bellarine village, best known as a holiday destination, showed us the best of community spirit. When a family contracted COVID-19, many…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE SECTOR

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:36): The Andrews Labor government is making the TAFE and training system better than ever. Now, some people in the chamber have some very short memories, and I would too if I had been part of a party that tried to decimate TAFE. We…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: AGRICULTURE TRAINING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Last Thursday the Minister for Agriculture and I met with the member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, at Western Plains Pork near Rokeford to announce a review into the future of agriculture training in Victoria. Since coming to government we have made important…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: RMIT UNIVERSITY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:17): This morning it was my pleasure to announce the Andrews Labor government’s $44.6 million investment in RMIT’s CBD north precinct activation project. Through our $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund we are helping universities to realise their longstanding goals, establishing partnerships that…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: SPRINGDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:04): Today I would like to acknowledge the important role of community centres. They are the hub of learning, creativity, friendships and so much more. In late April I spent some time at SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre in Drysdale. Dianne Bennett, president, and Anne…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE SECTOR

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:23): I am proud to rise to acknowledge the outstanding work of our TAFE teachers and support and administrative staff in seamlessly adapting to online delivery. If last year taught us anything, it is that when a government properly invests in TAFEs they…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: RECONNECT PROGRAM

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:37): Today I would like to focus on the important Reconnect program, which the Andrews Labor government established in 2015 to support disadvantaged Victorians to gain access to education, training and skills. Since that time thousands of Victorians have participated in the Reconnect…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: BUDGET 2021-22

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:55): Coming off the back of volunteer week I was so pleased to see the impact of budget announcements in south-west Victoria. It was great to bring good news to Port Fairy SES volunteers, who have worked long and hard to obtain a…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: BUDGET 2021-22

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Last week’s budget continues our work to make Victoria’s TAFE and training system better than it has ever been. I have already taken the chamber through a number of initiatives in this year’s budget, but I am excited to share a few…

ZERO AND LOW EMISSION VEHICLE DISTANCE-BASED CHARGE BILL 2021

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:54): 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: Support for zero and low emission vehicles in transitioning to a low-carbon…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: VICTORIAN ABORIGINAL HONOUR ROLL

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (10:39): Since 2011 the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll has recognised Aboriginal Victorians past and present who have made outstanding contributions to our state, and I am proud to advise that one-quarter of the 130 people on the roll are from the electorate of Western…

TRANSPORT LEGISLATION MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS BILL 2021

TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:53): 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: In October last year I was pleased to introduce the Transport Legislation Amendment…

NON-EMERGENCY PATIENT TRANSPORT AMENDMENT BILL 2021

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:51): 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: Introduction Non-emergency patient transport sector and commercial first aid providers play an…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Today is an exciting day for TAFE and training in Victoria, a day when this government takes the next step to make TAFE and training better than ever. When we came to government, the training system was absolutely— Members interjecting. Ms Shing:…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Yesterday the TAFE network’s annual reports were tabled. As always, I am always in awe of the work of our TAFEs. They deliver for our local communities across the state and in doing so give Victorians high-quality training for the jobs that we…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: APPRENTICESHIPS VICTORIA

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:43): On 30 March I joined the Acting Premier, my good friend Ms Watt, employers, unions and many apprentices at the metro launch of Apprenticeships Victoria. Apprenticeships Victoria is a new division of the Department of Education and Training. It will help support thousands of…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: BUSHFIRE RECOVERY INITIATIVES

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:30): 2020 was a year like no other. Bushfires devastated many regional communities, only to be followed by the COVID pandemic. The communities of the Alpine and surrounding regions rallied together, where strength, courage and compassion came to the fore. In Bright today…

Ministers Statements: Respect and Equality in TAFE

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): Today I am proud to speak of Respect and Equality in TAFE, a project that I had the privilege to launch last week. At the heart of this project is ‘change the story’, and that is to achieve gender equality and prevent gender-based…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: SOUTH WEST TAFE WARRNAMBOOL CAMPUS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:27): Last week I was in Warrnambool to announce the construction of the state-of-the-art learning and library hub at South West TAFE as part of the Big Build apprenticeship program. The learning and library hub is an investment that will benefit all community…

TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:25): I thank Dr Bach for his new interest in TAFE and the TAFE system. Members interjecting. Ms TIERNEY: Are we done? We are very supportive of TAFE. As you know, we have made record investments into the TAFE system, and of course our…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:21): Next week we celebrate Cultural Diversity Week, which coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians make significant contributions to our society. It is our commitment to enhance capacity and build opportunities via…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: MARRUNG EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

MS TIERNEY: On another note, I would like to congratulate nine high-achieving Western Victorian students who have received $5000 in education scholarships over the final two years of their senior secondary education. This program started in 2019 and recognises students who show high potential to succeed in their chosen pathway and who have strong results…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: WESTERN VICTORIA REGION SCHOOLS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:55): Last week I joined two school communities in celebrating fantastic upgrades to their buildings and facilities. Brauer College in Warrnambool and Mortlake College P–12 can now experience an up-to-date education environment. $4.4 million has enabled Brauer to move to excellent new specialist spaces…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN HIGHER EDUCATION STATE INVESTMENT FUND

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:51): The Andrews Labor government’s $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund continues to provide much-needed stimulus to Victoria’s universities as they respond to the challenges of COVID-19. Last week I joined Darren Cheeseman, the member for South Barwon, at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds…

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2021

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:29): 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: Victoria is widely regarded as having the best planning framework in Australia. This…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: VOLUNTEERING INNOVATION FUND

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:38): I rise today to congratulate volunteers working with three wetland projects in south-west Victoria—BirdLife Australia, the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network and the Nature Glenelg Trust—each receiving a $20 000 grant as part of the Volunteering Innovation Fund, which is part of Victoria’s Great…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:21): Teachers know that some of their students will experience mental health issues during their school career, and many of those young people will need expert assistance to help them to be well enough to focus on learning. Early mental health intervention is…

MEMBERS STATEMENT: WESTERN VICTORIA REGION SCHOOLS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (10:07): Today I draw the house’s attention to good news for schools in western Victoria. Mortlake P–12 joins Hamilton’s Baimbridge College and Murtoa College in a new tri-school partnership, which has been granted $40 000 to work together to significantly broaden the VCE curriculum.…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN HYDROGEN HUB

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:39:019:): Two weeks ago I joined Minister D’Ambrosio and Steve Dimopoulos in Clayton to announce the Andrews government’s $10 million investment in the Victorian Hydrogen Hub. This grant, which was awarded to Swinburne University of Technology, is the government’s latest investment in the university…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: APPRENTICESHIP TRADE PAPERS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): I rise today to discuss this government’s commitment to apprentices and the value of an apprenticeship. Members will be aware that in this year’s budget we are investing over $33 million in the Big Build apprenticeship program and almost $20 million in growing apprenticeships.…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: ABORIGINAL EDUCATION FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:15): In 2016 the Andrews Labor government proudly released Marrung, our 10-year Aboriginal education plan. Marrung’s vision is simple. We want a state where every Koori person achieves their potential, succeeds in life and feels strong in their cultural identity. We want Koori…

APPROPRIATION (2020–2021) BILL 2020

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education): 2020 has been an astonishing and challenging year, with events that none of us could have foreseen, and Western Victoria has experienced it all, from bushfires last summer through to the devastating impacts of COVID-19 and even floods in the far south-west in spring.…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: APPRENTICESHIP TRADE PAPERS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): I rise today to discuss this government’s commitment to apprentices and the value of an apprenticeship. Members will be aware that in this year’s budget we are investing over $33 million in the Big Build apprenticeship program and almost $20 million in growing apprenticeships.…

PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING AMENDMENT (QUARANTINE FEES) BILL 2020

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (20:15): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: Opening paragraphs 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…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:25): I am pleased to share with the house the role that free TAFE will play in Victoria’s economic and social recovery. We have all seen the success of free TAFE since it began in 2019—significant increases in enrolments in priority courses, significant…

STATE TAXATION ACTS AMENDMENT BILL 2020

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:42): 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: This Bill gives effect to Budget measures that will deliver important support…

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE PROGRAMS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:00): I thank the member for his question. I am troubled by the cuts at universities in Victoria, whether they be course cuts or to funding to different organisations on campus and indeed of course staff cuts as well. Course cuts reduce the…

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE PROGRAMS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Again I thank the member for his question. What I did in my substantive response was outline where the responsibilities lie in relation to the state and the commonwealth. What my question to you and your party is: what are you going…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:11): As our state recovers stronger and fairer, the Andrews Labor government is making sure every Victorian has the support they need to get back to work. Thanks to a billion-dollar boost TAFE will be at the heart of our economic recovery, and…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: AUSTRALIAN TRAINING AWARDS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Last Friday was the Australian Training Awards. I’m constantly impressed by the calibre of talent and achievement in Victoria, and this was very much on display at the national awards. And for the fifth year in a row, Victoria has taken out the Large…