For more than three years Victorians have watched the Napthine coalition government systematically destroy Victoria’s TAFE system. Victorians have seen valuable teachers and staff sacked, campuses closed, courses cut and fees go through the roof. We have seen educational opportunities to get ahead in life or make a new start for both young and older…
I rise to make a contribution on the Auditor-General’s report into prisoner transportation, which was tabled on 11 June. Each year in Victoria a minimum of 58 000 prisoners are moved. The reasons for their transportation include to accommodate changes in a prisoner’s risk profile, to maximise prison capacity, to attend health and welfare programs…
Barely a week goes by without an article in one of the regional newspapers in my electorate of Western Victoria Region detailing the Napthine government’s complete and utter failure to maintain a first-class health system in Victoria. Whether it is hospital wait times, failure to provide the promised 800 hospital beds, crowded emergency departments or…
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place. It is in relation to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) Warrnambool brigade. A little over four years ago the Brumby government allocated a firefighting pumper to the specially customised Warrnambool fire station to assist in firefighting in the south-west…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — In order to assist with the efficient operation of the committee today I will inform the chamber of Labor’s position in relation to all of the proposed amendments. The bill was amended substantially by Labor in the Legislative Assembly. There were substantive discussions between the shadow Attorney-General, the member for…
In May this year, Prime Minister Abbott and the federal coalition government showed their true colours to the Australian people as they handed down the most unfair, damaging, misleading and socially divisive budget this country has seen. While Mr Abbott arrogantly continues to tell us this is what we need, leaders from across all sectors…
I wish to exercise my right of reply as the person who moved this very important motion on the unemployment crisis in this state in the last parliamentary sitting week. What have we learnt since that time, which was only some 10 days ago? We have learnt that 25 jobs have gone from the Target …
This evening I wish to make some comments on the Auditor-General’s report tabled on 20 August in relation to access to legal aid. While the Auditor-General is complimentary of Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) for its performance in this dire financial environment, he warns that limiting eligibility criteria in order to achieve financial sustainability has serious…
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Premier, and it relates to the youth unemployment rates in rural and regional Victoria. It is no surprise that this is a major issue confronting youth right across the state but particularly in rural and regional Victoria. Indeed the unemployment rate in the Premier’s electorate of South-West…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria)— I rise to speak on the Courts Legislation Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2014. This bill contains many miscellaneous provisions and covers a number of different aspects of the judicial system, and Labor will not be opposing it. The bill amends a number of acts that currently regulate the operation of Victorian courts…