The Andrews Labor Government is continuing the popular Participation for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Seniors Grants Program for another two years. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today called on ethnic and multicultural community groups and organisations, as well as local councils in Western Victoria to apply for the 2016 round of the…
South West locals will benefit from an Andrew Labor Government election commitment to establish one-stop shop Skills and Job Centres across Victoria. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today welcomed the Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert’s announcement that the Labor Government will invest $15 million to create the new Skills and Jobs…
Western Victorian sports clubs can now apply for a life-saving defibrillator, so that players, spectators and parents can step in during an emergency until paramedics arrive. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today advised clubs applications are open for them to secure one of the life-saving devices. The Andrews Labor Government is rolling out…
Small businesses in the Warrnambool area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on growing their business at two upcoming seminars to be held on Wednesday 7 October and Wednesday 28 October 2015. Last year more than 4,000 people participated in Small Business Victoria’s workshops and seminars across the state. Popular program…
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney has congratulated Lismore resident and prominent member of the Wergaia people, Eleanor Bourke, for her reappointment to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The Council is Australia’s only statutory decision-making authority with membership comprised exclusively of Traditional Owners. Ms Tierney said that Council members provided advice to the Minister for…
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has today announced that the Tea Tree Lake in Mortlake will receive 200 rainbow trout during the September school holidays as part of the Family Fishing Lakes program. The Family Fishing Lakes program aims to improve fishing opportunities for newcomers by stocking lakes across Victoria with 26,000 rainbow…
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has today announced that the Pertobe Lake in Warrnambool will receive 300 rainbow trout during the September school holidays as part of the Family Fishing Lakes program. The Family Fishing Lakes program aims to improve fishing opportunities for newcomers by stocking lakes across Victoria with 26,000 rainbow trout…
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has today announced that the Cobden Lake will receive 200 rainbow trout during the September school holidays as part of the Family Fishing Lakes program. The Family Fishing Lakes program aims to improve fishing opportunities for newcomers by stocking lakes across Victoria with 26,000 rainbow trout that have…
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has today announced that Bannockburn Lagoon will receive 300 rainbow trout during the September school holidays as part of the Family Fishing Lakes program. The Family Fishing Lakes program aims to improve fishing opportunities for newcomers by stocking lakes across Victoria with 26,000 rainbow trout that have been…
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, James Merlino, and it is in relation to the Bannockburn P–12 school. The local community has been campaigning for many years to get a new school. Bannockburn is one of the fastest growing towns in one of the fastest growing municipalities in this state, the Golden…
I rise to speak on the Crimes Amendment (Child Pornography and Other Matters) Bill 2015. This bill is a response to the rapidly changing world in which we live. The internet is transforming our lives in many unimaginable ways. The advances in technology and the ability to improve the lives of millions is happening at…
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Police and relates to the rollout of custody officers in my electorate. I understand that $148.6 million over four years has been allocated in the state budget to implement the government’s commitment to the transition of management of police cells to new police custody officers. I am advised…
This afternoon I would like to make a contribution on the Auditor-General’s report Biosecurity — Livestock. From the outset I say that this is not pleasant reading. On the audit the Auditor-General said: This audit found Victoria’s livestock biosecurity system to have been weakened by a decline in financial and staff resourcing. That now creates a…
My constituency question is for the Minister for Energy and Resources and it is in relation to the potential expansion of the Stawell goldmine. As the minister would be aware, there has been much community angst regarding the operation and potential expansion of the goldmine at Stawell, and it has been an ongoing issue in…
Natural disasters are part of life in this country. We cannot control them, but we can make every effort to mitigate them. Unfortunately it seems that we are locked into a cycle where climate change is playing a major role. The question is by how much, not if, in relation to global temperatures rising. As…
On Monday Labor’s Minister for Education, James Merlino, announced the single biggest injection of education funding in Victoria’s history: $4 billion in additional funding has been allocated by Labor for early childhood learning, schools and training in Victoria. Under this initiative schools in my electorate of Western Victoria Region will receive tens of thousands of dollars…
Schools in Western Victoria will share in more than $5.6 million of extra funding in 2016as part of the Andrews Government’s plan to make Victoria the Education State. It’s all part of our plan to help kids learn, give parents confidence and provide theresources that teachers need. Under the plan, every single student in every…
The Andrews Labor Government is investing $2.5 million to upgrade the intersection of Great Ocean Road and Forest Road in Bellbrae with works to start on a new roundabout. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney welcomed the start of construction on the roundabout, which will provide better access and boost safety for the 20,000 vehicles…
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP is encouraging the local community to nominate inspiring rural women for the 2016 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Victorian Rural Women’s Award. The Rural Women’s Award honours the efforts of emerging leaders and creates opportunities for women to effect change in agricultural industries and rural communities.…
Government schools in Western Victoria will now be able to apply for funding to build more inclusive and equitable facilities under a new $10 million Fund unveiled by the Andrews Labor Government. The new $10 million Inclusive Schools Fund has been established to help government schools better support the social and educational needs of children…
The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with delivering more new schools in South Barwon, with Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announcing three new schools will open for the start of the 2018 school year. These much needed schools, including the new Torquay North Primary School and two new schools in Armstrong…
Colac will benefit from a $60,000 investment by the Andrews Labor Government to build a new Men’s Shed. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said the Colac Men’s Shed was one of 15 successful Men’s Shed projects the Andrews Labor Government had announced will be built across Victoria as part of its $750,000 Men’s…
Bannockburn will benefit from a $60,000 investment by the Andrews Labor Government to build a new Men’s Shed. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said the Bannockburn Men’s Shed was one of 15 successful Men’s Shed projects the Andrews Labor Government had announced will be built across Victoria as part of its $750,000 Men’s…
My constituency question is for the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Victorian Aboriginal culture in the south-west region of Victoria has a strong history and connection with the land. The Gunditjmara people and the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation, which is the registered Aboriginal party, have been protecting and managing the land for many thousands…
I rise to speak on the Road Safety Amendment Bill 2015. This is an important bill on a topic that enjoys bipartisan support. That is evident from the comments that have been made by a number of speakers in this chamber this morning. It is all about making our roads safer. The bill will strengthen…
It is with great sadness that I rise to speak of a remarkable and inspirational man, Keith Wilson — ‘Willo’ — who passed away in Portland on 6 August at the age of 81. Willo was born in Portland, Victoria, a township and community that he put his heart and soul into throughout his entire life. At 15,…
New powers of attorney laws, which come into effect this week, will provide more protection and support for Victorians who appoint someone they trust to look after their personal and financial affairs. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today encouraged local residents to take control of their future by making a power of attorney.…
People across south west Victoria will next week get their chance to contribute to Victoria’s first long term strategy for better train and coach services, with Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP) consultation sessions in Warrnambool, Colac, Geelong and Torquay. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said the community workshops were a critical part of…
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education, James Merlino, and it relates to the Portland Bay School, a special development school in south-west Victoria. At the end of July the minister was in Portland and met with representatives of the school, including the principal, Stephen Crossley, and the school council president,…
Small business operators in Portland, Macarthur and Heywood will be able to access free mentoring, support and government business services when the Small Business Bus visits from the 21st to the 23rd of September 2015. The bus will be in Portland on the 21st of September, Heywood on the 22nd of September and Macarthur on…
The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with delivering its promise of a Bannockburn P-12 school, with Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announcing Bannockburn Prep- Year 12 school will open for the start of the 2018 schoolyear, enabling the relocation and expansion of the existing Bannockburn Primary School. The much needed school…
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport, and it is in relation to the regional network development plan consultation process that is currently making its way through my electorate. The regional network development plan will set out priorities for regional public transport services, infrastructure and investment for the next 20 to 30 years.…
On 21 August I joined the Premier and the Minister for Energy and Resources in Portland, where the Premier hit the reset button on renewable energy investment in Victoria. The Premier announced the Labor government’s Renewable Energy Roadmap, which includes a target of no less than 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020, and if there can…