PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SEVENTH PARLIAMENT
FIRST SESSION
Thursday, 27 June 2013 (Extract from book 9)
Internet: www.parliament.vic.gov.au/downloadhansard
By authority of the Victorian Government Printer
The Governor The Honourable ALEX CHERNOV, AC, QC The Lieutenant-Governor The Honourable Justice MARILYN WARREN, AC The ministry (from 22 April 2013)
Premier, Minister for Regional Cities and Minister for Racing ...... The Hon. D. V. Napthine, MP
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, and Minister for Regional and Rural Development ...... The Hon. P. J. Ryan, MP
Treasurer ...... The Hon. M. A. O’Brien, MP
Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and Minister for Employment and Trade .. The Hon. Louise Asher, MP
Attorney-General, Minister for Finance and Minister for Industrial Relations ...... The Hon. R. W. Clark, MP
Minister for Health and Minister for Ageing ...... The Hon. D. M. Davis, MLC
Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs .... The Hon. H. F. Delahunty, MP
Minister for Education ...... The Hon. M. F. Dixon, MP
Minister for Planning ...... The Hon. M. J. Guy, MLC
Minister for Higher Education and Skills, and Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession ...... The Hon. P. R. Hall, MLC
Minister for Ports, Minister for Major Projects and Minister for Manufacturing ...... The Hon. D. J. Hodgett, MP
Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, and Minister for Energy and Resources ...... The Hon. N. Kotsiras, MP
Minister for Housing, and Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development ...... The Hon. W. A. Lovell, MLC
Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Roads ...... The Hon. T. W. Mulder, MP
Minister for Liquor nd Gaming Regulation, Minister for Corrections and Minister for Crime Prevention ...... The Hon. E. J. O’Donohue, MLC
Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs ...... The Hon. E. J. Powell, MP
Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Technology and Minister responsible for the Aviation Industry ...... The Hon. G. K. Rich-Phillips, MLC
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and Minister for Youth Affairs ...... The Hon. R. Smith, MP
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Women’s Affairs and Minister for Consumer Affairs ...... The Hon. H. Victoria, MP
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, and Minister for Water ...... The Hon. P. L. Walsh, MP
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and Minister for Bushfire Response ...... The Hon. K. A. Wells, MP
Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Community Services, and Minister for Disability Services and Reform ...... The Hon. M. L. N. Wooldridge, MP
Cabinet Secretary ...... Mr N. Wakeling, MP
Legislative Assembly committees
Privileges Committee — Ms Barker, Mr Clark, Ms Green, Mr Hodgett, Mr Morris, Mr Nardella, Mr O’Brien, Mr Pandazopoulos and Mr Walsh. Standing Orders Committee — The Speaker, Ms Allan, Ms Asher, Ms Barker, Mrs Fyffe, Mr Hodgett, Ms Kairouz and Mrs Powell.
Joint committees
Accountability and Oversight Committee — (Assembly): Ms Kanis, Mr McIntosh and Ms Neville. (Council): Mr O’Brien and Mr P. Davis. Dispute Resolution Committee — (Assembly): Ms Allan, Ms Asher, Mr Clark, Ms Hennessy, Mr Merlino, Mr O’Brien and Mr Walsh. (Council): Mr D. Davis, Mr Hall, Mr Lenders, Ms Lovell and Ms Pennicuik. Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee — (Assembly): Mr Battin and Mr McCurdy. (Council): Mr Leane, Mr Ramsay and Mr Scheffer. Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee — (Assembly): Mr Burgess, Mr Carroll, Mr Foley, Mrs Fyffe and Mr Shaw. (Council): Mrs Peulich. Education and Training Committee — (Assembly): Mr Battin, Mr Brooks and Mr Crisp. (Council): Mr Elasmar. Electoral Matters Committee — (Assembly): Mr Northe. (Council): Mr Finn, Mrs Peulich, Mr Somyurek and Mr Tarlamis. Environment and Natural Resources Committee — (Assembly): Mr Bull, Ms Duncan, Mr Pandazopoulos and Ms Wreford. (Council): Mr Koch. Family and Community Development Committee — (Assembly): Ms Halfpenny, Mr McGuire and Mr Wakeling. (Council): Mrs Coote, Ms Crozier and Mr O’Brien. House Committee — (Assembly): The Speaker (ex officio), Ms Beattie, Mr Burgess, Ms Campbell, Mrs Fyffe, Ms Thomson and Mr Weller. (Council): The President (ex officio), Mr Drum, Mr Eideh, Mr Finn, Ms Hartland, and Mr P. Davis. Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Committee — (Assembly): Ms Hennessy, Mr McIntosh, Mr Newton-Brown and Mr Weller. (Council): Mr Viney. Law Reform Committee — (Assembly): Mr Carbines, Ms Garrett, Mr Newton-Brown and Mr Northe. Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Development Committee — (Assembly): Ms Graley and Ms Hutchins. (Council): Mrs Kronberg and Mr Ondarchie. Public Accounts and Estimates Committee — (Assembly): Mr Angus, Ms Hennessey, Mr Morris, Mr Pakula and Mr Scott. (Council): Mr O’Brien and Mr Ondarchie. Road Safety Committee — (Assembly): Mr Languiller, Mr Perera, Mr Tilley and Mr Thompson. (Council): Mr Elsbury. Rural and Regional Committee — (Assembly): Mr Howard, Mr Katos, Mr Trezise and Mr Weller. (Council): Mr Drum. Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee — (Assembly): Ms Barker, Ms Campbell, Mr Gidley, Mr Nardella, Dr Sykes and Mr Watt. (Council): Mr Dalla-Riva.
Heads of parliamentary departments
Assembly — Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Mr R. W. Purdey Council — Clerk of the Legislative Council: Mr W. R. Tunnecliffe Parliamentary Services — Secretary: Mr P. Lochert
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FIFTY-SEVENTH PARLIAMENT — FIRST SESSION Speaker: The Hon. K. M. SMITH Deputy Speaker: Mrs C. A. FYFFE Acting Speakers: Ms Beattie, Mr Blackwood, Mr Burgess, Ms Campbell, Mr Eren, Mr Languiller, Mr Morris, Mr Nardella, Mr Northe, Mr Pandazopoulos, Dr Sykes, Mr Thompson, Mr Tilley and Mr Weller. Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and Premier: The Hon. D. V. NAPTHINE (from 6 March 2013) The Hon. E. N. BAILLIEU (to 6 March 2013) Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party: The Hon. LOUISE ASHER Leader of The Nationals and Deputy Premier: The Hon. P. J. RYAN Deputy Leader of The Nationals: The Hon. P. L. WALSH Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition: The Hon. D. M. ANDREWS Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition: The Hon. J. A. MERLINO
Member District Party Member District Party Allan, Ms Jacinta Marie Bendigo East ALP Languiller, Mr Telmo Ramon Derrimut ALP Andrews, Mr Daniel Michael Mulgrave ALP Lim, Mr Muy Hong Clayton ALP Angus, Mr Neil Andrew Warwick Forest Hill LP McCurdy, Mr Timothy Logan Murray Valley Nats Asher, Ms Louise Brighton LP McGuire, Mr Frank 6 Broadmeadows ALP Baillieu, Mr Edward Norman Hawthorn LP McIntosh, Mr Andrew John Kew LP Barker, Ms Ann Patricia Oakleigh ALP McLeish, Ms Lucinda Gaye Seymour LP Battin, Mr Bradley William Gembrook LP Madden, Mr Justin Mark Essendon ALP Bauer, Mrs Donna Jane Carrum LP Merlino, Mr James Anthony Monbulk ALP Beattie, Ms Elizabeth Jean Yuroke ALP Miller, Ms Elizabeth Eileen Bentleigh LP Blackwood, Mr Gary John Narracan LP Morris, Mr David Charles Mornington LP Brooks, Mr Colin William Bundoora ALP Mulder, Mr Terence Wynn Polwarth LP Brumby, Mr John Mansfield 1 Broadmeadows ALP Napthine, Dr Denis Vincent South-West Coast LP Bull, Mr Timothy Owen Gippsland East Nats Nardella, Mr Donato Antonio Melton ALP Burgess, Mr Neale Ronald Hastings LP Neville, Ms Lisa Mary Bellarine ALP Campbell, Ms Christine Mary Pascoe Vale ALP Newton-Brown, Mr Clement Arundel Prahran LP Carbines, Mr Anthony Richard Ivanhoe ALP Noonan, Mr Wade Mathew Williamstown ALP Carroll, Mr Benjamin Alan 2 Niddrie ALP Northe, Mr Russell John Morwell Nats Clark, Mr Robert William Box Hill LP O’Brien, Mr Michael Anthony Malvern LP Crisp, Mr Peter Laurence Mildura Nats Pakula, Mr Martin Philip 7 Lyndhurst ALP D’Ambrosio, Ms Liliana Mill Park ALP Pallas, Mr Timothy Hugh Tarneit ALP Delahunty, Mr Hugh Francis Lowan Nats Pandazopoulos, Mr John Dandenong ALP Dixon, Mr Martin Francis Nepean LP Perera, Mr Jude Cranbourne ALP Donnellan, Mr Luke Anthony Narre Warren North ALP Pike, Ms Bronwyn Jane 8 Melbourne ALP Duncan, Ms Joanne Therese Macedon ALP Powell, Mrs Elizabeth Jeanette Shepparton Nats Edwards, Ms Janice Maree Bendigo West ALP Richardson, Ms Fiona Catherine Alison Northcote ALP Eren, Mr John Hamdi Lara ALP Ryall, Ms Deanne Sharon Mitcham LP Foley, Mr Martin Peter Albert Park ALP Ryan, Mr Peter Julian Gippsland South Nats Fyffe, Mrs Christine Ann Evelyn LP Scott, Mr Robin David Preston ALP Garrett, Ms Jane Furneaux Brunswick ALP Shaw, Mr Geoffrey Page 9 Frankston Ind Gidley, Mr Michael Xavier Charles Mount Waverley LP Smith, Mr Kenneth Maurice Bass LP Graley, Ms Judith Ann Narre Warren South ALP Smith, Mr Ryan Warrandyte LP Green, Ms Danielle Louise Yan Yean ALP Southwick, Mr David James Caulfield LP Halfpenny, Ms Bronwyn Thomastown ALP Sykes, Dr William Everett Benalla Nats Helper, Mr Jochen Ripon ALP Thompson, Mr Murray Hamilton Ross Sandringham LP Hennessy, Ms Jill Altona ALP Thomson, Ms Marsha Rose Footscray ALP Herbert, Mr Steven Ralph Eltham ALP Tilley, Mr William John Benambra LP Hodgett, Mr David John Kilsyth LP Trezise, Mr Ian Douglas Geelong ALP Holding, Mr Timothy James 3 Lyndhurst ALP Victoria, Ms Heidi Bayswater LP Howard, Mr Geoffrey Kemp Ballarat East ALP Wakeling, Mr Nicholas Ferntree Gully LP Hulls, Mr Rob Justin 4 Niddrie ALP Walsh, Mr Peter Lindsay Swan Hill Nats Hutchins, Ms Natalie Maree Sykes Keilor ALP Watt, Mr Graham Travis Burwood LP Kairouz, Ms Marlene Kororoit ALP Weller, Mr Paul Rodney Nats Kanis, Ms Jennifer 5 Melbourne ALP Wells, Mr Kimberley Arthur Scoresby LP Katos, Mr Andrew South Barwon LP Wooldridge, Ms Mary Louise Newling Doncaster LP Knight, Ms Sharon Patricia Ballarat West ALP Wreford, Ms Lorraine Joan Mordialloc LP Kotsiras, Mr Nicholas Bulleen LP Wynne, Mr Richard William Richmond ALP Languiller, Mr Telmo Ramon Derrimut ALP
1 Resigned 21 December 2010 6 Elected 19 February 2011 2 Elected 24 March 2012 7 Elected 27 April 2013 3 Resigned 18 February 2013 8 Resigned 7 May 2012 4 Resigned 27 January 2012 9 LP until 6 March 2013 5 Elected 21 July 2012
CONTENTS
THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2013 Latrobe City Business Tourism Association: People’s Choice Awards ...... 2413 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Flemington Primary School: art show ...... 2414 Notices of motion: removal ...... 2405 Australian Muslim Social Services Agency: Adjournment ...... 2407 mosque opening ...... 2414 PETITIONS Cool Australia...... 2414 Buses: routes 413, 414 and 416 ...... 2405 Stonnington Primary School ...... 2414 Buses: routes 413, 416 and 446 ...... 2405 Melbourne High School: Avenue of Sports Schools: Ballarat ...... 2405 Champions ...... 2414 Ambulance Victoria: response times ...... 2405 Circus Oz ...... 2415 Police: Caroline Springs station ...... 2405 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES AMENDMENT Rail: Donnybrook station ...... 2406 BILL 2013 OUTER SUBURBAN/INTERFACE SERVICES AND Statement of compatibility ...... 2415 DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Second reading ...... 2415 Growing the suburbs — infrastructure and OPEN COURTS BILL 2013 business development in outer suburban Statement of compatibility ...... 2416 Melbourne ...... 2406 Second reading ...... 2417 DOCUMENTS ...... 2406 NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT (LEASING ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE POWERS AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL 2013 Membership ...... 2406 Second reading ...... 2420, 2454, 2462 MEMBERS STATEMENTS Third reading ...... 2462 Alkira Secondary College: Anzac project ...... 2407 DEPUTY CLERK ...... 2444 Manasis School of Greek Dance and Culture: QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE concert...... 2407 Ambulance services: Geelong Buckets Early Learning Centre: opening ...... 2408 region ...... 2444, 2446, 2448, 2450 School Sport Victoria: eastern metropolitan Carbon tax: impact ...... 2445, 2446 cross-country finals ...... 2408 Schools: funding ...... 2447 Kelly Lean and Alison Youlten ...... 2408 National disability insurance scheme: launch ...... 2449 Mooroolbark and Montrose football clubs: MP’s Youth Parliament ...... 2451 Challenge ...... 2408 Ambulance Victoria: funding ...... 2452, 2453 Gas: Wandong-Heathcote Junction supply ...... 2408 Regional Growth Fund: benefits ...... 2453 Chris Williamson and Josh Ross ...... 2409 SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS Borough of Queenscliffe: 150th anniversary ...... 2409 Member for Ivanhoe ...... 2446 Salvation Army: Cohuna Red Shield Appeal ...... 2409 Member for Monbulk ...... 2447 Parliament: electorate officers enterprise Member for Geelong ...... 2453 bargaining ...... 2409 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES Multicultural affairs: community grants ...... 2409 Membership ...... 2454 Ambulance Victoria: community emergency CORRECTIONS AMENDMENT (BREACH OF response teams ...... 2410 PAROLE) BILL 2013 Glenda Prior ...... 2410 Statement of compatibility ...... 2454 Kathy Jones ...... 2410 Second reading ...... 2456 Hospitals: funding ...... 2410 Jos Mills ...... 2410 EDUCATION AND TRAINING REFORM AMENDMENT (SCHOOL ATTENDANCE) SEM Fire and Rescue: job losses ...... 2411 BILL 2013 Federal government: leadership ...... 2411 Second reading ...... 2457 Schools: funding ...... 2411 Third reading ...... 2459 Road safety: speed limit review ...... 2411 Housing: clean energy supplement ...... 2411 TRANSPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FOUNDATION TAXI AND HIRE CAR REFORMS) Timber industry: eastern suburbs manufacturers .... 2412 BILL 2013 Coldstream Football Club: sponsors day ...... 2412 Council’s amendments ...... 2459 Paul Mees ...... 2412 SUSTAINABLE FORESTS (TIMBER) AMENDMENT Glen Waverley Secondary College: Youth BILL 2013 Parliament team ...... 2412 Second reading ...... 2461 Neighbourhood Watch: Mount Waverley Third reading ...... 2462 electorate ...... 2413 Mount Waverley electorate: sporting clubs ...... 2413 BAIL AMENDMENT BILL 2013 Rebecca Paterson ...... 2413 Second reading ...... 2462 Jean Melzer ...... 2413 Third reading ...... 2463 CONTENTS
ADJOURNMENT Victoria Legal Aid: funding guidelines ...... 2463 Consumer affairs: misleading advertising ...... 2463 Skye Primary School: funding ...... 2464 Rail: Warragul station ...... 2464 Charitable organisations: landfill levy rebates ...... 2465 Rodney electorate: elite athlete funding ...... 2465 Planning: Sunshine school site ...... 2466 Local government: federal referendum ...... 2466 Austin Health and Northern Health: merger ...... 2467 Melbourne High School: gifted and talented education academy ...... 2467 Responses ...... 2468 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2405
Thursday, 27 June 2013 Centrelink hubs for local people who rely on public transport;
The SPEAKER (Hon. Ken Smith) took the chair at concerned about the impact this will have on parents 9.34 a.m. and read the prayer. who now have to drive their children to school;
concerned that the cutting of these bus services will lead BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE to increased congestion on already congested roads in and around Point Cook. Notices of motion: removal Petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly The SPEAKER — Order! Notices of motion 8 to implore the coalition government and minister for transport, 19 will be removed from the notice paper unless the Honourable Terrence Mulder, to reverse the cuts of the 413 and 416 and the alteration to the 446 bus services. members wishing their notices to remain advise the Clerk in writing before 2.00 p.m. today. By Ms HENNESSY (Altona) (1 signature).
PETITIONS Schools: Ballarat
Following petitions presented to house: To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria: The petition of residents of Victoria draws to the attention of Buses: routes 413, 414 and 416 the house that the Napthine government is not providing funds for the maintenance of any schools in Ballarat. The To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria: petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria require the Victorian government to provide funds This petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws for the maintenance of government schools in Ballarat. the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the cutting of the 413, 414 and 416 bus services that previously serviced Aircraft station. Not only have these cuts limited local By Ms KNIGHT (Ballarat West) (8 signatures). residents’ access to transport services at Aircraft station, they are likely to lead to impacts on local businesses and traders. Ambulance Victoria: response times
Petitioners are: To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:
concerned that these cuts are a step toward the eventual The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws closure of Aircraft station; to the attention of the Legislative Assembly that more patients are waiting longer for an ambulance. concerned about the impact the cuts will have on local residents’ access to services and public transport We note that the performance of the ambulance service has options; fallen since the election of the Liberal government.
concerned that the cuts will result in the loss of local We particularly note: business and jobs. 1. ambulance response times have increased; Petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly implore the coalition government and minister for transport, 2. Ballarat has been left exposed with paramedic shifts left the Honourable Terrence Mulder, MP, to reverse the cuts of unfilled. the 413, 414 and 416 bus services that cater for Aircraft station. The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly urges the Napthine government to immediately By Ms HENNESSY (Altona) (25 signatures). address the failure to provide Ballarat with the continuous coverage of professional paramedic services it needs. Buses: routes 413, 416 and 446 By Ms KNIGHT (Ballarat West) (358 signatures). To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria: Police: Caroline Springs station This petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the cutting of the To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria: 413 and 416 bus services. The cutting of these services, as well as the alteration of route 446, has resulted in it being The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws impossible to take a single bus across the suburbs of to the attention of the house the Napthine state government’s Laverton, Seabrook, Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee failure to keep our community safe. South and Werribee. In particular, we note that in the city of Melton over the past Petitioners are: 12 months:
concerned that this will place significant barriers in 1. drug offences have gone up 15 per cent; accessing local banks, post offices, pharmacies and
OUTER SUBURBAN/INTERFACE SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
2406 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 27 June 2013
2. crimes against the person have gone up 14.1 per cent; OUTER SUBURBAN/INTERFACE 3. assaults have gone up 20.5 per cent. SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE The petitions therefore request that the Legislative Assembly urges the Napthine state government to guarantee that it will Growing the suburbs — infrastructure and make our community safe again by providing more police officers to be based at Caroline Springs police station and for business development in outer suburban the station to be opened 24 hours a day and operating seven Melbourne days a week. Ms McLEISH (Seymour) presented report, together By Ms HUTCHINS (Keilor) (430 signatures). with appendices, a minority report and transcripts of evidence. Rail: Donnybrook station Tabled. To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:
This petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws Ordered that report, appendices and minority to the attention of the house the poor condition of report be printed. Donnybrook station and the need for an urgent upgrade.
In particular, we note: DOCUMENTS
1. that Donnybrook V/Line station is an increasingly Tabled by Clerk: popular station for commuters to reach the CBD; Multicultural Victoria Act 2011 — Victorian Government 2. with the rapid growth in Mernda, Doreen and Wollert initiatives and reporting in multicultural affairs Report and lack of other public transport options for people as 2011–12 far away as Whittlesea and Kinglake means that this station’s usage will continue to increase in future years; Statutory Rules under the following Acts:
3. the station and car park are currently in a very poor state Bus Safety Act 2009 — SR 68 and the growth in patronage is forcing commuters to park all over Donnybrook causing problems for locals Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987 — SRs 61, and local businesses such as the general store and hotel; 66 County Court Act 1958 — SR 69 4. the previous Labor government had pledged $1 million towards the upgrade of Donnybrook station — a Electricity Safety Act 1998 — SR 62 commitment not matched by the now Liberal government. Environment Protection Act 1970 — SR 63
The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Police Regulation Act 1958 — SR 67 Assembly urges the Liberal government to upgrade the station, including providing more and better commuter car Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 — SR 65 parking and improved lighting. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 — By Ms GREEN (Yan Yean) (89 signatures). SR 71
Tabled. Wildlife Act 1975 — SR 64 Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 — Documents under s 15 Ordered that petition presented by honourable in relation to Statutory Rules 61, 63, 67, 68, 69, 71 member for Yan Yean be considered next day on motion of Ms GREEN (Yan Yean). Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Act 2001 — Report on the Investigation into Additional Prospecting Areas Ordered that petition presented by honourable in Parks. member for Keilor be considered next day on motion of Ms HUTCHINS (Keilor). ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Ordered that petitions presented by honourable member for Ballarat West be considered next day Membership on motion of Ms KNIGHT (Ballarat West). The SPEAKER — Order! I have received the resignation of Ms Richardson from the Accountability and Oversight Committee, effective from today.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2407
Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and and wrote the biographies of 22 war veterans, a Small Business) — By leave, I move: fantastic and thoroughly worthwhile achievement.
That Ms Neville be appointed a member of the The task of remembrance is crucial to our community, Accountability and Oversight Committee. and what the students have accomplished contributes to Motion agreed to. honouring those who have sacrificed so much. The memory of these brave men and women’s actions is BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE extremely fragile and subject to erosion over time. Their deeds and words do not survive unless they are Adjournment remembered, and it is this very remembrance which saves their sacrifice from futility. Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business) — I move: As students, you have learnt a great deal, but you have also contributed to honouring the deeds and actions of That the house, at its rising, adjourn until a day and hour to be those who have come before you and have also fixed by the Speaker, which time of meeting shall be notified preserved the memories of past actions as a source of in writing to each member of the house. instruction for those in the future. I hope this task has Can I briefly explain to the house why this form of nurtured in you a profound sense of admiration, duty, words is probably not what members of the house respect and indeed a sense of purpose which you will would have expected, given that the sitting dates were carry with you throughout your life. released last year. I am advised that the bushfires royal commission implementation monitor report needs to be This project could not have been made possible without the tremendous work of teachers Nicole Scott, Samara tabled on 31 July, when technically in our terms the Varker and David Mockridge from Alkira Secondary house is not sitting. Section 21 of the Bushfires Royal College; people from the Vietnam Veterans Commission Implementation Monitor Act 2011 makes Association of Australia Victorian branch; the Royal provision for tabling out of session but defines ‘in recess’ as when the houses are adjourned to a date to be Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; and the Cranbourne, Dandenong and Noble Park RSLs. fixed by the President or Speaker, as the case may be, Above all the students deserve recognition and praise in the Assembly and in the Council. for their achievements. I would sincerely like to Basically what this means, Speaker, as you are well mention all the students involved, but time will not aware, is that if the usual form of language were used, permit. Again, my heartfelt thanks for your tremendous the bushfires royal commission implementation work. The Anzac spirit lives on. monitor would not be able to table his report out of session on 31 July, as is planned. I assure the house that Manasis School of Greek Dance and Culture: it is the government’s intention that the house will sit concert on 20 August, as previously advised, the dates for Ms MILLER (Bentleigh) — I was delighted to parliamentary sittings that were issued by the attend the Multicultural Folkloric Dance Concert government will hold and that this form of words is presented by Manasis School of Greek Dance and simply to allow this implementation report to be tabled Culture. School director Dimosthenis Manasis out of session. describes dance as an expression of identity and Motion agreed to. belonging in all cultures. The event was truly a celebration of diverse cultures, and I thank all MEMBERS STATEMENTS instructors and participants for their performances. As the secretary of the Parliamentary friendship group for Alkira Secondary College: Anzac project Greece and Cyprus, I was particularly pleased to be immersed in the culture and celebrations with the Ms GRALEY (Narre Warren South) — Present Manasis community. It was a privilege to meet the today in the gallery are Australian war veterans and director, Dimosthenis Manasis, and many dancers students from Alkira Secondary College. I met many of backstage to thank them for their dynamic performance. them when I attended the moving and memorable Anzac Day service at Alkira college recently. As part of A candidate for Chisholm, Mr John Nguyen, attended a Victorian certificate of applied learning project called the folkloric concert on behalf of the federal opposition Following in their Footsteps the students researched leader, the Honourable Tony Abbott, and remarked on Victoria’s active and inclusive multicultural
MEMBERS STATEMENTS
2408 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 27 June 2013 community. The Napthine government is committed to This is a great story. Good luck to both Kelly and nurturing this community, which is one of our greatest Alison. strengths. We are lucky in the Bentleigh electorate to have a diverse community. Organisations such as the Mooroolbark and Montrose football clubs: Manasis School of Greek Dance and Culture are very MP’s Challenge important in ensuring that multicultural communities are engaged with the broader community and are able Mr MERLINO — Finally, I give a very belated to share their culture. I look forward to continuing to congratulations to Mooroolbark Football Club, which support the Manasis School of Greek Dance and beat Montrose Football Club by 1 point. Unfortunately Culture in the future. the bragging rights for this season go to the member for Kilsyth; we hold an MP’s shield each year between our Buckets Early Learning Centre: opening respective teams. I am sure that by the end of the season Montrose will be victorious in the division 2 finals and Ms MILLER — I was delighted to join the member head to division 1, and maybe sometime in the future for Caulfield to officially open the Buckets Early Mooroolbark will get there. Learning Centre on Thursday, 20 June. Buckets is a privately owned, trusted and experienced child-care Gas: Wandong-Heathcote Junction supply provider. As a family-run centre, Buckets understands that it is important to young families to ensure that a Ms McLEISH (Seymour) — Delivering on election natural play environment and a high-quality program is commitments is a great feeling, and so it was a available for local children. Owners Aimee and Paul particularly good day when I joined the Deputy Premier Southwick, parents of three young girls — Lyla, aged and our colleague Donna Petrovich, a member for six; Ali, aged four; and Sasha, aged seven months — Northern Victoria Region in the other place, in said that quality child care is essential as it has been Wandong to announce the connection of natural gas to shown to make a significant difference in a child’s the communities of Wandong and Heathcote Junction. development. This exciting announcement means that more than 450 homes and businesses in Wandong-Heathcote School Sport Victoria: eastern metropolitan Junction will soon have access to cheaper and cleaner cross-country finals energy.
Mr MERLINO (Monbulk) — I congratulate all the There were many who said it could not be done, many students who recently participated in the School Sport who said that both I and my government were Victoria eastern metropolitan sports region misleading the communities, when in actual fact this cross-country finals. From the Dandenong Ranges there was far from the truth. My commitment and were about 80 students from 28 schools. From across determination, and that of the coalition government, to eastern metro I particularly want to congratulate bring gas to Wandong-Heathcote Junction was never in Georgia Laven from Monbulk Primary School and doubt. The member for Bendigo East and a member for Holly Blake from Selby Primary School, 11-year-old Northern Victoria Region in the other place, Candy girls who finished in the top 20; Eythan House from Broad, made many attempts to undermine the process Montrose Primary School, from the 11-year-old boys and to scare the people of Wandong-Heathcote competition; and Lily Peacock and Tess Patterson from Junction. After all, their Labor government had made Montrose Primary School, from the 12-year-old girls the same commitment several times and failed to division. Each of them will now go on to compete at a deliver. They tried desperately to create uncertainty for state level. residents and businesses, worrying that this government could do what they could not — and they had every Kelly Lean and Alison Youlten right to be worried, because we are a government that can think outside the square and look for solutions that Mr MERLINO — Volleyball is a particularly will work. strong sport in my region. I want to congratulate two local girls, Kelly Lean and Alison Youlten. They have The member for Bendigo East’s attempts to create known each other since attending Selby Primary School uncertainty in Wandong-Heathcote Junction are too together, and they remain great friends. Both have numerous to mention, although one notable attempt made the under-19 Victorian volleyball teams and will was her 23 November media release, which claimed: play in the national championships in Canberra next The Baillieu government is now back-pedalling on the month, and both are captaining their respective teams. promise faster than a circus clown on a unicycle.
MEMBERS STATEMENTS
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2409
May I suggest that the only clown who should be able to thank the students for their efforts and for setting back-pedalling is the member for Bendigo East, and the a wonderful example when I presented certificates of best circus in town is the Labor Party. appreciation at their school last week.
Chris Williamson and Josh Ross Swan Hill Salvation Army envoy Stewart Stamp said he was extremely grateful for the contribution of the Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine) — I am delighted to be students, which resulted in the annual doorknock being able to formally congratulate in Parliament today two a great success. He said it was the first time students in great young achievers. Chris Williamson and Josh Ross Cohuna had been involved with the annual doorknock from Bellarine Secondary College’s Drysdale campus and that he hoped the success and consequent both received a Premier’s Victorian certificate of acknowledgment would encourage other students to do education (VCE) award. The awards are given for the same in the future. These students have not only achieving top scores in VCE subjects. Chris received helped the Salvation Army but also their own futures, the award for systems engineering and Josh received as all doorknock collectors receive certificates of the award for information technology (VCE vocational appreciation which can be included in their résumés. education and training). Winning a Premier’s VCE The annual Red Shield Appeal doorknock helps raise award is obviously a significant achievement for vital funds to assist the running of the Salvation Army’s students and their school. Congratulations to both Chris vast network of social services across the state. It may and Josh, their families and their teachers at Bellarine mean a roof to someone without a home, or education Secondary College on a terrific achievement, and best support for a child at risk of dropping out of school, and wishes to both boys with their studies in the future. we are grateful to have young, local people in our community — — Borough of Queenscliffe: 150th anniversary The SPEAKER — Order! The member’s time has Ms NEVILLE — On another matter, the Borough expired. of Queenscliffe, established in 1863, has recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. This is a wonderful Parliament: electorate officers enterprise milestone for the borough, which is the oldest council bargaining in Australia and the smallest in Victoria. The celebrations were an opportunity to acknowledge the Mr SCOTT (Preston) — I would like to raise the long years of service to the community by staff, mayors issue of the current enterprise bargaining agreement and councillors and to remember achievements, both (EBA) for electorate officers, and the fact that this EBA historic and more recent. One memorable achievement has yet to be finalised. I am somewhat disturbed by, that was reflected on during the 150th celebrations was and have raised in this house previously, the role of the the hard-fought battle by the community in 1994 to Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF). I have a retain the Borough of Queenscliffe as a separate copy of an email from Mr Simon Duell from DTF, who council — a battle with the Kennett government which indicates that the department: happily was won. Congratulations to all those involved in creating a wonderful celebration, particularly the … has worked expeditiously for approval of this agreement and DTF expects final approval to be close. mayor, councillors and borough staff and to the Victorian Governor, who participated. It was a great However, the Parliament is separate from DTF and weekend enjoyed by many and a fitting tribute for such should not require the approval of DTF for an EBA to a significant anniversary. be finalised. This is a matter that goes to the heart of the separation of powers. Of course there is a separate Salvation Army: Cohuna Red Shield Appeal appropriation for the Parliament, and it is important to maintain the separation and the sovereignty of the Mr WELLER (Rodney) — I would like to Parliament. congratulate a group of students from the township of Cohuna in the Rodney electorate on raising $1500 for Multicultural affairs: community grants the Salvation Army’s annual Red Shield Appeal. The nine students from Cohuna Secondary College, led by Mr KOTSIRAS (Minister for Multicultural Affairs Georgina Kelly, contacted the Swan Hill Salvation and Citizenship) — Yesterday I announced $400 000 in Army to organise the annual doorknock in Cohuna and community grants for Victoria’s diverse faith also contacted the local media to gain support from the organisations through the Promoting Harmony community. This is a great example of what the good program. The Promoting Harmony program was young people in our community are capable of. I was established to support and encourage Victoria’s diverse
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faith groups to develop relationships with other faith desperate, with some CERTs saying they may fold. groups and with the broader community. The This would leave whole communities dangerously successful community organisations will extend and exposed and place even more pressure on our sustain interfaith networks and activities that are professional paramedics. Sadly the four key priorities building mutual understanding and respect in our state, outlined in Ambulance Victoria’s recently released leading to a more cohesive society. strategic plan contain no reference to CERTs, suggesting their diminishing numbers pose no concern Today I announce the rollout of over 50 grants worth for the service. It is time for the Napthine government more than $140 000 under the community language to act. grants programs. The community language grants programs, which are administered by the Victorian Glenda Prior Multicultural Commission, provide support to Victoria’s communities to develop and sustain Mr ANGUS (Forest Hill) — I want to wish the community language programs. We are committed to former principal of Parkmore Primary School, Glenda supporting Victoria’s rich diversity of languages, with Prior, well following her recent retirement. Glenda over 230 different languages and dialects spoken in faithfully served the Parkmore school community in my Victoria. electorate for many years, and I have had the great pleasure to work with her in recent years. I thank Languages connect people and cultures and open doors Glenda for her service to the local community. to new worlds and opportunities. They also play a role in developing our students into informed global citizens Kathy Jones while building our economic prosperity. There is a saying that when you learn a language you start on your Mr ANGUS — I want to wish the former principal path to life, having two languages opens doors and of Livingstone Primary School, Kathy Jones, well having three languages or more provides you with the following her recent retirement. Kathy faithfully served tools to deal with the challenges you find behind those the Livingstone school community in my electorate for doors. It is encouraging to see so many students taking many years, and I have had the great pleasure of up a second or third language. working with her in recent years. I thank Kathy for her service to the local community. Ambulance Victoria: community emergency response teams Hospitals: funding
Mr NOONAN (Williamstown) — Victoria’s Mr ANGUS — Today is an appropriate day for the 29 community emergency response teams (CERTs) Leader of the Opposition to telephone the incoming attended more than 3500 emergency cases across the Prime Minister and request that he reinstate the state state during the last financial year and arrived before an health funding previously cut by federal Labor. These ambulance in 85 per cent of cases. These hardworking cuts, originally $475 million over four years, will have men and women are the lifesavers in our less populated a direct impact on services provided by our local health and more remote areas across the state. CERT services. The remaining cuts of $99.5 million in volunteers have been a critical part of Ambulance 2013–14, $121.6 million in 2014–15 and $147 million Victoria’s integrated emergency response and are even in 2015–16 will have an adverse impact on all called upon to assist bush hospitals with life-threatening Victorians. These cuts include $7.68 million in cuts cases. In order to provide clinically appropriate care, from my local provider, Eastern Health, in 2013–14. volunteers are provided with regular training, uniforms, The new federal Treasurer, whoever it happens to be, equipment and a vehicle. These volunteers deserve our needs to announce the reinstatement of these funds so support. that local health providers in Victoria have some certainty in regard to future funding. Contrary to what However, as Nagambie-based CERT chairman Max Labor members believe, large health providers cannot Perry told his local newspaper on 20 March, ‘We are just turn services on and off like a tap but have to work dying’. Sadly Mr Perry’s plea is not an isolated one. In in a complex environment with long lead times. 2009–10, the year when this government came to office, there were 496 volunteers, but this dropped to Jos Mills 411 in the 2011–12 period. That is a loss of almost one Mr ANGUS — I want to wish the principal of in five volunteers in just a two-year period. At the Burwood East Primary School, Jos Mills, well current rate of decline, the number of volunteers may following the announcement of her retirement. Jos has drop below 350 by 2015. The situation is getting
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served the Burwood East school community in my forget, however, that Kevin Rudd, the Milkybar Kid, is electorate in recent years, and I have had the great the Prime Minister who spent the budget surplus, pleasure of working with her during that time. I thank started the boats coming and began almost every bungle Jos for her service to the local community. that we have seen from this government.
SEM Fire and Rescue: job losses The happiest person to see Julia Gillard knifed is the Victorian Leader of the Opposition. He would not have Ms KNIGHT (Ballarat West) — Tomorrow there his photo taken with Julia Gillard, but once again he will be 12 workers in Ballarat who will no longer have can have his photo taken with Kevin Rudd instead of a job and will no longer have certainty around paying John Setka. We can only hope that this game of musical their mortgage, paying their bills or paying their kids’ chairs ends up with Labor on the floor and Tony Abbott school fees. About 70 workers will lose 12 of their elected as Prime Minister of Australia. workmates. This is all because this government did not budget to maintain and build an appropriate number of Schools: funding fire trucks. There will be other local businesses that will not be able to depend on orders that would normally Mr SOUTHWICK — The Premier yesterday support their businesses and workers. announced a proposal that would not only significantly boost funding to our schools but also improve learning SEM Fire and Rescue is a proud and wonderful outcomes for all students and preserve and protect the company. I walked through its premises just a few Victorian model of empowering local school weeks ago and was impressed by the quality of its work communities. The Napthine reforms put on the table an and the capacity of its workers. I met many of these additional $3.5 billion in recurrent funding from workers — namely, Jimmy Spratling from the Victoria 2013–14 to 2018–19, which will trigger a Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) contribution of $7 billion from the federal Labor and Neil Wright from the United Firefighters Union government when the 2:1 ratio is applied. (UFU), who are both wonderful men who care about their members and, just as importantly, care about their I hope the new Prime Minister will do what is best for workplace. I want to also acknowledge Colin Muir schools, and what Julia Gillard was about to do, in from the AMWU and Jeremy Murphy from the UFU working with the Victorian government to deliver these for their concern for and commitment to and support of important school reforms. We need to ensure that all their members and colleagues. our schools are properly funded and that we continue to have the best schools in the country. What have we seen from the Napthine government? Nothing; no jobs plan — nothing. The workers at SEM Road safety: speed limit review do great work and supply high-quality firefighting vehicles that are needed by brigades and stations across Mr SOUTHWICK — I was pleased that the Victoria. I am really angry that people are being stood Caulfield electorate was the first to benefit from the down and there is uncertainty at SEM because the positive changes resulting from the Victorian speed Napthine government has dropped the ball. Premier limit review. This review will see a consistent and Napthine must step in to secure the high-skill logical speed zone introduced along Balaclava Road. manufacturing jobs at SEM. According to the The biggest beneficiaries will be the eight schools in the Australian Bureau of Statistics there are now area. 1600 fewer jobs in manufacturing in our region than when the Liberal government was elected. This is an Housing: clean energy supplement appalling statistic that the Liberal government should Ms CAMPBELL (Pascoe Vale) — Mr and take responsibility for. The government needs to step Mrs Ron Walker and other public housing tenants in up, step in and do something to keep our manufacturing my electorate are absolutely filthy on the Napthine industry going and our SEM people working. government. The decision to take a quarter of the federal government’s clean energy supplement is Federal government: leadership appalling. Until now pension supplements have always Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) — Last night the been quarantined from public and community housing nation watched in amazement as the federal Labor rents. This is because they do not represent additional government imploded once again and the former Prime real income but are paid tax free to offset specific Minister was handed the keys to the Lodge in this costs — in this case the carbon tax. Public housing unprecedented game of musical chairs. We cannot tenants are required to pay rent out of their assessable
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income. The decision to deplete them of a quarter of the various sporting commitments on Saturday mornings, I clean energy supplement falls outside the government’s can appreciate the thought behind Friday night policy to charge rent as a percentage of assessable Auskick. income. It also contravenes the intent of the supplement as offsetting a rise in cost of living under the carbon tax. My thanks to vice-president Paul Harper and everyone Sixty-seven per cent of residents in public housing have involved with the Coldstream Cougars for putting on some form of disability or long-term health problem such a wonderful day. and are much more likely to live below the poverty line. Paul Mees This decision to hit Mr and Mrs Ron Walker and other public housing tenants is appalling, and it will mean Mr LANGUILLER (Derrimut) — The member for that they will be $87.50 per annum further out of Northcote has asked me, in her absence, to pay tribute pocket, as will more than 46 000 pensioners and today to Paul Mees, who very sadly passed away last 18 000 low-income families. They deserve respect; they Wednesday after having battled cancer for more than a cannot afford to have this supplement taken from them. year. I share her deep sadness at Paul’s passing, because like the member for Northcote, I know we Timber industry: eastern suburbs have all lost a fierce advocate for public transport but manufacturers above all else an honourable and decent bloke who was not afraid to fight for what he believed in. Mrs FYFFE (Evelyn) — It was my pleasure to join with other members and the Victorian Association of As many members of this place can attest, Paul worked Forest Industries (VAFI) last Tuesday, 18 June, to visit tirelessly to improve public transport in this state. Even timber-related businesses in the outer east. Timber as he fought his illness he spoke out, challenging all of harvesting is a key industry in the Yarra Valley, us to think differently about transport, and his employing hundreds of people and forming the common-sense approach, as always, was compelling. backbone of many local economies. Paul served as the president of the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) for nine years, and through I was able to visit Flamingo Furniture in Bayswater his work with the PTUA undoubtedly contributed to North and Prefab Technology in Croydon South, two ensuring that the views and needs of commuters were terrific businesses with over 50 years experience in the well represented to government. I know PTUA industry between them. While their respective end members would want me to put on record their thanks products may be very different, they are both dependent for all his work and the sadness they feel at his passing. on the same input. Paul continued that advocacy in his role as an academic specialising in transport and planning at both the Many people think forestry only employs people in University of Melbourne and more recently at RMIT regional Victoria, but greater Melbourne is home to University. thousands of jobs in associated sectors down the supply chain. Forestry is integral to Victoria’s economy. My On a personal note, the member for Northcote would thanks to the members for Narracan and Ripon, like to put on the public record her sincere thanks to co-chairs of the parliamentary support group for the Paul for the time that he was willing to spend with her Victorian timber and wood products industry, and discussing his ideas about public transport and how Shaun Ratcliff from VAFI for organising a great tour. much she values the time he shared with her. No doubt the public discourse around public transport will be Coldstream Football Club: sponsors day poorer for Paul’s passing, but I have no doubt his ideas will live on. My thoughts go out to Paul’s family and Mrs FYFFE — On Saturday, 15 June, I was friends at this very difficult time, and I can only say delighted to attend Coldstream Football Club’s how deeply sorry we all are for their loss. sponsors day at its home ground, right in the heart of Coldstream. It was a great afternoon, made better by the Glen Waverley Secondary College: Youth Cougars beating the Forest Hill Zebras by 2 goals. Parliament team
One of the club’s excellent initiatives that caught my Mr GIDLEY (Mount Waverley) — On Monday, eye was that it hosts Auskick on Friday nights. The 17 June, I met with students from Glen Waverley program has become very popular, with 100 children Secondary College who are participating in this year’s participating and a family barbecue afterwards. Having YMCA Youth Parliament. I enjoyed the opportunity to had the pleasure of running five children around to listen to their proposed legislation entitled ‘Police
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Pursuit Regulations and Responsibilities’. The proposal principles and was a strong voice and advocate for seeks to introduce additional regulations governing women, Indigenous communities, the environment and police pursuits, increased rights for citizens in a safe nation and world. roadblocks and the establishment of a committee to determine matters of liability and compensation. I wish She was passionate about education and lifelong the team members — Sariga Sureshkumar, Garthik learning, and this saw her very active in the University Gopakumar, Maree Skalistis, Durga Viswanthan, of the Third Age (U3A) to which she devoted a great Dinuka Perera and Rebecca Satkunam — well with deal of time not only locally at Bass Coast Adult their proposal and thank them for the opportunity to Education Centre but also at a statewide level. Jean meet with them. served as president of U3A Network Victoria from 2001 to 2006, supporting and raising awareness of its Neighbourhood Watch: Mount Waverley vital and important activities for older Victorians. In electorate 2004 in recognition of her community work she was awarded both the Medal of the Order of Australia and Mr GIDLEY — I recently met with Neighbourhood the Victorian Premier’s Senior Achiever Award. In Watch city of Monash groups for areas MON 011 and 2006 her name was added to the Victorian Honour Roll MON 024 to discuss public safety in the Waverley area. of Women for her contribution to community services The evening provided the opportunity to listen to the in particular. concerns of local residents whilst also providing information on many programs which have been Jean was a loving and loved mother, grandmother and delivered by the coalition government to improve great-grandmother. Gram was never too busy to devote public safety. I thank area manager Mr Colin that very previous time to her many grandchildren and McKinnon, the committee and members of great-grandchildren. To all the family, and particularly Neighbourhood Watch for that opportunity. Steve, Caroline and Danae, I pass on my deepest sympathy and that of the U3A network and the many Mount Waverley electorate: sporting clubs sections of our community, particularly the disadvantaged, for whom Jean always stood up with Mr GIDLEY — On Thursday, 20 June, I joined a courage, integrity and passion to try to ensure that we member for Northern Victoria Region in the Council, all live in a just and safe society. Vale Jean Melzer, a Damian Drum, to meet with representatives from many compassionate, determined and visionary woman. local sporting organisations. During the evening I had the opportunity to hear from those organisations about The SPEAKER — Order! May she rest in peace. their successes and challenges as well as engage and She was a very lovely lady. exchange views with other local sporting organisations. I thank all the clubs that participated and wish them Latrobe City Business Tourism Association: well for the remainder of the year. People’s Choice Awards
Rebecca Paterson Mr NORTHE (Morwell) — Last Tuesday evening I had the pleasure as the member for Morwell and as Mr GIDLEY — I congratulate Cr Rebecca Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Paterson, who was newly elected in the Mount Tourism to attend the 2013 Latrobe City Business Waverley ward following a countback of the results of Tourism Association’s People’s Choice Awards. These the 2012 council election. Cr Paterson fills a vacancy awards are now in their fourth year, and congratulations created by the passing of the late great Cr Tom must go to the members of the organising committee, Morrissey. I wish Cr Paterson well in her endeavours to and in particular to project officer Trish Reardon, for represent the community of Mount Waverley ward. their work in hosting such a fabulous event. This year saw 5189 votes cast, with more than 420 businesses Jean Melzer receiving votes, which is a great testament to the diversity and strength of businesses in our region. The Ms BARKER (Oakleigh) — I pay tribute to Jean motto of Latrobe City Business Tourism Association is Melzer, who, sadly, died after a short illness on 19 June ‘Whatever business you’re in, you’re in tourism’, which this year. Jean served as a Senator for Victoria in the is very apt indeed. federal Parliament from May 1974 until June 1981, and following that service she resolutely continued her The theme for the 2013 people’s choice awards was passionate and dedicated work for the things that she ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ with more than believed in. Jean was an intelligent woman with strong 50 businesses nominated across 10 different categories.
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In addition there were awards for the most popular people, can meet and undertake meaningful social and community event, most popular community cultural activities. I am pleased to have been able to service/organisation and good access is good business, provide assistance to the community in this first stage. I with 16 businesses, community organisations and look forward to providing — — events nominated in these three categories. The SPEAKER — Order! The member’s time has Winners included Century Inn and Terrace Cafe, expired. Traralgon Charcoal Chicken, Bushies Bakery in Glengarry, Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park, Boolarra Cool Australia Folk Festival, Traralgon Beauty Salon, Old Gippstown, Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House and the Mr NEWTON-BROWN (Prahran) — Well done Walhalla Star Hotel. The evening concluded with the to Cool Australia, an innovative and dynamic awarding of the Champion of Champions, which was not-for-profit organisation, which provides free taken out by Park Lane Tourist Park in Traralgon. Tom environmental resources to school kids to educate them and Helen Marshall were thrilled to be the recipients of about building a positive, sustainable future through such a well-regarded award. Congratulations again to direct action. More than 178 000 students have used all nominees and award winners, along with thanks to their resources since 2009, and it is entirely self-funded. supporting partners such as Telstra Business Centre in In 2012 it won the Victorian Environmental Educator Traralgon, Prime 7, 3TR FM, Gold 1242 — — of the Year award, and I wish it well in its promotions for Enviroweek later this year. The SPEAKER — Order! The member’s time has expired. Stonnington Primary School Flemington Primary School: art show Mr NEWTON-BROWN — I recently met with teacher Lily Papamihail and the Stonnington Primary Ms KANIS (Melbourne) — On 18 June I opened School student leadership group to tour the school and the Flemington Primary School art show. The show talk to students about the importance of healthy eating. featured the works produced by students during the Stonnington Primary School boasts a diverse cultural period when Robert Davis was artist-in-residence at the mix, and has a student population of approximately school. The work featured historic dioramas, journals, 210, catering for students from prep to year 6. It was videorecordings on iPads and a historic installation of great to chat informally with all students, from the found objects. I would like to congratulate the artist, preps to the 6th graders, about ideas for new laws and Robert Davis, for his skill, passion and expertise; art how to responsibly use a mobile phone. I commend teacher Karen Leopold for her passion for the project; principal Anne McPhee and the staff of Stonnington the leadership of the principal, Lesley McCarthy; and Primary School for their efforts in creating such an most importantly all of the students, especially those interactive and engaging classroom environment. from grades 3 and 4, for their great work, talent and enthusiasm. Melbourne High School: Avenue of Sports Champions Australian Muslim Social Services Agency: mosque opening Mr NEWTON-BROWN — It was great to attend the unveiling of stage 2 of the Avenue of Sports Ms KANIS — On 22 June 2013 I attended the Champions at Melbourne High School. The Avenue of opening of the new mosque at the Australian Muslim Sports Champions consists of a series of full-scale Social Services Agency (AMSSA) centre, Isa Ibn public sculptures of Melbourne High School alumni Maryam, in North Melbourne. The opening was very with outstanding records of achievement in sport. The well attended and included representatives from both project is linked to an equivalent collection in the sides of politics. I would like to congratulate the surrounds of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Stage 2 Australian Muslim Social Services Agency for its work recognises three of Australia’s most distinguished in establishing the mosque for its community. I would middle to long distance runners: Messrs Ron Clarke, also like to thank all the people in attendance on the day Ralph Doubell and Merv Lincoln, all being Melbourne for their very warm welcome to both me and my son. It High School alumni. The statues were unveiled by the was wonderful to see so many men, women and inductees and their families. I congratulate Jeremy children in attendance. I am aware that AMSSA has Ludowyke and Melbourne High School for creating a plans for the mosque to be not only a place of worship display which will inspire students, both past and but also a place where the community, especially young present.
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES AMENDMENT BILL 2013
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Circus Oz ascertained and taken into account — see ZN v YH (2002) 167 FLR 366 at [112]-[113].
Mr WYNNE (Richmond) — Congratulations to The bill provides that in any proceeding before the family Circus Oz, which is now playing a season at Birrarung division, a child is not required to attend court unless the child Marr in a show called Cranked Up, which I had the expresses a wish to attend, the court orders that the child pleasure of attending last Thursday night. This is a attend, or the CYFA requires that the child attend. At present, shameless plug: the show is playing until 14 July, and I the CYFA mandates a child’s attendance in many cases, meaning that children above the age of about five years are recommend it to everybody. I look forward to Circus required to attend court within 24 hours of a child’s Oz returning to its historic home in Collingwood, emergency removal from their home. which was the genesis of Circus Oz. I acknowledge the former Premier, the member for Hawthorn, who Notwithstanding that as a result of the bill a child may not attend court, the CYFA contains many provisions which bettered the commitment of the Labor Party to provide ensure children’s meaningful participation in proceedings. $13 million, by providing $15 million for Circus Oz to Many provisions of the CYFA require the views and wishes return to its historic home in Collingwood. We look of children to be ascertained and taken into account in forward to bringing them home. decision making under the act. Sections 8 and 10 of the CYFA require decision-makers — including child protection workers and judicial officers — to have regard to the best CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES interests of the child, the need to protect the child from harm AMENDMENT BILL 2013 and to protect his or her rights and promote his or her development when taking any decision and to give Statement of compatibility appropriate weight to the child’s views and wishes. The bill also confers powers on the Children’s Court to Mr CLARK (Attorney-General) tabled following conduct child protection proceedings in a less adversarial statement in accordance with Charter of Human manner, including the power to actively direct, control and Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: manage the conduct of proceedings. These powers will be exercised by a competent, independent and impartial court in In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights the course of a fair and public hearing within the meaning of and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the ‘charter act’), I make this section 24 of the charter act. There is no reason to think that statement of compatibility with respect to the Children, Youth these powers will limit the right to a fair hearing under and Families Amendment Bill 2013. section 24. Rather they will promote that right by facilitating the child’s views being heard and will promote the right of In my opinion, the Children, Youth and Families Amendment children to protection in their best interests under Bill 2013, as introduced to the Legislative Assembly, is section 17(2). compatible with the human rights set out in the charter act. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this statement. Robert Clark, MP Attorney-General Overview of bill Second reading This bill makes various amendments to the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (CYFA) and other acts, including Mr CLARK (Attorney-General) — I move: amendments which: That this bill be now read a second time. confer powers on the Children’s Court to conduct child protection proceedings in a less adversarial manner; The bill implements further important reforms provide that children are not required to attend court in announced in the Victoria’s Vulnerable Children — family division matters unless they choose to; Our Shared Responsibility Directions Paper, to make the legal system more ‘child focussed’. set out the standard of proof required in child protection matters. The Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry Human rights issues (inquiry), tabled in Parliament in 2012, affirmed the role of the Children’s Court as a specialist jurisdiction Section 17(2) of the charter act provides that ‘every child has the right, without discrimination, to such protection as is in that makes important decisions in relation to children his or her best interests and is needed by him or her by reason and young people’s safety. However, the inquiry also of being a child’. found a court environment can add to the trauma and harm experienced by vulnerable children and young Section 24(1) of the charter act provides that a party to a civil proceeding has the right to have the proceeding decided by a people. competent, independent and impartial court or tribunal after a fair and public hearing. Article 12 of the Convention on the Currently, children and young people are required to Rights of the Child (to which Australia is a party but which is physically attend the Children’s Court for child not implemented in the charter) also requires that the child has protection proceedings. This can be a very frightening an opportunity to participate by having their views
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and confusing environment for children. The OPEN COURTS BILL 2013 government is amending the existing legislation to remove this requirement so that children will no longer Statement of compatibility be required to attend court unless they wish to do so or if the court considers it necessary. This reform will Mr CLARK (Attorney-General) tabled following align the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 with statement in accordance with Charter of Human similar legislation in most other Australian Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: jurisdictions. In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the ‘charter act’), I make this Child protection workers will explain to children what statement of compatibility with respect to the Open Courts is involved in attending court, ascertain whether they Bill 2013. wish to attend and, if they choose to attend, familiarise In my opinion, the Open Courts Bill 2013, as introduced to children with what will occur on the day. When the the Legislative Assembly, is compatible with the human child chooses not to attend, child protection workers or rights as set out in the charter act. I base my opinion on the delegated case managers will continue to facilitate the reasons outlined in this statement. child’s participation in decision making and Overview of bill arrangements will be made for the child to give instructions to a lawyer away from the court building Consolidation of existing general statutory suppression order where necessary. powers of courts and VCAT
When children do attend court, ‘less adversarial trial’ The bill consolidates in one act the existing general statutory powers of the Supreme Court, County Court, Magistrates principles will strengthen the Children’s Court’s ability Court, Coroners Court and the Victorian Civil and to utilise less formal court proceedings and will Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to make suppression orders encourage respectful communication between parties, and closed-court orders and harmonises the grounds on which and minimise distress and confusion for children. these orders can be made. These general statutory powers are in addition to existing powers under specific statutory Consistent with the inquiry’s recommendation, regimes. principles are modelled on those of the Family Law Act 1975. Under part 3 of the bill, the Supreme, County and Magistrates courts and VCAT will have power to make a proceeding The bill will also empower the family division to hear suppression order, namely an order that prohibits or restricts the disclosure of a report of a proceeding or any information intervention order matters involving adults where a derived from a proceeding, where such an order is necessary: related child protection proceeding is on foot in the family division. This will allow one court to oversee to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of legal proceedings, ensure consistency between orders justice; or and reach decisions based on the whole picture of the to prevent prejudice to national or international security; family circumstances. or
In addition, the bill makes a range of technical to protect the safety of any person; or amendments and clarifies that the standard of proof to avoid undue distress or embarrassment to a party or applicable in the family division of the court is on the witness in criminal proceedings involving a sexual balance of probabilities. offence or family violence; or
The amendments made by this bill are a further to avoid undue distress or embarrassment to a child witness in criminal proceedings. significant step in reforming the protection of Victoria’s vulnerable children. They will improve the experience The Coroners Court and VCAT can also make a proceeding of children involved in child protection proceedings and suppression order on additional grounds (reflecting their support the court in making proceedings less existing powers): adversarial and more conducive to being able to VCAT can do so for any other reason in the interests of achieve outcomes in the best interests of the child. justice.
I commend the bill to the house. The Coroners Court can do so if publication would be contrary to the public interest.
Debate adjourned on motion of Part 4 re-enacts the existing powers of the County Court and Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine). the Magistrates Court to make suppression orders in relation to information that is not a report of proceedings or derived Debate adjourned until Thursday, 11 July. from proceedings, albeit on a more limited set of grounds for the Magistrates Court.
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Courts and tribunals will have a general statutory power to The bill promotes the section 15(2) right through the make closed-court orders on the same grounds on which they presumptions in favour of disclosure and hearings in public. can make proceeding suppression orders (part 5). The right to freedom of expression is subject to the internal The Supreme Court also retains its inherent jurisdiction to limitations in section 15(3) of the charter act, which provides make suppression orders. that the right is subject to lawful restrictions, which are reasonably necessary to respect the rights and reputation of The bill also introduces provisions to require suppression other persons or for the protection of national security, public orders to specify their duration and apply to only that order, public health or public morality. information which is necessary to achieve the purpose of the order. The bill also confirms the courts’ and VCAT’s existing In my view, the limited grounds on which suppression orders obligations to only make orders where they are satisfied that and closed-court orders can be made under the bill are either the grounds for making them have been established, and to within the internal limitations of the right in section 15(3) or publish reasons for decision where reasons are otherwise are reasonable limitations of the right under s 7(2) of the required by law, subject to editing if necessary to comply with a suppression order. charter act.
Presumptions in favour of disclosure and hearings in public Charter act s 13(a) — the presumption of innocence
In order to promote the principles of open justice and the free Section 25(1) of the charter act provides that a person charged communication of information, the bill also applies a with a criminal offence has the right to be presumed innocent presumption in favour of disclosure of information to which until proved guilty according to law. The bill makes it an all courts and tribunals must have regard in determining offence to knowingly or recklessly contravene a suppression whether to make a suppression order. order, and provides that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, a person to whom a court or tribunal has Courts and tribunals will also be required to apply a electronically transmitted notice of the order is taken to be presumption in favour of hearing a proceeding in public in aware of the existence of the order. determining whether to make a closed-court order. Notice of the making of a suppression order is routinely These presumptions do not apply to specific statutory regimes provided to news media organisations and legal practitioners for suppression or closed-court orders. through electronic transmission by the courts and tribunals. In the absence of other evidence, it is reasonable to assume that a Human rights issues person to whom notice of an order has been sent will be aware of the existence of the order. An accused is only Charter act s 24 — the right to a fair hearing required to present or point to evidence to the contrary, and if The presumptions in favour of disclosure of information and they do so the prosecution will still have to prove that the hearing proceedings in public introduced by the bill promote accused knew the order was in force, or was reckless as to the principles of open justice and the free communication of whether an order was in force, beyond reasonable doubt. information and are consistent with the right to a fair and Accordingly, I consider that this provision is compatible with public hearing set out in section 24(1) of the charter act. The the right to be presumed innocent. provision confirming the obligation to publish reasons for decision promotes the requirement in section 24(3) of the Robert Clark, MP charter act that all judgements or decisions made by a court or Attorney-General tribunal in a criminal or civil proceeding must be made public unless otherwise permitted by law. Second reading
The power to make closed-court orders under part 5 of the bill Mr CLARK (Attorney-General) — I move: is also consistent with the qualification permitting closed courts in section 24(2) of the charter act. That this bill be now read a second time. The grounds on which suppression and closed-court orders can be made are strictly limited and designed to serve the The Open Courts Bill 2013 reinforces the primacy of legitimate and important ends set out in parts 3, 4 and 5. open justice and the free communication of information These include avoiding prejudice to the administration of in relation to proceedings in Victorian courts and justice or Australia’s security interests, protecting a person’s safety, and protecting parties and witnesses in certain criminal tribunals. proceedings from distress or embarrassment. Such powers will be exercised by an independent court or tribunal subject The bill consolidates and reforms the general statutory to the presumption in favour of disclosure. Accordingly, even powers for the Supreme, County, Magistrates and if these powers may limit the qualified right to having a Coroners courts and VCAT to make suppression orders matter decided by a court or tribunal after a public hearing contained in s 24 of the charter act, these limitations are and closed-court orders. It creates general presumptions reasonable and justifiable under s 7(2) of the charter act. in favour of disclosure of information and of holding hearings in open court; presumptions to which courts Charter act s 15 — the right to freedom of expression and tribunals must have regard when considering Section 15(2) of the charter act provides that every person has whether to make a suppression order or a closed-court the right to seek, receive and impart information. In my order under the powers in the bill or in the exercise of opinion, the bill is compatible with this right. the Supreme Court’s inherent jurisdiction.
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In addition to these presumptions, the bill provides that The bill also distinguishes between these two types of orders made under the powers in the bill can only be orders. Part 3 consolidates the general statutory powers made in specified limited circumstances where there is to make ‘proceeding suppression orders’ relating to a strong and valid reason for doing so. information derived from proceedings. Part 4 consolidates and reforms the existing powers of the This bill is an important part of the government’s County Court and Magistrates Court to make reforms to strengthen the Victorian justice system. suppression orders which relate to information that is Open justice demonstrates publicly that laws are being not derived from proceedings (such as information applied and enforced fairly and effectively. Open about the identity or character or prior convictions of an justice also promotes personal responsibility. Unless accused) which have not been presented to a court but there is good reason to the contrary, the community is if made public could prejudice a fair trial or, in the case entitled to know what is being said in court where there of the Magistrates Court, could endanger the safety of a are allegations that the conduct of an individual or person. The Supreme Court can also make such orders organisation is in breach of the law. When an individual in its inherent jurisdiction. or organisation acts contrary to law, they should expect to be held accountable, not only to judges and Clause 16 in part 3 specifies the grounds on which the magistrates, but also to the community. Magistrates, Coroners, County or Supreme courts or VCAT may make a ‘proceeding suppression order’, The bill was framed having regard to the model Court which is an order relating to a report of a proceeding or Suppression and Non-publication Orders Bill endorsed information derived from a proceeding. Such an order in 2010 by the Standing Committee of can only be made where it is necessary to do so in order Attorneys-General. However, the bill applies a more to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of rigorous standard for making suppression orders in justice, to prevent prejudice to national or international Victoria. security, to protect the safety of any person, to avoid undue distress or embarrassment to a party or witness in In particular, as the commonwealth has also done, the criminal proceedings involving a sexual offence or bill omits the open-ended and poorly defined general family violence or to avoid causing undue distress or ‘public interest’ ground that was included in the model embarrassment to a child who is a witness in a criminal bill. Instead, the bill preserves the existing grounds for proceeding. VCAT and the Coroners Court to make suppression orders, reflecting the particular considerations relevant In the case of an application before VCAT, the tribunal to those jurisdictions. may also make an order to avoid the disclosure of confidential information the subject of a certificate The bill will operate as an exclusive source of general under the VCAT act or for other reasons in the interests statutory powers for the courts other than the Children’s of justice. These distinct powers for the making of an Court, and for VCAT, to make suppression and order by the tribunal reflect the diverse matters on closed-court orders. The bill will exclude the operation which VCAT adjudicates, including applications of common-law or implied powers to make these involving health and other personal information made orders, except for the inherent jurisdiction of the under lists such as the guardianship list and the human Supreme Court. The bill does not affect other rights list. legislation containing subject matter specific powers to make suppression and closed-court orders. Similarly, the Coroners Court will retain its power to make a proceeding suppression order in the case of an The Supreme Court will retain its powers to make investigation or inquest into a death or fire if the suppression and closed-court orders in the exercise of coroner reasonably believes that such an order is its inherent jurisdiction, but subject to the presumptions necessary because publication would be likely to in favour of disclosure and hearings in public and to the prejudice a fair trial or be contrary to the public interest. procedural requirements set out in part 2 of the bill. This discretion seeks to balance the public’s interest in The bill also addresses two recent and significant court the information presented to a particular coronial decisions. These decisions distinguish between orders inquiry with considerations including the right to relating to information disclosed in court proceedings privacy of individuals or families that may be identified and orders relating to other information not arising from in a proceeding. proceedings that might be suppressed, for example, Part 4 of the bill broadly preserves the existing powers because it could prejudice a future case. of the County Court and Magistrates Court to make suppression and similar orders relating to information
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not arising from proceedings. However, the grounds on In some circumstances, it will be appropriate to make which the Magistrates Court may make such orders is an order that is in force only until the completion of a limited to situations where the order is necessary to criminal trial and the exhaustion of any appeal rights. In prevent prejudice to the administration of justice or to other situations, particularly if the order protects the avoid endangering the safety of a person. In making privacy of an individual or their personal or medical these orders the courts must have regard to the records, it may instead be necessary to make an order presumption in favour of disclosure, which, in this by reference to a specified future event such as the context, strengthens and promotes the principle of free relevant person’s death. communication of information. The bill will also require a court or tribunal to be The bill also does not change existing subject-specific satisfied on the basis of sufficient credible information statutory regimes governing the making of suppression that the grounds for making a suppression order are or closed-court orders in specific jurisdictions — for established. This will reinforce the need for the court or example, the regime governing matters in the VCAT to carefully consider the basis for making an Children’s Court that are brought under the Children, order in any given case. Youth and Families Act 2005 and the specific suppression powers that apply to proceedings under the The bill expressly reinforces that the common-law Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) obligation on courts to publish reasons for their Act 1997. decisions continues to apply, while recognising that reasons may need to be published in edited form to As is currently the case, the grounds for the statutory comply with any relevant suppression order. powers of the courts and VCAT to make proceeding suppression orders are also the grounds for the making Free reporting by the media of what is happening in of closed-court orders under clause 28. The power to Victoria’s courts is vital to the community’s right to make closed-court orders will also operate subject to a know. The bill provides that news media organisations presumption in favour of hearing proceedings in open may appear and be heard by a court or tribunal on an court. Similarly to the presumption in favour of application for an order. This will allow media disclosure, this reinforces the primacy of open justice in organisations to present in court when they wish to the conduct of court proceedings. contest an application for the making of an order. These organisations, together with other relevant persons, are Importantly, the bill also introduces a number of also given express statutory rights to seek review of procedural requirements intended to ensure that orders orders that are made. are only made where necessary and are of appropriately narrow scope and duration. These requirements, In those circumstances when it is necessary for a court contained in part 2 of the bill, will apply to suppression or tribunal to make an order, it is fundamental that the orders made both under the bill (parts 3 and 4) and in media and the public comply with the restriction on the the exercise of the Supreme Court’s inherent powers to disclosure of information. To deter persons or make similar orders. organisations from engaging in conduct that violates an order, it will be an offence to contravene an order if the Where such an order is made, the information that is person knows or is reckless as to the existence of the restricted from disclosure by the order must be limited order. In the case of a proceeding suppression order or to that which is necessary to achieve the purpose for an interim proceeding suppression order, where a court which the order is made. The information to which the or tribunal has electronically transmitted notice of an order relates must also be clearly stated in the order and order to a person or organisation, they will be taken to the order must be limited to achieving the purpose for be aware that the order is in force in the absence of which it is made. evidence to the contrary.
Another key change from current practice is that orders The power for a court or tribunal to make an interim must be restricted in their duration. A court or tribunal proceeding suppression order restricting or prohibiting may only make an order for a fixed or ascertainable material from publication or other disclosure is also period, or until the occurrence of a specified future included in the bill. Interim orders serve to prevent the event. If there is a possibility that the future event will publication of sensitive material in anticipation of a not occur, the order also must contain an expiry period court or tribunal making a substantive ruling. Where an that cannot be longer than five years. interim order is made, the court or tribunal must then determine the substantive application as a matter of urgency.
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This bill establishes a clear, fair and effective regime small part of that. They are in fact our most precious that reinforces the importance of open justice and areas of public land — land that the Victorian confines exceptions to those limited circumstances government and this Parliament have a responsibility to where exceptions are justified. protect and preserve on behalf of all Victorians, ensuring conservation values are the priority, as laid out I commend the bill to the house. in the act.
Debate adjourned on motion of Ms NEVILLE The Minister for Environment and Climate Change in (Bellarine). his second-reading speech talks about nature-based tourism and its importance in developing regional Debate adjourned until Thursday, 11 July. tourism in Victoria. These are great ambitions, but what we have before this house is not a nature-based tourism NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT strategy at all. What we have is one option — and only (LEASING POWERS AND OTHER one — being developed by this government, and that is MATTERS) BILL 2013 letting their developer mates have exclusive use of our most precious national parks. It is questionable and Second reading contestable whether this proposal we are voting on this Debate resumed from 29 May; motion of week is in any way likely to assist existing regional Mr R. SMITH (Minister for Environment and towns operating near national parks. It is more likely Climate Change). than not to harm and undermine existing tourism businesses and those regional towns. It will not in any Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine) — I rise this morning to way substantially improve nature-based tourism make a contribution on the National Parks Amendment opportunities. At the same time it risks destroying the (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. At the thing that many international, interstate and local outset I thank the representatives from the department tourists are attracted to: the remoteness, the pristine for the very in-depth briefing that they provided. The nature, the untouched nature of our national parks. This bill before the house is in essence a bill that facilitates is not even taking into account the damage that could and promotes the private development of facilities in be done to the environmental value of our parks by our national parks. What it in fact facilitates is the these proposals. exclusive use of areas of our most precious land. The changes contained in this bill are very significant and In more detail, the bill amends the National Parks Act detrimental to the future management of national parks 1975 to allow for private development through leases. in Victoria, and for that reason we will be opposing the This applies to most areas in the national park except bill. I would like the house to reflect on the objectives wilderness areas and certain parts of the Otways, stated in the current National Parks Act 1975. Section 4 Kinglake and Yarra Ranges that are near the states: catchments. The bill enables leases of up to 99 years, and one would have to suggest that that is pretty close (a) to make provision, in respect of national parks, state to freehold use of national park land. The bill also parks … extends the current 50-year leases to 99-year leases over certain land — Point Nepean, Mount Buffalo and (i) for the preservation and protection of the natural environment including wilderness areas and remote Arthurs Seat State Park. and natural areas in those parks … Sitting alongside this bill are a set of guidelines that are It also provides an objective to encourage responsible supposed to provide assurances to Victorians that there management of the parks and, subject to conservation is a robust process to manage these decisions. Of course objectives, at section 4(c), to encourage and control the these are only guidelines; they are not legislative use of parks for ‘enjoyment, recreation or education’. requirements, apart from a couple of components. We know that Victoria is one of the most cleared states When you look at these guidelines there are very few in Australia, thus making our national parks even more things that give any assurance that the process will be critical. Over generations and different governments — transparent or inclusive of community views, nor are except this particular one — national parks and reserves there serious or significant protections of the have been created to preserve some of Victoria’s most environmental values of the park. Of course they give unique habitat types and to protect some of our most great power to this Minister for Environment and important native species. There is a large amount of Climate Change — an environment minister who has both public and private land in Victoria, but as a already shown complete disregard for the environment proportion our national parks represent only a very in Victoria.
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The bill itself requires only that before granting any (VCEC) report. That body was asked when we were in lease under the new provisions the minister must government to look at opportunities to improve consult with the National Parks Advisory Council. I am Victoria’s tourism industry and opportunities to not even quite sure that we have a functioning advisory improve the management of state assets in relation to council at the moment; I think it is still awaiting the tourism industry. From this bill, from the comments ministerial appointments, like many other committees of the minister, from the comments of the minister for of management of Crown land. The minister must also tourism at the time the report was delivered and from allow 28 days for community consultation prior to the second-reading speech, one could believe that the granting an in-principle approval. This is very early in VCEC recommendations gave a complete tick to the process, but there is very limited community private developers in national parks. consultation. It is unclear exactly what communities will know, given that the act only requires that the In fact if we have a look at what the report actually says development be described in general terms. we find that VCEC actually stated that tourism operations would continue to occur on the boundaries Also, under the guidelines the proponents only need to of national parks, as this in fact would be the best do an environmental plan at the full-proposal stage. course for the majority of investors, and that processes That is way too late, and there are no guidelines or should be in place to encourage developments outside requirements specified about what issues the plan needs national parks. It also said that there should be to include. During the briefing the officers indicated environmental controls developed that would reflect that they could provide a few ideas, but there was no environmental sensitivities and community views and real thought given as to those environmental standards, basically that those should be more onerous than for what should be in the plan and the minimum standards developments outside parks. Finally, VCEC said it felt that must be covered off in any environmental plan. For that due to environmental obligations — assuming we example, would a developer need to offset any native have any established by this government, and this bill vegetation loss when developing a facility? What are and its guidelines are very weak on this, as I have the requirements for them to contribute to the ongoing said — and the limited market for developments within park management or to ongoing obligations around park boundaries, ‘its recommendations would result in protecting particular habitats? only a small number of small-scale facilities with high environmental credentials being built within Victoria’s There is no doubt that this process is basically about national parks’. making it easier for developers. In relation to our most valuable land we are seeking to make it easier and are Here we have very low-standard guidelines and no in fact lowering the standards that exist in relation to clear environmental obligation. As the bill states, private development, even in comparison to other parts substantial investment would be required in order to of Victoria. In case this house believes that this is about meet the standards required to gain a lease of this nature building basic infrastructure for all Victorians, like under the bill. We are not talking about small-scale walking tracks, signage or basic amenities, I say that development. In addition, with this report the this bill is absolutely not focused on that at all. It talks government has only dealt with the issue of about substantial investment — basically, larger scale, developments in national parks. We have not seen the expensive accommodation options with no government look at the use of private land, and we are commitment to public benefit. There are no very lucky that we have a whole lot of private land that requirements or narratives around developers having to surrounds our national parks. The government has not contribute to infrastructure that might assist all visitors looked at tourism infrastructure that could be put in or give back to Victorians, who actually own these place outside parks to maximise the yield in regional parks. The worldwide evidence and experience shows towns, nor has it looked at existing or potentially new absolutely that it is the privileged investors who benefit tourism facilities outside the parks. We have one most from private development in parks, not the solution only — a solution that does not deliver majority of park visitors and certainly not the parks improved results in relation to regional tourism in themselves. In addition, there are no clear guidelines on Victoria. who owns or who might be obligated to put in the key infrastructure, like sewerage, power, water, et cetera, In government we were very supportive of nature-based that would support any accommodation options in tourism as an opportunity to grow tourism in our national parks. regional communities. In government our Victoria’s Nature-based Tourism Strategy 2008–2012 document The government justifies this change by pointing to the stated: Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission
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Private investment into any new large-scale facility, I am a tourism operator who lives and operates my business particularly accommodation other than adaptive re-use — on the fringe of the Otway National Park. I am strongly opposed to development within national parks, although I am that is, for example, facilities like those at Mount trying to identify the specifics of the proposal. I want the Buffalo — Labor Party to call on the state government to rule out large-scale infrastructure within our parks. of existing infrastructure, should be sited outside of the park. I quote from a letter from Judith Muir, an eco tour When we released the Brumby government’s blueprint operator from Polperro Dolphin Swims in Blairgowrie: for regional Victoria we supported a big boost to regional tourism, including $25 million for tourism Private development in our national parks will take dollars away from established businesses in local townships and infrastructure and the development of key regional curtail access to what is otherwise public land, either because areas as world-class tourist destinations. We also of infrastructure impositions or cost of usage. The sense of committed $10 million for marketing strategies and place — that is, what people are so drawn towards — will establishing regional tourism boards. disappear and public access will diminish. I strongly oppose private development in our national parks. We have always strongly supported building regional Greg Johnson, the chair of Friends of Nillumbik, has and nature-based tourism, but there was one important also expressed extreme concerns about this. He has caveat at the time we sent the recommendation off to made the point that any rezoning in Melbourne’s green VCEC for it to have a look at growing nature-based and wedges requires the approval of both houses of regional tourism further. It was that recommendations Parliament, whereas this change does not require that should not compromise the primary management high standard of approval. He says: objective of our national parks, which is the preservation and protection of our natural environment. This cheapens our heritage and demonstrates a knee-jerk Given there are regional towns close to many of response to the ambit claims of the tourism development Victoria’s national parks — I could go through and lobby. Public assets such as our national parks should never be this easily alienated. point them out on maps — and given the large amount of private land that surrounds our national parks, there They are just a handful of existing tourism businesses is no need for this sort of development in those parks. and communities that have expressed concerns about the impact this bill will have on them and on regional A number of existing tourism businesses close to towns. national parks are expressing serious concern about what this proposal will do to them into the future. I Let us be very clear about this bill: if implemented, refer to comments made by Tom Guthrie, a Grampians these proposals will significantly change the treatment Estate winemaker: of national parks in Victoria. They would represent some of the most significant changes in the treatment of The scenic town of Halls Gap provides a full range of accommodation and services for people to enjoy the popular parks nationally and internationally, although some Grampians National Park. It is a wonderful example of other conservative governments in Australia are also tourism development supporting a major attraction without looking at such proposals. Less than 1 per cent of the impacting on the very thing that people have come to see. The 20 000 national parks world wide have any significant various services are located in an easily accessible area, safe from fire and flood and with minimal environmental impact. tourism infrastructure, and where they do, most of it Why would you allow tourism development in pristine pre-dates the establishment of the park itself. In fact natural environments and compete with tourism development there are fewer than 250 examples of private tourism in towns like Halls Gap? Places like Halls Gap, with over accommodation or infrastructure in national parks 4000 beds, have been a tourism destination for 100 years. across the world. Why reinvent the wheel? Phil Bock, owner of French Island Eco Inn says: In his second-reading speech the minister pointed to a number of examples of what we could do. Let us look As local tourism operators, we strongly oppose commercial at them. One example he gave was Cradle Mountain development in parks as they would impact the protected Lodge. One could be forgiven for thinking Cradle environment, undermine our business, ill-affect our livelihood Mountain Lodge is in the national park, but it is not; it and potentially destroy the local economy. is outside the park boundary. At the time they were Helen Chambers from Johanna River Farm and looking at it, it had fewer requirements like road Cottages wrote to me when the report first came out upgrading, sewerage and electricity connections, it did calling on the Labor Party to oppose this bill. I quote less damage to the environment and it cost the from her letter: developer less in the end. The lodge, visitor centre and camping ground are all outside the park boundary.
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The Bay of Islands in New Zealand is another example walk, staying in accommodation nearby, maybe getting thrown around by the minister. Guess what! It is a shuttle bus to take you there, and working out outside the park boundary. If members look at the somewhere to buy food and eat — it is impossible. In Grand Canyon, they will see that any infrastructure fact when some friends recently wanted to do the walk within the national park pre-dates the establishment of and I went to get a brochure on it in Geelong, it was the park. The claim is that we are somehow being left hidden away. The people struggled and had to go out behind, but in fact world wide good park management the back to find the brochure. is that buildings are outside the park. Victoria is uniquely placed to enable and facilitate that. This walk has the potential to be listed as one of the best walks in the world. What it needs is better support Before those opposite support the bill they need to in terms of marketing and encouraging private realise just how significant this change is and how it operators like those operating shuttle buses and food does not meet national or international standards in and wine businesses to link in. It is all there, but if you terms of the management of national parks. They must do not know the area it is impossible to put together a be reminded that the last time this was attempted, package that works. Interstate friends of mine who did which was by the Kennett government, there was major the walk ended up staying in a cottage. They had two community backlash. Members may remember the cars, so in the morning they would drive to one end, Hands off the Prom campaign. They might think it was leave a car and drive to the other so they could do the some high-rise hotel that was being proposed back then. walk, get the car and go back to the cottage. For them, That is not what was being proposed. The community that defeated the purpose. They loved the walk, but it did not want to see — and fought hard and won the defeated the purpose. That is not a great way of doing case against it — private development of that kind in this walk. Where is the investment from this our national parks. There is a gateway project at the government to assist and really build on what we have? Prom, which if supported by this government outside If the government cares about ecotourism, here is an the park boundaries would do a lot for that community opportunity for it to intervene and assist those and for visitation at the national park but would still communities to really have a great product to sell, not protect one of the most popular and most well-loved just in Australia but across the world. But I do not see parks in Victoria. that commitment. What we have is one one-size-fits-all solution. Even on this proposal, after the government announced its intention to do this, the online polls of readers of the I will briefly touch on Point Nepean and Mount Herald Sun and the Age showed that 80 per cent of Buffalo. As I said earlier, the opposition has always respondents opposed commercial development. Those supported options for adaptive reuse of existing opposite should not go in with their eyes closed. People facilities. That is what has happened across the world in Victoria who love their national parks do not want to where there has been development in national parks. see this occurring. Our national parks are unique. They Both Point Nepean and Mount Buffalo are in that are easily accessible. Almost all have townships close situation. Of extreme concern to the communities there to them, and there are large tracts of land that abut and for us opposite is the access to and need for 99-year them. leases of public land in national parks. As I said earlier, it is really like freehold. But there is even greater This bill ignores the real opportunities to improve concern particularly with Point Nepean. Everyone nature-based tourism and enhanced regional tourism. I would be aware there was a very long process want to give an example. Worldwide one of the undertaken to get community agreement about the growing areas of nature-based tourism are some of the reuse of the facilities that exist there. The great walks around the world, such as the one in Spain commonwealth government put in quite a bit of money and the one across the UK. Guess what? We have in way back before the national park was handed over to my view the world’s best walk right on our doorstep — the Victorian government. What is of great concern is that is, the Great Ocean Walk along the Great Ocean that the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Road. It is an unbelievable walk. It is easy, accessible has not committed to ensuring that height limits are set and has the most amazing landscapes and habitat and or to using the current footprint of the buildings. I know most amazing views. It is right there. that the people residing around Point Nepean who worked so hard to get an agreeable master plan, You can do short or long walks from places like Cape supported by the community, with commercial use in Otway, Parker Inlet and Shelly Beach. It is an that development, are now extremely concerned about incredible walk. Yet, for anyone who wants to do the what might be ahead. walk easily — to put together a package of doing the
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As I said, the opposition supports the adaptive reuse of developer has to contribute back to the basic assets that existing facilities, but it has to be done correctly, and I all Victorians could then enjoy, like walking tracks, cannot think of any development that requires a 99-year signage or other amenities. This is about exclusive use lease. This example is not in a national park, but for the few people who will get the benefits. certainly a lease like the lease for the Queenscliff Harbour, which was a 50-year lease and was probably The government is making it easier for developers to one of the longest leases at the time, should be the get into our most important land, and of course absolute maximum. The Point Nepean and Mount environmentally this is potentially disastrous. We have Buffalo leases were already 50-year leases. in front of us guidelines and a bill that provide very little oversight or accountability for the people who will The opposition is opposing the bill. We are opposing it make these decisions. As I have said before, the person because this proposal basically hangs a ‘For sale’ sign who has the final say — apparently our saviour, the out the front of our national parks. It will undermine person who will protect the environment — is the tourism in our regional towns, and existing businesses current Minister for Environment and Climate Change. and investments. It also distracts government. The This is a minister who thinks national parks should be government can say, ‘We’ve got a solution for you. We cow paddocks; that free-for-all firewood collection is are doing private development in national parks’, yet fine, that there are no problems at all with that; and that some of our existing fantastic assets, like the Great logging in the Barmah national forest is fine. Now he Ocean Walk that I just spoke about, are sitting there not thinks it is appropriate for large hotels to be built in our being used properly and we are not getting the yield national parks. As I said, this is out of step with good that we need out of them. With a little investment and national parks management around the world, and it is incentives from the government we could get a great out of step with the views of the Victorian community. yield out of that, without actually wrecking and destroying our national parks. We on this side will stand up with the community to protect our national parks, and we will work with local I remind the house that less than 1 per cent of 20 000 regional towns and businesses to provide real, national parks across the world have private substantial measures to build regional tourism in those development in them. Where that exists it is because communities and achieve increases in visitation and there were pre-existing buildings prior to the creation of yield. But we will not do that at the expense of the most the national parks. There are 250 examples across the precious land in Victoria, that small amount of land that world — that is it. The government should not has been set aside for generations. Governments from underestimate the significance of the proposals before all sides need to protect what is our most important the house today. They will forever change our parks. native vegetation and native species. We will not Once there is a significant accommodation facility in trample over that, and we will not put up a ‘For sale’ our national parks, we cannot go back. The government sign. We will work with the community to make sure needs to think seriously. We do not have an issue with that our national parks are protected, not only for us visitation to our parks. People love our national parks. now but also for our children and our children’s International figures love our national parks. But they children for generations to come. are not going to our national parks to look at big accommodation buildings; they can see them anywhere Ms ASHER (Minister for Tourism and Major else. If they want to stay, there are townships Events) — What a sell-out of the tourism industry by everywhere in which they can stay. Let us support the old-style troglodytes in the Labor Party. I would development in those local townships. Let us help them have loved to have been at the shadow cabinet meeting build their capacity to support tourism and increase the where clearly the shadow Minister for Tourism and yield of visitors to their region. Major Events was rolled big time. The no. 1 ask of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, a council of very As I said, this is putting a ‘For sale’ sign out the front of small operators, is to have limited, environmentally our national parks. It will undermine tourism in our sensitive development in national parks. I can only regional towns and existing businesses. This will help reflect on the idea of the member for Essendon trying to only the Liberal Party’s developer mates and not local put a tourism argument, a business argument and a towns and communities. These developments will be yield argument to a bunch of shadow ministers who are for exclusive use, allowing only a small number of completely focused on Greens preferences — so much people to appreciate them. Most Victorian families will so that they are prepared to sell out the tourism be locked out of any benefits of these developments. industry, which is predominantly a small business The government has not talked about public benefit. It sector. It is a disgrace that the Labor Party has come to has not put in place a system to ensure that any this chamber today indicating its opposition to this bill.
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Furthermore, the Labor Party is completely out of touch Australian Tourism Investment Opportunities, a with what is happening at a commonwealth level and document dated May 2012 and put out by the what is happening in other states. Every other state in commonwealth government, was selling to the world Australia, as well as the Northern Territory and New investment opportunities in national parks in other Zealand, if you want to look there, allows tourism states. Indeed it advertised opportunities at a niche development on a limited scale in national parks. ecotourism development within an exclusive area of the Tasmania already has a 99-year lease term and the Francois Peron National Park. This is the Western Australian government is in the process of commonwealth government flogging potential extending leases up to 99 years. development opportunities in national parks in other states. In Western Australia there is an Ms Neville — Those are conservative governments. investment-ready project in Bramley National Park, and again the commonwealth government is selling to the Ms ASHER — Last time I looked, Tasmania was a world investment opportunities in Cape Le Grand Labor state. Queensland has made a commitment to National Park. The document goes on and on. I think provide lease terms of up to 60 years. South Australia, a my point has been made that the commonwealth Labor state, and Parks Australia have no maximum. government is in favour of tourism developments in New Zealand also has provisions for up to 60 years. national parks and has pushed the Victorian Ms Neville interjected. government to this. We were the laggard state. I commend Martin Ferguson, the previous federal Labor The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! The member Minister for Tourism, for having a broader perspective for Bellarine has had her opportunity. on this.
Ms ASHER — There is a large amount of inane I also want to refer to the Victorian Competition and yapping from the shadow minister responsible for Efficiency Commission (VCEC) report, a report which selling out the tourism industry to her Greens mates for was commissioned by the previous government. It says Greens preferences. More importantly, the shadow at page 130: Minister for Environment and Climate Change should … it is both possible and practical to effectively manage be aware of the trend at the national level and how far private investment in national parks in a way that out of touch she is with the Labor commonwealth complements park values and objectives. government. The report commissioned by the Labor government I draw the house’s attention to a document entitled says that it is possible to manage this. I might inform Tourism 2020 — Tourism Ministers Tourism the house that our government went further in the Investment and Regulatory Reform 2012 Report Card, protection of national parks than VCEC recommended. dated November 2012 and issued by Martin Ferguson, The government, on the day it responded to the report, the previous federal Labor Minister for Tourism. Other indicated that development would be excluded from governments were badged as part of this. The one-third of our national parks, which are classified as government of South Australia and the Tasmanian wilderness parks, wilderness zones, remote and natural government were Labor last time I looked. This areas, reference areas and designated water supply document sells to potential investors what opportunities catchment areas. The government itself went further might be available for investment. Tourism than the recommendation and indicated that ministers — Labor and Liberal — have been working development would be excluded completely and utterly collectively to create a regulatory environment that is from one-third of our national parks. We made that more supportive of tourism developments in high decision ourselves. natural amenity areas. I might add that in this document Victoria was pilloried for not having some controlled I note that the Victorian National Parks Association tourism development in national parks. We were issued a press release that was false and misleading, regarded as the lagging state. The federal Labor claiming that we were going to put development into minister in fact put as a criteria for achievement wilderness and remote areas. I note that that claim has ‘Supply of tourism in high natural amenity areas been removed from the press release, but the fact that it including national parks’. Victoria was marked down was false was no impediment to the Victorian National for not having tourism developments in national parks. Parks Association issuing that press release, which was The shadow minister needs to have a broader outlook downright wrong. The shadow minister’s speech was on this. also downright wrong on so many levels. Of course investment will be limited and of course investment will be environmentally appropriate. There are
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guidelines that have already been issued by the Minister will not invest unless you give them a 99-year lease. for Environment and Climate Change. She referred to the building of something like a jetty. I do not think it takes 99 years to recover the cost of The shadow minister is yapping away across the table investment in a jetty. This legislation refers to and was yapping away about this for 8 minutes significant investment. That is not walking tracks, that previously. What we have is the previous government’s is not signage, that is not something we might look at Victoria’s Nature-Based Tourism Strategy, issued in such as a kiosk; it is substantial investment. 2008, which recognised the problem that we have in tourism. The problem we have in tourism, as stated at The reason the government is extending the lease page 5 of the report, is that Victoria’s national parks period to 99 years — which is what land-holders in receive a lot of visitation but do not capture yield. Canberra have, and I am sure they all consider their Tourists go to the national parks and then turn around homes as their own, despite being on a lease — is that it and come home. They do not spend money in our basically gives investors permanency in those national regional towns; they stay in Melbourne. In relation to parks. You do not give such an extended lease and refer Chinese visitors, by way of example, only 3 per cent go to substantial investment unless you mean substantial to regional areas. We need to disperse yield: we need to investment — large sums of money being invested in get some of those high-income tourists into our regional our national parks. That is why we oppose this bill. If areas. the minister thinks the opposition’s opposition to this bill is noteworthy, wait until she sees how the Victorian The government has put additional funding into community will respond to the legislation if it gets regional tourism in the last budget. Of course we have through the Parliament! done that, and we will continue to do it. Of course we support developments outside national parks, and we This is a case of going back to the future. Some of us will continue to do so. But we stand alone as the only remember very well the campaign to protect Wilsons state in Australia that does not allow anything other Promontory. Susan Davies, a former member for than environmentally sensitive, obviously low-scale Gippsland West, in particular remembers that campaign development in a national park. This is not a proposal very well and launched her parliamentary career, as I that is going to put some large Sofitel investment into a understand it, out of that campaign. This takes me back national park. What this proposal does is offer a 99-year many years to sitting with my dad watching some of the lease term because investors will not put in protests that were going on in Tasmania on TV. Dad development without that. For example, the bill will was saying, ‘Why are these people carrying on? allow a jetty to be developed, but an investor has to be They’re only proposing to build a road’. I cannot allowed to recoup their investment. The bill will allow remember which park it was; it was a national park in limited development in environmentally sensitive Tassie, and the government was proposing to build a terms. That is what the bill says. road and a lot of the locals were opposing it. The argument Dad was mounting was, ‘I can’t get there, What the Labor Party has done today is a disgrace. It and if I can’t get there, it may as well not exist’. He was has indicated it is prepared to sell out the whole tourism supporting a road because he wanted easy access to industry, which has been waiting for this response. these sorts of areas. Labor is prepared to sell out the tourism industry; it is prepared to sell out small businesses, which constitute We know what bringing in infrastructure like a road the majority of the tourism industry; and it is prepared does to wildlife: it kills a huge number of animals. It to sell out regional Victoria — all for the dirty deal it goes back to the argument: if I can’t see it, it may as has done traditionally which is called Greens well not exist. It is a bit like Antarctica. I will never see preferences. I have to say the performance of the Antarctica, but I want it to stay as it is and remain shadow minister is a disgrace, the performance of the pristine. Whether or not I ever get to benefit from it, we shadow cabinet is a disgrace and I have no idea how the all benefit from its mere existence. member for Essendon feels. It is the no. 1 requirement, and they have dumped it. I would like to remind the government about what national parks stand for. In my electorate I have state Ms DUNCAN (Macedon) — It gives me great forests, state parks and regional parks. All of these have pleasure to rise to speak in opposition to the very different purposes and values to national parks. As government’s National Parks Amendment (Leasing the shadow minister pointed out, national parks occupy Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. I think the less than 1 per cent of the land mass of Victoria. They minister in her contribution gave the argument that we are there because their natural values are rare, and they are prosecuting on this bill — that is, that developers are designated so that they are protected and preserved.
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These other forms of parks — regional parks, state an absolute disgrace. The minister referred to forests and state parks — are there for their recreational guidelines, but the guidelines are just guidelines and are value as well as natural values. National parks are there also very vague. The shadow minister took us through for their natural values alone. They are specifically what those guidelines mean and how much community designated with the highest protection our planning consultation will be involved, and we know it will be scheme provides, and that is to preserve and protect very little. I think there are 28 days to respond early on them in their pristine natural state. in the process, presumably before people fully understand what is being proposed. There is absolutely I heard interjections earlier from the member for no community consultation in the later stages under Benalla when the shadow minister was saying how these so-called guidelines. much private land there is abutting all our national parks. The member for Benalla asked what difference it Whether or not we believe that this minister believes in makes whether development is inside or outside a climate change or that cattle should run in national national park. That illustrates the attitude that The parks — whatever we make of this current environment Nationals in particular — let us not forget this is a minister — this legislation will be there for all future coalition government — have towards national parks. environment ministers. It may be very well for this As I understand it, they have opposed every single coalition government to say, ‘We clearly understand national park that has ever been designated in this state. what we intend’, but this legislation will be in place for Let us not pretend that The Nationals care about a long time. Who knows what future environment national parks. ‘If it moves, shoot it; if it stands still, cut ministers will understand this legislation to be. I think it down’ is pretty much their attitude to the natural the shadow minister also said that once you do this environment — and they are in coalition with the there is no going back. It is all right for the minister to Liberal Party. The government is now trying to do what refer to other Liberal and conservative governments it tried to do under Kennett, and I hope and pray the around the country trying to do the same thing — that community responds in exactly the same way it did does not surprise me at all — but that does not mean it way back then. is something we should do.
The opposition will not be party to this. There are loads Victoria used to be called the garden state, and it was of alternatives. These two things combined — the called the garden state for very good reasons. I would extension of the leases and the reference to substantial like to think that in another 100 years it could still be development — clearly underline what the purpose of referred to as the garden state. I assure members of this this legislation is. Why would you build inside a house and all Victorians that if we have 5-star high-rise national park and not just outside it? Because it is a lot accommodation and substantial investment in national cheaper to do so. That is the only reason you would do parks, we will not be called the garden state for too it in the park and not just outside the park. much longer. If it makes no difference whether or not development is inside the park — I do not support that We heard the Minister for Tourism and Major Events view, because I believe it makes a big difference to suggest that the opposition is now anti tourism. We have development inside the park as distinct from have had one of the finest tourism policies in this state, outside the park — why would you undermine the and I am proud of our policies on tourism. The outcome legislative purpose of developing national parks in the of the report that was referred to earlier was that in first place? It makes no sense other than to give almost all cases it is better that development be done developers a good boost and basically give them free outside a park. In regional Victoria — I represent an land, damaging our national parks in the process. area of regional Victoria, and we have some of the best tourism operators in our area — we support tourism The last point I would like to make is that I am a proud very strongly, but we also support the preservation of member of the Environment and Natural Resources our natural environment. Having this development is Committee and have been for 13 or 14 years. The like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. committee is conducting an inquiry at the moment on this very issue — on nature-based tourism, ecotourism, Let us not pretend, as the Minister for Environment and historical tourism and cultural tourism — so why would Climate Change would have us believe, that this is the government introduce this legislation now, when we small scale and about improving the experience of have only just started our inquiry? This was a being in a national park. We know how you can do that, government reference. It asked us to look at this issue, but it is not by substantial investment or with 99-year yet this legislation pre-empts any reporting we might leases. This legislation will make it easier, not harder, to do. I am sure that when we look at these places in develop in a national park than on private land. That is Australia and look at developments around the world it
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will confirm what the shadow minister has said — that So, the minister must go through the National Parks it is very rare to have substantial investment in national Advisory Council, consulting to ensure that the parks and that where it exists it predates the area development is in line with our guidelines of sensible involved being a national park. We do not support this and sensitive development in our national parks. bill. Subsection (1) continues:
Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) — It gives me great (b) has given in-principle approval in relation to the pleasure to rise to support the National Parks proposal to grant a lease in accordance with section 32CB; and Amendment (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. I will refer, first of all, back to one of the points (c) is satisfied that — that the member for Macedon raised in relation to this being the garden state. We have been the garden state (i) the proposed use, development, improvements or works that are to be the for 100 years or more. We have some fantastic gardens, subject of the lease are of a substantial nature national parks, state parks — the whole lot; that is why and of a value which justifies a longer term we are a garden state. Yet the opposition would not lease; and support allowing cattle back into the high country, though the cattle had been there for virtually all of the (ii) the granting of a longer term lease is in the public interest. hundred years that we have been a garden state. It would not support allowing the cattle back there. It was The bill will make sure that there is consultation in fantastic to have the cattle up there in the high country, relation to any longer term lease granted to ensure — and it is something I would support having again. It was and I will keep repeating it — that any development is fantastic to have them in there. sensible and sensitive.
I would also like to say that a lot of this is about This bill is about improving tourism options in Victoria. creating another scare campaign. It is another scare As was said by the government’s lead speaker, the campaign aimed at the community, and it is coming Minister for Tourism and Major Events, we are the only from a lot of opposition members who are looking for state in Australia that does not allow development in Greens preferences to ensure that they can save their national parks, and it is important that we look at doing seats. That is simply what it comes down to: getting it. Whilst the members for Macedon and Bellarine preferences from the Greens. So they are talking about continuously talked in their contributions about the preservation when what we should be talking about in conservative governments — the Liberal Victoria is conservation. We should be talking about governments — making deals with their mates, South conservation of our parks and the future of them. Australia allows development in its national parks and is looking at introducing 99-year leases and Tasmania The guidelines that have been put in place that the bill has 99-year leases. Both of those states have Labor introduces relate to enabling some forms of governments. development in national parks to allow access for everybody and to give everybody the opportunity of The federal government reported recently that it wished utilising them. Victoria’s appeal as a nature-based to talk about allowing development within national tourism destination can only be enhanced by our parks. It is exactly the same, whether the party is Labor encouragement of sensible and sensitive development or Liberal; the concern is with sensible and sensitive in our national parks. It is clear the whole way through development to improve tourism. We should make sure the bill — you do not even need to read too far into it to Victoria leads the way. We currently lead the way in see this — that everything relates to sensible and many areas of planning and development. sensitive development in our parks. There are many areas of bushland through my New section 32CC, headed ‘Power of Minister to grant electorate, as you go up through Gembrook and longer term leases — Arthurs Seat chairlift lease’, Warburton and on up through Reefton. inserted by clause 17 of the bill, states: Mr Katos interjected. (1) The Minister may grant a lease for a term of more than 21 years but not exceeding 99 years of any area of land Mr BATTIN — Yes, Reefton is still part of my referred to in section 32CA if the Minister — electorate; I thank the member for South Barwon very (a) has consulted the National Parks Advisory much. My electorate goes all the way up to a lovely Council … little place called Matlock. If you are a bit older, you
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will remember Matlock Police and know that it is a recommended. Let us be honest: who would want to wonderful area. support anything from the federal Labor government at the moment? That would be a bit dicey. The other side Tourism is the lifeblood of places such as this. These talks down anything that gives Victoria the potential to areas survive on tourism. If it were not for tourism in gain an edge and catch back up with the other states in these areas, we would struggle to have economies in relation to tourism in our national parks. If we can places like Warburton and Yarra Junction, because the encourage tourism and get more people visiting them, industries have changed. What used to be timber towns that is only going to be good for business. are no longer supported strongly by the timber industry. The timber industry is still a very important industry in The Minister for Environment and Climate Change these places, but they have had to change their must take all of these things into consideration. One of economies, and more and more they are based on the things raised by the other side was the fact that this tourism investment. Even around the Upper Yarra legislation will affect ministers in the future. I would Reservoir, camping brings in hundreds and hundreds of like to think that any minister in the future, before people every year. I know, Deputy Speaker, that you making a decision on a development in a national park, know the area up there as well as, if not better than, would take the guidelines into consideration. If they do most members in this place, and you would know how not think those guidelines are strong enough at the time, important tourism is, including to industries like the I am sure they are capable of sitting down and rewriting wine industry. There are many industries in this area them. I am 100 per cent confident that when an that rely on tourism. They rely on people coming application arises our Minister for Environment and through and not just the regulars who live there, and we Climate Change will at every opportunity sit down to would like to see tourism in these areas improve. make sure it is a sensible and sensitive development for a national park. He is not going to sit there and sign off Other areas are calling for this too, including Point on anything. He will look at projects around the world Nepean. Imagine what we could do in Point Nepean if and across to New Zealand. He will look at projects we could improve it, while taking into consideration — around our country and developments like that at as I said before — sensible and sensitive development. Cradle Mountain. What a fantastic opportunity Cradle That would mean more people would go there and Mountain has created for people who want to see a support the small businesses in the area. national park.
Mr McGuire — Who do people have to deal with? Members opposite are bowing at the feet of Greens Matthew Guy! voters, who give preferences to members opposite, to ensure that they get their preference. The Greens want Mr BATTIN — I know the member for to lock up the national parks. Do not lock them up. Do Broadmeadows is yelling out because he does not not talk about preservation. I urge the next member support and does not want to support small business in from the other side who speaks on this bill to talk about Victoria or the tourism industry. That is quite typical. this issue. They should stop talking about preservation Mr McGuire — On a point of order, Deputy and start talking about conservation. They should speak Speaker, that is a false claim and should be corrected. to the people who have experience in conservation and who have made sure that these parks are available now The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! Is the and into the future. They should speak to the people member for Broadmeadows offended by a comment who have kept these parks going, who have made sure made by the member for Gembrook? that they are prepared, prior to our visiting them. They should speak to the gentlemen up in the high country Mr McGuire — I am offended by that comment, who have cattle there at the moment and find out what because it is totally untrue. they have done over the years to ensure that the high country has survived. They should speak to our timber The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! The member industry. The last thing it ever wanted to do was go and should withdraw the comment that has offended the chop everything down. Its members make sure that they member for Broadmeadows. are very conservative in what they do.
Mr BATTIN — I withdraw. We have another Mr Angus interjected. example of the city-centric, latte-sipping lefties sitting on that side of the house, who do not support tourism in Mr BATTIN — Exactly; they are good words from Victoria and who are not willing to stand up and the member for Forest Hill: they are good support something that the federal Labor government environmentalists. They ensure that they protect our
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environment for the future. As I said, the only people regional communities, because the fact is that you do who are not on board with this at the moment are not. It is counterproductive to say you need to build members opposite, and the reason they are not on board major structures within national parks, because in is because they are simply bowing down to the Greens nearly all of our national parks areas of Victoria there is to get their preferences. It is an absolute disgrace that private land available either in the locally based rural they will go that low to stop opportunities for tourism communities or in other places adjoining the parks. and business in Victoria. Those places afford opportunities to provide the accommodation and other facilities that some people What it comes down to — and I notice the member for would benefit from if they wanted to spend a longer Broadmeadows has left the chamber — is a lack of time in our national parks. support for business in Victoria, a lack of support for something to improve our economy, a lack of support During the term of the Bracks government I chaired the for our regional areas. Maybe some members on the Victorian Trails Advisory Committee. It did a lot of other side need to stand up and think about those small work looking at how we can sell Victoria as a site for businesses. They need to think about those small world-class bushwalks so that people would not just family-operated enterprises that surround those national think of going to Tasmania to walk in Cradle parks that will have an opportunity to grow the Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, New Zealand or economy and give themselves a chance to build a other places which have clearly developed their future. I am proud to support the National Parks industries and tourism opportunities to sell themselves Amendment (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill as significant world-class walking sites. Victoria has 2013, and I encourage members opposite to think about world-class walking sites. We did a lot of work on that it. The guidelines are in place, and we have a minister committee. I went down to Cape Otway and walked who will follow them. Obviously members opposite do some of the newly developed Great Ocean Walk, which not trust the guidelines. the Bracks government supported and developed. The trail is now in place, but there are still opportunities to Mr HOWARD (Ballarat East) — I am pleased to ensure that we increase patronage in that area. Yes, speak against this piece of legislation. I am not there is a need to provide better accommodation necessarily pleased to speak against legislation opportunities and other facilities for people who want to generally, but I feel the need to speak clearly against go into that area. this proposed legislation. Having just listened to the member for Gembrook, it seems to me he is very If members consider the Great Ocean Walk and the confused about what this legislation is about. He seems whole area from Cape Otway through to Port Campbell to think it in some way shows the coalition’s support and then on to Warrnambool, there are plenty of for nature-based tourism, whereas Labor does not opportunities to build accommodation that is not support it. That is quite wrong. As a member located in the narrow national park boundaries, and that representing a regional seat, a seat with some very would be very beneficial to those local communities. beautiful nature-based tourism opportunities within it, There is very little need to look at building in these and as somebody who has a great enthusiasm for iconic national parks areas because people will want to bushwalking, having over the years walked through visit them if we promote them properly. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and many national parks in both Victoria and Tasmania, I have Labor’s position is very clear: we support nature-based appreciated those parks, like so many others. As a tourism. With my background I know the value of former teacher, and with my family, I have enjoyed going to national parks to appreciate the beauty of those picnics and spent time appreciating the beauty of those areas in our state, and we want to ensure that they are national parks. appreciated by other people. We do not want them damaged by new developments being built in them, We on this side of the house, the Labor Party, showed which then require infrastructure. If you build in the 11 years of the Bracks and Brumby governments substantial accommodation facilities — and the bill that we strongly supported nature-based tourism. We generally talks about accommodation as the major type made a lot of commitments both financially and in of facility for which the government is proposing terms of energy spent in relation to those areas, which I 99-year leases — then you need to put in roads, greatly supported. The member for Gembrook talked electricity and sewerage, and you thereby change the about the need to support tourism in his area. Labor nature of the national park in that area to provide those likewise supports opportunities for areas in his facilities. It is just not necessary. electorate. He did not explain why you need to build in national parks to support tourism in our rural and
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There would be challenges for any developer who grazing in the national parks?’, and of course this wishes to go about that process because they would be government could not provide any such rationale. The operating, in most cases, against the community view in way the Minister for Environment and Climate Change those areas, as we have seen in the past, so it does not and this whole government value our national parks is a make sense even to try to promote those opportunities. disappointment. I heard from the member for There are sites associated with our national parkland in Gembrook that we can trust the Minister for Victoria that are private land and that provide the Environment and Climate Change and that if we allow opportunity for significant developments that will assist construction in national parks, this environment nature-based tourism. minister will be very responsible. This is the same environment minister who, as his first act in office, I am stunned by so many of the things that have been wanted to allow cattle to graze in the Alpine National said by members on the other side. We know their Park, and who seems to take no interest in climate history in this regard. The Nationals both before and change issues. Support for the alternative energy during the time of the Bracks and Brumby governments industry has gone backwards in this state under the never supported the establishment of new national environment minister, and there are so many other parks when we proposed them. They said, ‘No, this ways in which he is clearly not standing up for the isn’t a great thing. We want to be able to go into those environment in this state. national parks in any way we want and use them in any way we want, and we don’t need to set any guidelines, It would be of great concern to me to see this as the national parks do’. In the early days of the environment minister responsible for any construction current government, the first thing that the so-called of buildings under 99-year leases in our national parks. environment minister did was to propose that we put This government really does not appreciate the value of cattle back into the Alpine National Park. It is a good national parks as do so many others across our state, thing that the federal government challenged that and and I certainly do not support the bill; it is unnecessary. said, ‘On what scientific basis will you have so-called I state clearly that the Labor Party is a strong supporter trials?’. It was a bit like the Japanese whaling industry, of nature-based tourism, as I am, but we do not need to because this government proposed trials of grazing in go down the track of building in national parks. We can the Alpine National Park, an area we know is very build around them on private land and provide the sensitive environmentally. facilities that can benefit our rural and regional communities, where nature-based tourism exists. Mr Delahunty interjected. Mr BULL (Gippsland East) — I welcome the Mr HOWARD — As we hear from the member for opportunity to speak on the National Parks Amendment Lowan, it was an election commitment, so the (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. I have government felt it needed to go with it. I am not sure heard it all now. We get up and absolutely can whether the member is saying, ‘If we hadn’t slipped up nature-based tourism, we can development in national ahead of the election and made a promise, we wouldn’t parks, and then we say we support the tourism industry. have gone ahead with it’. Anyway the government The member for Ballarat East should well know that couched it in the same terms as the Japanese did. It said, this is something the industry asked for. It goes on in ‘It’s a trial’. But rather than a trial of killing whales, this other states. The member should go to Yosemite was a trial of cattle grazing in our high country, and National Park in America and have a look at the great when the federal government — — nature-based tourism over there. The member is acting as if this is something new. He should come up to Mr Watt — On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, Gippsland East and have a look at the development that the member is quite clearly straying from the bill. I do is already happening in Croajingolong National Park at not know what Japanese whaling has to do with this Cape Conran. He should have a look at the great bill, and I ask you to bring him back to it. development already in place in the Buchan Caves The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! I do not Reserve in East Gippsland. They are examples of great uphold the point of order. nature-based tourism that is already operating. The member acts as if this is something new that will Mr HOWARD — This matter is central to the destroy the environment. What an absolute load of whole issue of what national parks are about: that you rubbish. That was one of the most uneducated and do not want to let cattle into our national parks. ill-informed contributions to debate I have heard. Thankfully the federal environment minister said, ‘What is your rationale for this scientific trial of cattle The member for Ballarat East was also talking about cattle grazing in the high country. Yes, we did put out
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that pre-election policy, but the Victorian people voted I am a person who certainly enjoys the outdoors. I for it and they voted us in, and yes the Labor Party’s regularly take my young family camping to locations in federal minister did oppose it — and let us see how he Croajingolong National Park, up to Cape Conran, goes in a couple of months. Wingan Inlet, Thurra River and up around Mallacoota. They are also annual visitors to the Buchan Caves Having gotten that off my chest, this state has a Reserve. These are some of the locations that already world-class system of national parks, and there is no have development where you can book a couple of better example than in my electorate of Gippsland East. nights accommodation in the national park and enjoy Snowy River National Park has extraordinary natural the terrifically pristine environment. I welcome the bushland and waterfalls, and Croajingolong National opportunity to have more sensitive development in such Park, as anyone who has been there will know, is one of areas. It will allow more people to enjoy the beauty of the most picturesque national parks in the country. The our state. magnificent Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park boasts enormous attractions and numerous sites to behold, and This bill is the result of the former government this government is committed to developing regional directing the Victorian Competition and Efficiency tourism in Victoria. It certainly recognises the role that Commission (VCEC) to inquire into Victoria’s tourism nature-based tourism can play in this, and sensitive industry. Those guys opposite started this. We have had development is already in existence within our national these findings handed down, and now they are being parks system. There is no doubt Victoria’s appeal as a opposed, so you can work that out for yourself. The nature-based tourism destination can be significantly VCEC final report notes that a lack of facilities on or enhanced with appropriate development. It needs to be near national parks diminishes their value to the sensible and sensitive, and that is what the bill outlines. community and visitors. To repeat, VCEC found that the lack of facilities in and near national parks This bill will provide for lease terms of up to 99 years diminishes their value to the community and visitors. It for appropriate tourism investment in parks, and it is notes that most tourist facilities can be located outside this sort of security that is required to allow investment national parks. That is true, but it also notes that for to occur. As I said earlier, this is nothing new; it is in some to meet the required environmental credentials, existence in other Australian states and overseas. the park is a superior location in which these facilities Yosemite National Park in America has very should be established. I welcome this finding because appropriate and sensitive nature-based tourism we need to allow more use of our national parks system development. Even in this state, in relation to the in an environmentally sensitive fashion. In line with examples I have given, we already have sensible, this, VCEC recommends that the government remove appropriate and sensitive nature-based tourism. The two the prohibition on private-sector investment in tourism examples I have given are at Cape Conran and Buchan infrastructure in Victoria’s national parks. The VCEC Caves in my electorate, and I suggest there would be report that the previous government commissioned many others around the state that are very sensible and recommends that this be lifted, which is very interesting sensitive. to note.
Victoria’s national parks system is extensive — it is VCEC recommends that sensible and sensitive massive — and it covers over 3.4 million hectares. It is developments in national parks should be provided for, a network that protects many diverse environments. given that they complement environmental heritage and Our parks contribute significant social, cultural and other values and generate a net public benefit. I would economic benefits to Victoria and each year are have thought that was a very common-sense enjoyed by many local, interstate and an increasing recommendation, and it is a recommendation that this number of international visitors, who are coming to government is very pleased to adopt. It also have a look at our terrific natural assets. However, recommends increasing the maximum duration of nature-based tourism in our state’s rural and regional leases on land managed under the National Parks Act areas is largely untapped. These changes to allow 1975. Again this report was commissioned by the appropriately sensitive development will allow more previous government. It makes recommendations visitors to come to this great state and enjoy the natural relating to national parks, and the government is beauty — that a lot of our rural and regional members committed to reforming current policy to allow these of Parliament probably take for granted — in a way that measures to be put in place and these changes to occur. is in touch with the environment and in a fashion that encourages preservation. It is important to stress — and I want to take this opportunity to stress this — that any such development is subject to a range of strong environmental
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Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2433 protections. This is not the 5-star motels that some Ms BARKER (Oakleigh) — I am pleased to rise to members in this house would have you believe we are make a few remarks on the National Parks Amendment pushing towards. Any development is to have very (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013 before strong environmental protections. In considering any the house, which we believe opens the way for proposal the minister has to give consideration to the inappropriate private development in our precious relevant park management plan and any joint national parks. How will this be done? It will be done management plans. He has to consider the net impact of through a set of guidelines, which are really only tourism investment on the environment and other guiding principles — principles which are vague and values of the park, and he has to take into consideration unmeasurable and which represent a significant change the management of the future financial risks and in the treatment of our national parks on both a national liabilities to government. Guidelines for tourism and an international level. investment opportunities of significance in national parks have now been released so that everyone can see Less than 1 per cent of 20 000 national parks them. They are out there on the table. They outline clear worldwide have any significant tourism infrastructure principles for considering any proposals that are placed within them, with most of that infrastructure predating on the table in relation to this. They set out a very the establishment of the parks themselves. Some transparent process to guide investors and any other examples used by the minister to say that development parties as well as to keep the general public well of such infrastructure should occur are cited in the informed and well educated. These guidelines will second-reading speech. One such example is the Cradle ensure that any proposals are sensible, demonstrate Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania. high environmental standards and deliver a net public That area is very familiar to me, both as the area where benefit for the community use of the park. I grew up and as an area that I have visited, and it should be noted that the Cradle Mountain Lodge is not Leases cannot be granted where development is not actually in the national park. The Little Desert National appropriate. That should allay a lot of the concerns that Park is another good example where development has have been raised in this chamber, in particular concerns been on private land on the edge of the park. The Bay about wilderness parks and wilderness zones, remote of Fires in Tasmania is another example used, but again and natural areas. The purpose of any lease granted the lodge is not in the national park. There are many under the new general leasing provisions must be examples, however, of what can be done to boost consistent with the objectives of the National Parks ecotourism in our national parks while ensuring that Act — any lease must contain conditions that prevent private developments do not occur within the parks or minimise any adverse impacts on the relevant park in themselves. which the development is proposed. The bill also provides for enormous transparency and public The concern that I and a number of constituents who consultation. have contacted me have is that this bill raises a number of questions in regard to the process by which these Moving to a matter unrelated to the lease amendments, developments or leases would go ahead. It is easy for this bill will also strengthen and modernise the statements to be made, as in the second-reading speech, regulation-making head of power in the National Parks that give Victorians the impression that there will be a Act in relation to three matters. It provides that the proper and accountable process should these leases and owner of an animal found in a park against the private developments be proposed, but I believe, and regulations is to be guilty of an offence, which is a very many constituents believe, that the decision-making important measure for the member for Benambra and process is neither proper nor accountable. The me in relation to the wild dog program we have in our guidelines allow limited community consultation, with areas; it sets aside areas of parks for particular purposes only 28 days to comment, if the community can find and covers the granting or revoking of permits relating out about it at all. There is no formal process to take to particular activities in parks; and it exempts persons account of community feedback. Only at the or entities from any of the provisions of the regulations. full-proposal stage do proponents need to do any This bill will allow for very sensible and sensitive environment plan, and there is no community tourism development in our magnificent national parks. consultation at the later stage of the process. It will preserve our national parks and protect the areas that are sensitive. It is a move that has been I commend the parliamentary library for an excellent recommended by VCEC, and I am pleased to commend research brief on this bill. I note in the brief that the the bill to the house. section headed ‘Leases up to 99 years’ — this is also covered in the bill itself — describes the process as follows:
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The minister must publish a notice in a daily newspaper The research brief goes on to cite the VNPA website, circulating generally in Victoria and in a newspaper stating that the VNPA: circulating generally in the area in which the land is located prior to the granting of the lease. … runs the largest bushwalking and activities program in Victoria including walking, canoeing and cycling … it It does say ‘Circulating generally in Victoria’, but in provides services to over 3000 members and ‘hosts a friends terms of a newspaper circulating in the area in which network for more than 200 ”friends of” parks groups the land is located, there are many people who do not throughout Victoria, which involves tree planting, weed live in the areas where national parks are located who control, walk track planning and other activities’. have a great passion for them and visit them on a It is, as I say, one of the leading nature conservation regular basis. I note that prior to granting any lease it is organisations in Victoria, and it is very well placed to said in the parliamentary research brief — and also in know what is going on in our national parks. It actively the second-reading speech — that ‘The minister must works in them, and it should be part of a very sound have consulted the National Parks Advisory Council’. I process in terms of determining whether or not these would suggest that the minister should clearly state that leases should go ahead. This proposal is neglecting the prior to granting any lease of 99 years he will consult opportunity to really develop ecotourism and tourism in with all bodies which have a clear, longstanding and our national parks by getting serious about the potential deep commitment to conserving our environment, not to develop and work with towns near or adjacent to just the National Parks Advisory Council (NPAC). national parks. There are many ways in which I had a look at the Department of Environment and improvements could be made in their infrastructure, Primary Industries (DEPI) website. I have nothing providing business opportunities and employment in against the National Parks Advisory Council, which the those small towns. All could benefit from a little DEPI website states: strategic thinking and from working with those local towns and communities to ensure that facilities for … is established under the National Parks Act 1975 to advise people who wish to visit our national parks are the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on the available, but available outside the national parks and in administration of the act and on several specific matters. areas where small town communities in particular can It goes through a number of functions, one of the first benefit from them. being to: Primarily, however, I oppose this legislation. I believe advise the minister generally in relation to the administration very strongly that our national parks should be of the act and on particular matters in relation to that protected. They are there for the conservation of nature administration on which the minister seeks its advice … for all, both now and into the future. They are not development sites and should never be contemplated as There are other functions, including submitting an such. annual report. The website notes the council’s activities, stating: Again I refer to VNPA, for which I have high regard. In The NPAC generally has four to six meetings and two field its submission to the Victorian Competition and visits of parks each year. During field visits, members discuss Efficiency Commission inquiry into tourism VNPA various park management issues with regional managers, stated: chief rangers and parks staff. Members gain a firsthand understanding and appreciation of park management that An important hallmark of national parks is the concept of provides a sound basis for providing advice to the minister. their protection in perpetuity. This involves taking a long-term view of management and conservation, to ensure As I said, I am not necessarily critical of the advisory their protection is not compromised. council, but I do want to refer to the Victorian National Parks Association — the VNPA. The nature of the In my closing couple of minutes I will refer to the fact VNPA is very well documented in the parliamentary that I have received a number of representations library research brief at page 18, where it quotes the opposing this legislation from many constituents in my association’s website. It says — and this is true — that electorate who have a great passion for the environment the VNPA is: and conservation. One gentleman who contacted me is from Friends of the Prom and is a member of VNPA. … Victoria’s leading nature conservation organisation … an He works in the land development industry, so he is independent, non-profit, membership-based group which very aware of the effects of development on land. As he exists to protect Victoria’s unique natural environment and says, the environmental footprint of development is biodiversity. much greater than what the casual observer sees in
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terms of the immediate area cleared. His letter to me employment opportunities you have this obstruction. says in relation to Wilsons Promontory: We have these scare tactics and the creation of this culture of fear and loathing. It is the last refuge of a The park is not in any way ‘locked up’ as some tourism parliamentarian who has absolutely no argument to put. industry members would have us believe. It is currently free to enter, and open the everyone. If anything, private Opposition members cannot find a reason to oppose a development ‘locks up’ parts of the park to others as it bill, so they use scare tactics. ensures exclusivity in parts of a natural environment that everyone should share. This bill is about national parks. It has two aspects. One is the statewide aspect, and the other relates to issues There are many other things a number of constituents that, as far as I am concerned, are perhaps more have raised with me which I certainly agree with. As I parochial to the extent that there are references to the indicated, I do not believe this legislation is an Point Nepean National Park and the Arthurs Seat appropriate way to go. There are better ways to develop chairlift. Neither of those is in my electorate, either ecotourism and better ways to support regional towns current or proposed, but they are of significance to the and small communities in terms of their development, Mornington Peninsula. Of course the member for their employment opportunities and their business Nepean, the member for Hastings and I all work very opportunities to make them much stronger into the closely together in protecting the peninsula, and we all future. That is why I agree with the shadow minister. recognise the importance of these proposals. I think This side of the house will oppose the bill. everyone in the house agrees on the values of our Mr MORRIS (Mornington) — It is a pleasure to national parks, but the nub of the question is really rise to support the National Parks Amendment (Leasing about access and use of those parks. How much is too Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. I say I am very much? Do you really want to lock them up entirely? Do pleased to support it, and indeed I am. The view we you want a situation where you have not just have heard expressed from the opposition benches exclusivity of use but no use? today is unfortunate. We have had a repeat — This is a debate that has been going on for many years. thankfully not on the same scale — of the sort of scare I remember very clearly the ski resorts in the 1970s. tactics we saw in the debate yesterday afternoon. That Falls Creek was run by the State Electricity approach is absolutely transparent. It is about creating a Commission of Victoria, Mount Buller was run by the culture of fear and loathing. There has been a series of Forests Commission of Victoria and Mount Hotham false claims in the debate so far today. We had a claim was run by the Department of Crown Lands and that this is all about big money and raping and pillaging Survey. Each had an entirely different regime, so there our national parks. There has been a false claim about was a proposal to put in a common approach in terms this being a plan for big money to exclude the of committees of management. That created a storm of community from our national parks — people from protest from a very small group of people who were some mythical, superior, moneyed caste are going to be determined to drive the ski industry away from our the only ones who have access to our national parks! alps; they were going to close it up so tightly that the It is interesting. Opposition members are happy to talk ski industry would not survive. That is history; we about jobs but only in very discrete terms. They are know how things are today. Today we have the Alpine very happy to gloss over the contribution that tourism Resorts Commission in place. We have a viable ski makes to this state, and I refer to the annual plan of the industry and also a summer tourism industry in the alps Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) that was that survive happily in the midst of national parks. tabled in this house yesterday. Proposed in the 2013–14 Do we want to lock up national parks? Do we want to performance audit program is an audit on tourism make them ecological museums? Do we want to say strategies, and VAGO makes the point that Victoria’s that they should be untouched by human hands? That is tourism industry is one of the state’s largest revenue certainly not a view I support, and I know that that is sources, employing at least 185 000 Victorians. I very not a view supported by my community — and nor is it much expect that regional tourism will be a very justified. There are exceptional parcels of land, but they important part of that audit, as well as the need to are the exception rather than the rule. Indeed clause 8 of continue to drive regional tourism, because we just do the bill sets out provisions whereby a minister may not get people to go out of Melbourne as often as we grant a lease for land other than wilderness parks, should. wilderness zones, remote and natural areas, designated Opposition talk about jobs plans is interesting, but water supply catchment areas, natural catchment areas when you are doing something practical to improve under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992 and so on. Those provisions make reference to the various schedules of
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the National Parks Act 1975. Those exceptions are Leases need to include conditions to minimise any covered, and they are very clearly identified in the bill. adverse impacts. The National Parks Advisory Council, which others have talked about, must be consulted, and If we are agreed that the nub of the problem is access, extensive public consultation must take place before where do you draw the line? What is the boundary? In leases are granted. Ministerial guidelines have also been my view you clearly need to strike a balance. There is developed. I have studied those closely. From my great tourism potential, but you do not want to destroy perspective, if there were to be a flaw in the process, it the very thing that is attracting people to an area. This is might be that the guidelines are not what they need to an aspect I am intimately familiar with in terms of the be. However, those guidelines include very clear Mornington Peninsula. We are surrounded by bay and principles. They set down not only a transparent ocean on three sides. We have a series of towns and process but a stringent process as well. I commend the villages. It is true that beaches and golf courses and minister on the guidelines that have been produced. I vineyards are attractors, but the great and overriding know from talking to many people in my community attractors are the ambience of the area, the greenery and who are concerned about this issue that when the the population centres dotted around within it. You guidelines came out they assuaged all concerns that need to strike a balance to protect that, and you existed. I commend the minister on that. certainly need to strike the same balance in terms of national parks. Unfortunately I will not have the opportunity to talk about Point Nepean, which I had hoped to. I think what The government is committed to the development of is proposed there is an excellent plan involving strong regional tourism, and Minister Asher outlined those community input and access. This is valuable points very clearly. We are committed to nature-based legislation, and I commend the bill to the house. tourism because it makes a very important contribution to the regions, and in that sense a 99-year lease with the Mr PANDAZOPOULOS (Dandenong) — I have necessary safeguards is entirely appropriate. We are the been looking forward to having a debate about national only state that does not offer a 99-year lease, and there parks and tourism for a long period of time. It is is a reason that every other jurisdiction in the nation has disappointing that we are in this position predominantly gone down that path. If you are going to have owing to the issue of trust of the government. In many investment, you need to create certainty. If you do not regards the deal breakers are the 99-year leases and have that certainty, you do not get investment and you their appropriateness in Victoria’s unique do not get investors. Or if you do get investment, the circumstances. Victoria has the highest visitation to investors are probably those who work at an inferior national parks but the lowest yield from national parks standard, and then you do not get the same sort of tourism, and it is a major problem for us. I spent my outcomes. You will get outcomes that are less than years as tourism minister trying to put this issue on the optimal and probably a whole lot worse than that. We agenda, and it is a hard issue. It requires taking the do not want that to occur. It is an important part of the whole of the community with you, not just parts of it. It package that if we do this, we do it properly, and that is means all sides of the community having some absolutely critical. We need to do this well, and that responsibilities and acknowledging that we have been underlying reality is reflected in the bill. massively underperforming.
The bill includes provisions about sensitive Most of the matters addressed by the bill are actually development and reflects the government’s quite appropriate and could continue without having to commitment to sensitive and appropriate development. go down the road of 99-year leases. When the There are provisions in there so that under specific government does that, especially given its poor image circumstances leases will not be granted. I identified and record on the environment, it sends the message to those earlier. The leases need to be consistent with the a public that is very touchy on these issues that it will objects of the National Parks Act 1975. I remind be open slather. Making provisions for 99-year leases members that the objects of the National Parks Act, rather than looking at site-specific areas where there while they extend over three pages, include things such may be anomalies means it will be open slather. as preservation and protection of the natural environment; the protection and preservation of Jurisdictions that have 99-year leases have vast states, indigenous flora and fauna; the study of ecology, remote areas and towns a long way apart. That is why geology, botany, zoology and so on; and responsible they have used 99-year lease provisions. In Victoria’s management of land. Those are the objects of the case, the reason we have the highest national park National Parks Act, and any development must be visitation is that we are a compact state with a consistent with them. population reasonably spread around. We have
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excellent road infrastructure, so it is easy for people to But do we need 99-year leases? We do not. That is move in and out of Melbourne and into the regions. where lies the deal breaker. Yesterday in a speech on That is another reason we have the highest visitation. taxis I referred to the words of the Minister for Tourism But we are lagging behind the best practice of other and Major Events, for whom I have immense respect. It jurisdictions around the world, and we need more is her second time around as minister, and I have commercial opportunities in parks. These things can immense respect for her. She gave a speech yesterday, generally be achieved by tweaking a range of and I referred to it. She talked about ideas, leadership legislation or using existing legislation more and taking the public with you. An idea would be to effectively. We already have legislation that has longer recognise that we are underperformers in nature-based term lease periods. What is missing? tourism with some of the most excellent and accessible nature-based assets nearby. There is also the idea of Regional Victoria’s front of house, the Twelve doing more with what we have and creating more jobs Apostles, is disgraceful from a visitor’s point of view. for regional Victorians around the tourism industry. When visitors arrive, after seeing that amazing feature, Leadership is about driving policy and new initiatives they get nothing. They cannot sit down and have a that support regional tourism development and that meal. interface with our parks system. But taking the public with you — that is where the failure is. Mr Northe — Boil a billy! It would have been great to have a bipartisan approach Mr PANDAZOPOULOS — Absolutely. It is not on this. The Minister for Tourism and Major Events best practice; it is disgraceful. We should be doing herself and the Minister for Environment and Climate better in these types of areas, including at Wilsons Change supported a reference to the parliamentary Promontory. Tourists should be able to sit down and get Environment and Natural Resources Committee — a a proper meal at the Prom, but they cannot. That is what committee that has traditionally delivered bipartisan they are complaining about. When we are looking at reports to this place — on best practice in ecotourism getting better yield out of nature-based tourism it is and heritage tourism. Would it not have been better to about providing a better experience with an opportunity move down a fair part of the road where there is for people to spend locally when they cannot spend in a consensus and craft a bill around that while the major town. committee went and did its work looking at what is Let us look at the Twelve Apostles, for example. Not good practice and where Victoria can perform better? long ago I took an international visitor there. It was the When we look at and measure good practice I am sure same sort of experience. We left Melbourne in the we can satisfy Victorians who might be concerned morning, stopping off on the Great Ocean Road for about the impact of commercial activities in parks. morning tea at Lorne. We then continued along the Through something like that we might be able to verify Great Ocean Road to Lavers Hill, and suddenly we for them that there are best practice models around the were out at Port Campbell National Park. At lunchtime world where there is either no impact or very limited we were looking at the sites, so we thought we would impact on the environment in terms of commercial have a late lunch. We left at about 2.30 p.m. and got to activities in the parks system. As tourism minister what Port Campbell by 3.00 p.m. We could not get lunch at I heard most of the time from commercial operators Port Campbell at 3 o’clock. The reality is that tourists was not necessarily about resorts in parks but normally are not provided with the best experience, because Port about smaller scale investment to be able to support the Campbell itself is not serving late meals. visitor experience and small business.
We are telling the tourists who go to Port Campbell One of the areas where we have got it wrong in Victoria National Park, ‘We’re not going to give you a meal is that we have failed to recognise that with there, because it’s on national park land, so drive to the development we have a unique opportunity in that we town of Port Campbell’. But often Port Campbell is have so much freehold land intertwined in our national closed. The fast food operators in Colac love this parks system. Yet our planning system has discouraged because the international visitor bus experience on the developments on those sites because they abut national way back to Melbourne is stopping off at Colac KFC parks. Maybe we should realise that this is a unique and McDonald’s simply because they could not get opportunity to recognise that developments can occur anything reasonable earlier in the day at Port Campbell outside the parks, because they are so accessible, to National Park. That is not good enough for the satisfy the needs of visitors, and the lack of large-scale international visitor experience. accommodation in some locations in regional Victoria is a major limitation for international travel.
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As the Minister for Tourism and Major Events said, important role nature-based tourism can play in when $1 billion is being spent by Chinese visitors — delivering a good experience for visitors to our state. who are now the biggest tourist market, where five years ago they were not — and most of that money is The South Barwon electorate that I represent has the spent in Melbourne, you need to guide the industry to start of the Great Ocean Road and the eastern flank of get that regional spend, and that is appropriate. Maybe the Otway Ranges, so there are some very pristine areas we have to find a way with our planning laws to use close to or in the South Barwon electorate. There is also that freehold land near national parks and make Bells Beach, a major attraction for people to visit and investor-ready projects for those types of facilities. also obviously a place where they can surf. Tourism is a very important part of the south-west, particularly in What the public is concerned about are the 99-year South Barwon, the Bellarine Peninsula and also the lease hotels in the parks system rather than abutting the Polwarth and South-West Coast electorates. We realise parks system on freehold land. That is why the Labor the critical importance of attracting more people to Party is in the position of being forced to take this these areas but also the importance of their having a particular view. We will wait for the Environment and good experience when they come. Natural Resources Committee report when it is tabled next year. Let us see if the committee can deliver a I think the member for Dandenong summed that up unanimous report on that. very well when he spoke about Port Campbell National Park. Going to Port Campbell is essentially about The great disappointment is that the government has getting on the bus, getting to Port Campbell but there poor form on the environment. That is a big issue of being no facilities, and then being bussed straight back trust, not only because of its history, with The Nationals to Melbourne. We want visitors to be able to, for never supporting national parks, but because of what it example, have the experience and then stay at Port is doing now. If the government was supporting Campbell. Investment in the national park there and nature-based tourism, it would not be sacking hundreds sensitive and sensible development should be allowed and hundreds of Parks Victoria staff. If it was to occur so that a visitor who comes to our shores from supporting nature-based tourism, it would not be China or from anywhere else around the globe or from shedding jobs in Tourism Victoria, including the interstate can have a good experience of seeing the position of nature-based tourism officer. The person beauty of our national parks. who would have worked with the industry to implement this stuff has been made redundant. This is If there was a sensible and sensitive development at where there is a massive issue of trust. The government Port Campbell National Park with some lodgings where would also not be returning cattle to the high country. It people who come could stay and also get a meal, that is a matter of trust. day trip would be turned into an overnight trip, where visitors would be spending money in regional Victoria The problem the public has is not so much around the and injecting money into regional communities, which commercial interface with the parks system — I think would be very important for those areas. when you explain the issues logically the public understands that — but that this government has such a The bill is also a response to the report of the Victorian shocking and poor record. We need to ensure that there Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) are appropriate bipartisan approaches to long-term entitled Unlocking Victorian Tourism — An Inquiry environmental planning and management, and the into Victoria’s Tourism Industry, which was government has failed on that. commissioned by the previous Labor government. This government has looked at the recommendations of that Mr KATOS (South Barwon) — I am pleased to rise inquiry and is implementing this bill. Obviously the this afternoon to make a contribution on the National main thrust of the bill is to enable leases to be granted Parks Amendment (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) within national parks for, as I said, sensible and Bill 2013. This bill is part of the coalition government’s appropriate development. efforts to allow more people to enjoy our world-class national parks as a tourism attraction. The government Earlier the Minister for Tourism and Major Events gave is committed to developing regional tourism throughout the example of a jetty. Obviously some of the national all of regional Victoria. It is very committed to regional parks would have water-based activities. If you are Victoria. It has the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund going to invest in a jetty and other sorts of infrastructure that is there to stimulate economic activity in regional that will enhance the experience, such as associated Victoria, and obviously most of these national parks are lodgings and also a cafe where people can eat, you are in regional Victoria. The bill also recognises the going to make a quite significant investment in that area
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and you will want the certainty of having a lease of up lease land within a national park for this development, to 99 years. If you had, for example, a 21-year lease, provided they meet a set of guidelines and agree to a standard operating contract that includes incentives for what would happen after 21 years? Is someone going to the conservation and biodiversity protection of the say, ‘Sorry, you have to rip up that gear where you’ve national park … invested all that money’? That would be a ridiculous situation. Recommendation 4.2 of the VCEC report is:
As was stated earlier, Victoria is the only state that does That the Victorian government: not allow sensible development inside national parks. increase the maximum duration of leases on land Tasmania certainly has very sensible development, as managed under the National Parks Act, based on an does South Australia. A national park should be there appropriate incentive scheme for all to enjoy, and it also needs to be managed The report itself, which looks into unlocking national correctly. It is not necessarily a case of saying, ‘Put a parks and providing for sensible and sensitive fence around it, lock it up and don’t worry about what development, was commissioned by the previous happens with fuel load or what happens with vermin. government. What the coalition government is doing Basically lock it up and throw away the key’. Our via this bill is fully within the recommendations of that national parks need to be managed, otherwise we will VCEC report, which was commissioned by a Labor get a situation like what occurred in Tasmania with the government. unfortunate fires that went through last summer. That is a prime example of a national park having the door I am very interested in getting some sensible and firmly locked and not being managed for 20 years, sensitive development. Let us look at the Otways, for under Greens policies. We need to manage our land; example. The Otway Fly is a walk amongst the that is very important. treetops. It is a beautiful area to visit. The development has been done very well. It is tasteful and sensitive, and As far as the lease goes, there are measures to ensure it enhances the visitor experience. That is what this is that development inside national parks is appropriate all about. We do not want a tourist going back to China, and sensible. The bill specifies that in areas where a Japan or Europe and saying, ‘They bowled me on a bus lease can be granted, it has to be consistent with the from Melbourne. They picked me up at 6 in the objectives of the national park. It requires that the lease morning, and I was on the bus all day. They stopped at or licence issued include conditions that ensure that a place I had never heard of, and I went to the toilet. there are minimal impacts upon the national park, and it Then I went down and saw the Twelve Apostles. I requires consultation with the national park’s advisory couldn’t even get a coffee or stay the night’. This is council. Where a longer term lease is proposed, there what appropriate development is all about — allowing must be public consultation around that. There are also a good visitor experience. national parks areas where development of any sort will not be permitted. Approximately 37 per cent of our As I said earlier, accommodation at somewhere like national parks will in effect be untouchable. These Port Campbell would turn an overnight trip with a areas include wilderness parks and wilderness zones; limited experience into one with a good experience, remote and natural areas, as defined in the act; closed which tourists will go back and talk about with their water catchments in the Great Otway, Kinglake and fellow countrymen or their friends interstate. With that, Yarra Ranges national parks, because it is important to I am happy to commend the bill to the house. protect our water catchments; and natural catchment areas under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992. All these Ms GARRETT (Brunswick) — It is with a deep areas will be protected. sense of disappointment and anger that I rise to speak on this disgraceful piece of legislation that has been Earlier I mentioned the VCEC report and its proposed by a government with, quite frankly, the most recommendations. Recommendation 4.1 of that report disgraceful record on environmental issues that we have is: seen in a long time. There are many people in my That the Victorian government remove regulatory obstacles community, and indeed in the Victorian community as to private sector investment in tourism infrastructure in a whole, who are outraged by this government putting Victoria’s national parks so that … private sector investment its grubby little fingers deep into the throat of our is permitted and businesses are allowed to: pristine national parks, throwing open the gates to our propose sensible and sensitive developments in national beautiful environment and letting the tractors in for parks provided they complement environmental, their developer mates. This is nothing short of a heritage and other values and generate a net public disgrace. Victoria has a proud record of protecting our benefit
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heritage and our environment with these extraordinarily Ms GARRETT — Earlier this year the government beautiful, important and pristine national parks. These released its guidelines for investment entitled Tourism are not gifts for our children; it is the right of our Investment Opportunities of Significance in National children to enjoy and understand the importance of Parks, and again the flavour of this government is on their environmental heritage. Excuse me, I have display. We have very limited community consultation dropped my speech. I return! around these developments. There are no formal processes, would you believe, for people to object to Honourable members interjecting. these developments. There is no proper environmental planning that needs to be done by those developers Ms GARRETT — It is because of those on the seeking to take advantage of this government’s largesse other side that I have so much to say today. I do not with our children’s future and no community want to rob members of the opportunity to hear the consultation during the later stages of the process. It is words of wisdom of the member for Brunswick on typical of your Minister for Planning, typical of your these most important matters! minister for — what? Is it the environment? Is there a An honourable member — We want an extension minister for the environment? And it is typical of you of time! and your developer mates. This is in effect handing it over. Ms GARRETT — We do want an extension of time. The community wants an extension of time on Dr Sykes — Through the Chair! this matter because, as I said, our children and our Ms GARRETT — Through the Chair, you and grandchildren have a right to enjoy these national parks. your developer mates. Unfortunately this is a fast track What this government is doing is heinous and should be to inappropriate development in our national parks, and condemned. These developments will be for the there is no proper public process. exclusive enjoyment of a few, probably very well-off, punters, who will enjoy the herbal oils, the fluffy white Mr Wynne interjected. towels and having the chocolates on the pillow at the expense of our heritage and the right of our children to Ms GARRETT — Where is the public good, I ask enjoy these pristine environments. the member for Richmond? It is nowhere, it is hanging up in a ‘For sale’ sign on Victoria’s great assets. That As we have heard from other speakers on this side, we brings me, with some passion, to this mob’s absolutely support nature-based tourism, and we environmental record. Let us go through what this support those townspeople whose livelihood relies on government has done. This latest travesty is just one nature-based tourism. But the fallacy of this legislation item in a long list. We let the cows back in; this is that it will actually suck the lifeblood away from Parliament let the cows back in — or tried to — to these communities. The people who will visit these graze in alpine national parks. It has introduced developments in our national parks will probably not be anti-wind farm legislation that has shut down visiting the local towns. They will be enjoying, as I investment in wind and renewable energy in this state. said, the spa baths and the herbal oils that are available It has slashed the solar feed-in tariff, which has greatly to them in the new developments being proposed by impacted on solar energy in the state. It dismantled the this government at the expense of maintaining climate change act in this state, the very one that it had environmental and heritage values for our children. supported when in opposition. It has attacked mercilessly the green wedges, it has moved to expand Really it does not take long for the Liberal colours to brown coal mining and now it is moving to allow hotels shine through, does it? Sell anything that is not bolted and developments in our national parks. down, privatise anything that you can get your grubby hands on, let your developer mates come in and enjoy Not only that — not only has this government so the largesse while you are there. And now not even quickly and with such ferocity dismantled so many national parks are safe from this mob. Not only, Acting important environmental protections and activities of Speaker and those opposite, are you doing it, but it is the previous government — but it has also the way that you are doing it — a typical comprehensively failed to deliver on any of the Liberal-Nationals way. promises it made in this place prior to the last election. It has not retrofitted homes to 5-star energy rating, it Honourable members interjecting. has not made Victoria the solar state. In fact it has done The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Morris) — Order! quite the opposite. It has slashed the feed-in tariff to The members for Rodney, South Barwon and Benalla!
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make that worse, and it has not done what it promised Dr SYKES (Benalla) — I will commence my to do regarding water recycling and stormwater. contribution by saying that I have great love and respect for the member for Brunswick — she is a lovely An honourable member interjected. person — but I must indicate that I am in fierce disagreement with the propositions she has put before Ms GARRETT — Yes. It is an absolute disgrace of the house today. Regrettably she reflects the inner city a record. I turn back to the latest item in the long list by view, the tar and cement view of what is happening out which this government will be harshly judged at the there beyond the tram tracks. next election. It came in with a warm and fuzzy coat, saying that it believed in the environment. Former It is absolutely amazing that opposition members Premier Baillieu, the one who was elected, spoke very oppose the National Parks Amendment (Leasing strongly about the environment. He gave the impression Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. They are out of to the people of Victoria that this would be a step with their federal government colleagues, as was government that cared about the environment, that was mentioned by previous speakers. I say that because it going to make a difference and that believed in climate was only a few weeks ago that I was in the company of change. From day one of the Baillieu government, Martin Ferguson, a well-respected federal Labor followed by day one of the Napthine government — the politician. I had an extensive conversation with him in only consistency being the esteemed Deputy relation to the responsible development of our alpine Premier — those opposite have taken to the resorts and national parks. Martin Ferguson and I were environment with an axe, as they are now taking to our in furious agreement that it is appropriate to do further national parks. They are taking to our parks with an development in our national parks and alpine resorts. axe. I declare my strong support for this bill because it We on this side of the house are standing firm in our brings the Victorian situation in line with legislation opposition to what is yet another winding back of this that prevails in other jurisdictions and removes the state’s great record on the environment — another in a current competitive disadvantage we have in attracting string of backward steps. This is taking unprecedented visitors to our beautiful Victorian natural assets, action in our national parks, which have been for so particularly those in north-east Victoria. The changes in long protected. this bill will result in a win-win outcome, not a Richard Wynne outcome, for the environment, for our local Ms Ryall interjected. communities and for the broader public. I would love to Ms GARRETT — Yes, I am the member for invite the member for Richmond, Mr Wynne, to come Brunswick. I take up the interjection even though I am and make it a win-Wynne outcome. probably not supposed to. There are many within the If more people come to our beautiful area and enjoy it, community of Brunswick, you would not be surprised, they will bring money to our area. It already happens in who are very agitated about this legislation, but we are the beautiful upper river valleys of the Kiewa, Ovens, not alone. These things that you are unwinding — King and Delatite rivers. We already have many people through you, Chair — these great legacies of former coming, and these changes will ensure that more want Liberal and Labor governments that the government is to come to our beautiful area. They will increase the unwinding mean an enormous amount to our wealth of our areas, which have struggled over the last community. These parks mean an enormous amount in decade, combating not only droughts, floods and fires terms of their environmental significance and their but also the 11 long, dark years of neglect of the former symbolic significance. We do not have to develop city-centric, can’t-think-beyond-the-tram-tracks Labor every corner of the land. There are parts of our government. By having more wealth created and more community — — people coming and enjoying our natural beauty, we will Honourable members interjecting. have money available to continue to improve the environment. Ms GARRETT — I can understand why The Nationals are getting so upset. The truth does hurt. We as farmers, as the traditional or current custodians These parks are not just a gift but are in fact a right of of the land, know that to be green you have to be inheritance for our children. It is shameful that today trading in the black. You have to have money to invest we are unwinding those protections and the in doing the environmental things all of us want to do. Liberal-Nationals government is letting developers in to This piece of legislation is consistent with The what should be protected parts of Victoria. Nationals policy of responsible enjoyment and utilisation of our natural assets. It is clearly consistent
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with other measures that have been implemented by our what goes on in other jurisdictions. Secondly, we have government over two and a half years — for example, now introduced legislation that will increase the length in relation to the management of alpine resorts. The of leases from what was 21 years originally up to Minister for Environment and Climate Change has 99 years — after a lot of lobbying the Labor Party got it ensured that we will continue to protect the assets that up to 50 years — to encourage substantial responsible exist in the alpine resorts, which are similar to those in development in those areas. There is also an additional the neighbouring national parks, with measures that $7 million on the table to start the process, which will cut red tape and at the same time ensure better within 12 months or so will see, at minimum, a day environmental outcomes. activity centre with a cafe, which will be a great attraction for people. With this legislation there is the For example, in the case of the Falls Creek alpine opportunity for further responsible development. resort, some disturbed land around Rocky Valley Dam has been incorporated into the alpine resort to enable There have been attacks on the environmental greater enjoyment of that dam, which is a fantastic credentials of the Minister for Environment and asset. This will attract more people to the Falls Creek Climate Change and the government. We, the coalition resort to enjoy the green season tourism attractions and government, have ramped up fuel reduction burning so therefore create wealth in both the resort and the upper that there will be less impact in future compared to the river valley communities, including Mount Beauty. At four megafires that ravaged Victoria as the result of a the same time, the trade-off that has been made is that a failure to do adequate fuel reduction burning. We are larger chunk of more environmentally desirable land doing fuel reduction burning, protecting natural assets has been taken from the alpine resort and put into the and protecting public assets. We, the coalition national park to increase habitat for species such as the government, are doing that. Over and above that, just pygmy possum. yesterday the Minister for Environment and Climate Change put out a media release saying that we, the Under our government we have also made changes to coalition government, are supporting the aerial seeding the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 to enable by helicopter of 2000 hectares of mountain ash country responsible development in the alpine resorts, that was destroyed as a result of the fires that were the particularly in the Mount Hotham area, where the result of a lack of fuel reduction activity over the changes that have been brought into place will ensure previous decades of government. the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage but not bind people in layer upon layer of red tape, which can There are other opportunities that our government will result in responsible development being cruelled and see taken up — for example, the enhancement of the therefore wealth generation not happening. Hotham to Falls Creek walk. That includes an area of particular interest to me, and that is the Red Robin This bill has particular relevance to my electorate Mine, which, if incorporated into the walk, will extend because it particularly impacts on the utilisation of the experience. I will go back to my discussions with Mount Buffalo, in particular the Mount Buffalo Chalet, Martin Ferguson, who is an honourable man. We which is an icon and something about which thousands agreed that development was appropriate and that it of people have sent petitions to this place saying it must was appropriate to put in more public money, perhaps be preserved. The history of the Mount Buffalo Chalet to the tune of millions of dollars, to develop these assets goes back over 100 years, but in 2007, in the midst of and put in place accommodation and other the 2006–07 fires, the chalet was shut. It has not arrangements that will make it more attractive for reopened. Why? Because the Labor government was people to come and enjoy our wonderful natural assets. clumsy, perhaps intentionally — although you are never sure with the Labor Party whether it is clumsy In closing, I remain amazed that those on the other side intentionally or that is just its normal behaviour — and of the house fail to support this bill. We the coalition failed to attract commercial interest. Why was there not government will ensure responsible development in our commercial interest? It was about a lack of certainty in national parks and other natural assets. We will ensure relation to government attitudes towards development that more people have the opportunity to enjoy the in the national parks, about a very short land lease and beautiful, fantastic environment in Victoria. about cost. Ms BEATTIE (Yuroke) — Labor opposes the What have we as a government done? We have National Parks Amendment (Leasing Powers and Other provided certainty about government attitudes towards Matters) Bill 2013. Without any shadow of a doubt we responsible development in national parks by saying we oppose this bill. You may as well take the little will encourage responsible development in line with A-frames of real estate agents and their auction flags to
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national parks and put out ‘For sale’ signs. We will The point of that story is that the members of this mob have the white shoe brigade coming down from cannot be trusted with any park. They cannot even be Queensland to facilitate the ‘development’, as they will trusted with a children’s playground on a corner. They call it, of our wonderful national parks. But we should will sell it for development. They cannot be trusted, and not forget this is the sale of our national parks. This is they have form in this area. They have turned our presented to us by the same minister that gave us cattle national parks over to cattle grazing and firewood in the Alpine National Park; this is presented to us by collection. Now this minister thinks it will perhaps be the minister who disrespects the legacy of Sir Rupert okay to build a large hotel in a national park. Who Hamer in this state. He disrespects that legacy, and it is knows what is coming next? Perhaps we will have a an absolute shame. Ferris wheel in a national park. That might look nice. When mum and dad are lying in the 5 or 6-star hotel, The bill provides for the extension of 50-year leases to with their fluffy towels and massage oil, the kids can go 99-year leases in national parks, and that includes out on the Ferris wheel. The mob opposite cannot Mount Buffalo, which we just heard about, Point manage parks or the environment. Nepean, and Arthurs Creek state park. The process for developers — — Earlier this year the government released a set of guidelines to outline the process of decision making Mr Newton-Brown interjected. about private development. Apparently the government thinks this is good consultation. Members of the public Ms BEATTIE — The member for Prahran should are notified early in the process, and guess how long go back to Prahran and try to check on the boundaries, they have to make comment? They have 28 days, because he might not be here for long. which is not even a full calendar month. There is no On this side of the house we believe in nature-based formal process to take account of the community tourism and ecotourism. People come to Victoria for feedback. So the government will say it will have a bit those things. They do not come to Victoria to stay in a of consultation, and it will go to a local hall and set up a national park and take a beautiful bushwalk if they want few tables and some butcher’s paper and say, ‘Yes, to stay in a 5 or 6-star hotel. They know the difference, we’re consulting with the community’. Then the they know where to go and they know what they want. government will take the butcher’s paper away and If they want to stay in a 5-star hotel, they will go to throw it out, saying, ‘We’re going to give those leases where there are 5-star hotels. to our developer mates’.
The mob on the other side is trying to put it about that it Only when the consultation has reached the full stage will be just like Cradle Mountain Lodge or the Bay of do proponents need to do an environment plan. Then, Fires Lodge in Tasmania. It is not like that at all. There once the environment plan is there, does it go back to the development is outside, albeit just outside, the the community for further consultation? No. There is no national park. Certainly in other places in the world the further consultation at all. Once the white tables and developments are outside national parks or, if not, were butcher’s paper in the community hall are gone, there before the national parks were declared as such. everything will be forgotten about.
I wish to talk about the management that the other side I want to talk a little bit about history, because it shows of the house says it is so good at. I would like to point how people in Victoria love the environment. We well to one of the state parks, Woodlands Historic Park, remember former Premier Jeff Kennett trying to put where just recently we have seen a bit of a fuss because development in Wilsons Promontory, a much loved of some signage in that state park. We had the Minister area. One of everybody’s childhood memories involves for Planning beating his chest about ploughing the sign going down to Squeaky Beach and taking in the natural back in, but there is a little bit of confusion because, charms. Mr Kennett thought a development with a although the Minister for Planning was beating his 150-bed lodge and smaller 45-bed lodges would be chest about the signage, the Premier, as the Minister for good. But what did our community say? The people of Racing, gave a grant to Living Legends for its facility Victoria said very loudly and very clearly, ‘Hands off out there. So there is some confusion there: on one hand the Prom!’. This is what is going to happen again this the Minister for Racing gives Living Legends a grant, time. This mob opposite is going to try to get its while on the other hand the Minister for Planning says developer mates in — and we have seen the developer he is going to plough the signage back in. But that did mates; you only have to look at Phillip Island to see not happen. their developer mates. Sitting suspended from 12.59 p.m. until 2.33 p.m.
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The SPEAKER — Order! I thank all members for I think it is a measure of Liz as a person and a leader in the orderly way they reacted to the alarm going off and her field that she certainly did not seek the acclaim of the need for us to clear Parliament House. As an any member of this house today. It has come as some explanation to members, there was no fire. Some surprise to her that we would single her out, but that is fire-detection equipment was activated near our server as it should be. She has been a great servant of our room. The fire brigade and our own technical people democratic system of Parliament. Her work is much have looked at it and will continue to look at it, but valued, and right across this Parliament we wish her there is no danger to anybody. Again I thank members well in her future endeavours. Obviously as a Sydney for the way they conducted themselves in what may Swans Football Club fan there is only so much luck we have been a difficult time for all of us. can wish her, but I do note, and I am reliably informed, that Liz will be taking up the greatest of games — DEPUTY CLERK golf — after she leaves this place.
Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — With your I conclude by saying that the Parliament of Victoria’s indulgence, Speaker, and the indulgence of the house, I loss will most certainly be the Victoria Golf Club’s would like to say a few words before questions gain, and we wish her well in those endeavours and all commence about our Deputy Clerk, Ms Liz Choat. Liz things she and her family do. I thank Liz so much for has indicated her intention to retire during the winter all her hard work. recess, so this will be her last day at the table in this house. Liz joined the Department of Parliamentary Honourable members applauding. Services in 1999 as manager of the procedure office. The SPEAKER — Order! If I could have the She had previously had a career practising law in indulgence of the house, I would like to thank Liz for England and worked as a legal publisher at all of the work she does. I never realised just how much Butterworths in Sydney. In 2004 Liz was elevated to she does until I took over the position of Speaker. Since the position of Deputy Clerk. She became involved in a then I have had to rely on her for advice and assistance, number of projects, including rewriting the standing and legal interpretations on some issues. I am very orders in plain English and providing significant grateful for that. Having held the office of Speaker for procedural advice not only to members but to nearly three years, I have had the opportunity of parliamentary staff. working with Liz and enjoying her company over that Outside the house I understand Liz has the misfortune time. We normally have a cup of coffee or tea down in to follow the Sydney Swans Football Club, although it the dining room at 10.30 each morning, and I have was very fortunate last year and she is smiling now. She appreciated the opportunity to talk with Liz about is also very biased in that she enjoys lawn bowls, and different issues and different things that have occurred she wrote an official history of the Sandringham Bowls in the house. On those occasions I have found her to be Club. On behalf of the government and all members I extremely helpful — she could not be a nicer lady. thank Liz for her professional support and service and Liz, I wish you all the very best for the future. I hope her contribution to parliamentary procedures here and that in your retirement you will enjoy whatever you are throughout the commonwealth. We wish her all the going to do, whether it be playing golf or continuing to very best for the future. follow the Sydney Swans. I do not know what it will Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — be, but I can tell you that golf becomes a very difficult With the indulgence of the house, I join the Premier in game sometimes; it depends on how good you are. All his short but eloquent tribute to Deputy Clerk Liz the very best to you for the future, Liz, and well done. Choat. As the Premier noted, Liz has had a long and Business interrupted under sessional orders. distinguished career in the law and in parliamentary procedure. She is someone who has undoubtedly added to the smoother running of this house and this QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Parliament. Indeed through her scholarship and hard Ambulance services: Geelong region work, and the updating and modernisation of our rules, there is no doubt she has had an impact on the operation Mr EREN (Lara) — My question is to the Premier. of other parliaments throughout our commonwealth. As Last night nine ambulances were ramped at the the Premier indicated, in terms of her days at the table Geelong Hospital, causing delays to get into the that long and distinguished service comes to an end this hospital of up to 3 hours. As a result the Greater day, but I think Liz is with us until the middle of next Geelong region was again left without adequate month.
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ambulance coverage. This resulted in a male with head emergency department. We have had to do that because injuries waiting over an hour for a resuscitation bed. we inherited a situation at Geelong where the previous Another patient with pancreatitis and an altered government did not invest sufficiently in the capacity of conscious state waited in pain for more than 3 hours. the Geelong Hospital. Premier, how many more examples do you need before you will acknowledge that our ambulance service is in Mr Eren — On a point of order, Speaker, the crisis? Premier is debating the question. He needs to answer why so many people are waiting — nine ambulances Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the ramped in Geelong! honourable member for Lara for his question. I am advised, with respect to the situation at the Geelong The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point Hospital last night, that since 2010–11 the hospital has of order. seen an 11.4 per cent increase in presentations at its emergency department. That is an additional Dr NAPTHINE — As I was saying, we have 6445 presentations. The benchmark for transferring provided $93 million for an additional 64 beds — and patients from an ambulance into the emergency that work is being done at the moment. When you drive department is 90 per cent within 40 minutes, and this past the Geelong Hospital, you can see that hospital year to date Geelong has achieved 90.6 per cent, so it is being built. And in this year’s budget we allocated above the benchmark. $50 million for a new community hospital at Waurn Ponds. We are getting on with the job of fixing the Ambulance Victoria has advised me that last night problems we inherited from the Labor government. between 6.30 and 10.30 Geelong Hospital had a higher than expected demand, and between 6.30 and Carbon tax: impact 10.30 there were 40 presentations to the emergency Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) — My question is to the department, 18 of which arrived by ambulance. During Premier. Will the Premier advise the house of the that period the number of patients in the emergency impact on Victoria of the federal government’s carbon department varied between 51 and 65, and the tax since it was introduced one year ago? emergency department has 33 cubicles. The staff were very busy. During the day there were 171 presentations Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the member at the hospital. for Gembrook for his question and for his concern about the costs imposed on Victorian businesses, In response to this challenging situation, I am advised families and the government. Firstly, I congratulate that because of the additional resources provided by the Kevin Rudd on his reappointment to the high office of coalition government Ambulance Victoria was able to Prime Minister of this country. The Prime Minister, I recall off-shift paramedics, enabling the deployment of am sure, will be very keen to get on and make some two additional crews in the area. It also stationed the decisions that will help Victorian and Australian district station officer in the emergency department at families, and the first decision I suggest he make is to the Geelong Hospital to facilitate patient flow and remove the carbon tax. monitoring. I am also advised by Ambulance Victoria that there were no adverse events from this situation. I The carbon tax is hurting Victorian families, damaging can also advise the house that this government is aware businesses and killing jobs across Australia. The first of the need to increase capacity for hospital and health anniversary of the carbon tax takes place on 1 July, and services in the Geelong region. We inherited a situation, I have been advised by the Department of Premier and after 11 years of Labor, where there was Cabinet that it has analysed the impact of the carbon tax underresourcing — — on energy costs across a range of government departments and services to Victorians. In the area of Honourable members interjecting. health and hospital services — an important area in the Dr NAPTHINE — I can advise the house that since state — the analysis shows that the carbon tax cost we have been in government, funding for Barwon Victorian public hospitals $13.4 million in the past Health has increased by $38 million, or 11 per cent. On 12 months. If we had that $13.4 million in our budget, top of that we have allocated $93.3 million for capital we could treat 2500 more elective surgery patients. In works at the Geelong Hospital to fix the problems we education, our schools have paid $4.7 million in carbon inherited from the Labor government — to build more tax, which would renovate — — beds and more capacity, so that when people go to that Mr Carbines interjected. hospital they do not have to wait inordinately in the
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Questions interrupted. The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point of order. SUSPENSION OF MEMBER Dr NAPTHINE — On Monday the carbon tax Member for Ivanhoe increases again. There will be a further increase in the carbon tax. The basic cost of living for Victorian The SPEAKER — Order! The member for Ivanhoe families will go up because of the carbon tax. The cost can leave the chamber for an hour under standing of business will go up, threatening jobs, and the cost of order 124. essential services provided by the Victorian government will go up because of the Labor carbon tax. Honourable member for Ivanhoe withdrew from chamber. Ambulance services: Geelong region QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Mr TREZISE (Geelong) — My question is also to the Premier. At one stage last night there were no Carbon tax: impact ambulances available in the Geelong region — absolutely none. The Emergency Services Questions resumed. Telecommunications Authority was forced to tell patients, including one patient with seven surgical Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — Our schools were stents and a history of heart problems who was forced to pay $4.7 million in carbon tax, and that would suffering chest pain, to make their own way to Geelong have paid for 40 new maths and science teachers across Hospital. How many failures does the Premier need our schools. Our emergency services — police, State before he acknowledges that our ambulance service is Emergency Service and fire services — paid in crisis? $2.4 million in carbon tax, which would have employed 20 additional police officers, purchased 8 new fire Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the trucks or paid for 12 new ambulances. That is 12 new honourable member for his question. As I have said ambulances gone in carbon tax. Then of course in the previously in this house, this government in this budget very important area of public transport there was has provided a record level of funding for ambulance $14 million in carbon tax. That would have purchased a services in Victoria — an absolute record level of new train. That would have provided better services for funding. When we came to office in 2010, there were the people of Victoria. about 108 paramedics in the Geelong region; now there are 134, which is a significant increase in resources in In those key services alone Victorians paid $34 million the Geelong region. in carbon tax for no benefit and no gain. When we asked the department, ‘What compensation did the Mr Andrews interjected. federal government give the people of Victoria for this carbon tax payment?’, how much in compensation do The SPEAKER — Order! The Leader of the you think we got from the federal government? It was Opposition! zero. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. There was no compensation. We have got less money for essential Dr NAPTHINE — As I said, we have increased the services, less money for hospitals, less money for number of ambulance officers in the Geelong area from schools, less money for public transport and less money 108 to 134. We have put on two additional for emergency services because of the carbon tax, yet non-emergency patient transport crews in the Geelong there is no compensation from the federal Labor area, which is six staff. We have put on an additional government. At the same time we ask: what 24-hour unit, which is 12 paramedics. As I said in a representations were made by the opposition on this previous answer, last night there were particular issue? challenges facing the emergency department at Geelong Hospital, which tied up a number of Ms Allan — On a point of order, Speaker, it is fairly ambulances. self-evident that the Premier is offending standing order 58 and debating the matter. The issue of the In response to that, because of the additional resources Victorian opposition is not a matter of government we have provided to Ambulance Victoria, Ambulance administration. Can you ask the Premier to stop being Victoria was able to bring two additional crews into Tony Abbott’s muppet and start being the Premier of service. It was able to station a district station officer at this state? the hospital, and because of the additional resources provided it was able to report that there were no adverse
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effects for the people of Geelong and the region. Our offer, which will benefit all schoolchildren in Ambulance Victoria had the backup resources because Victoria and all schools in Victoria, does just that: it of our commitment as a government to additional ensures that there are no losers, it is financially funding, additional staff and additional vehicles. We are sustainable, and it also does not support any centralised delivering additional resources to Ambulance Victoria. control by Canberra. Our offer supports Victoria’s It is allocating them as it sees fit. We are delivering a reform agenda, and it also ensures that Victoria is the record level of funding for ambulances in Victoria, a no. 1 education state in the country. Our offer still record level of staffing and a record level of vehicles, stands, and we want to negotiate with the new Prime and we are opening new stations across the state. Minister and with the new federal education minister — whoever that might be; we do not know. Schools: funding We are willing to negotiate, but we want to negotiate in Mr McINTOSH (Kew) — My question is to the a timely, open and transparent way, which was missing Minister for Education, and I ask: how will the under the previous minister and previous Prime Victorian government’s proposals for education Minister. What we want are negotiations that are free of funding reform benefit all Victorian schools and leaked information and data, that are free of unrealistic schoolchildren? time lines and that are free of moving goalposts. We want certainty, and we want openness. We were Mr DIXON (Minister for Education) — I thank the pleased yesterday that the former Prime Minister member for Kew for his question and for his interest in welcomed what we put on the table. We hope that the school funding reform, Before I answer the question current Prime Minister and the future minister for can I recognise the contribution of the former federal education in the federal government, whoever that minister for school education, Peter Garrett, and might be, will work with us so that we have the best recognise the ‘power and the passion’ that he brought to outcomes for education for all Victorian students and the portfolio. for all Victorian families.
Yesterday the Premier announced the $3.5 billion When we settle on this new funding model and when commitment that we have put on the table for funding Victoria is free to implement the changes that it wants reform in Victoria — that is, $3.5 billion over six to, free of commonwealth intervention, we can move years — on top of what has been a record spend on on to the real things that matter — student learning and school education this year. We also said to the federal the funding and processes that support student learning. government that we are prepared to take up its 2 for That is what we should be on about. 1 offer. That would mean an extra $7 billion coming from the commonwealth government to Victoria. So Mr Merlino interjected. $3.5 billion from the Victorian government and $7 billion from the federal government would make an Questions interrupted. extra $10.5 billion for Victorian schools over the next six years. We have also said to the commonwealth SUSPENSION OF MEMBER government in relation to any changes that take away the autonomy of our states, our sectors and our schools Member for Monbulk that we want those removed. The SPEAKER — Order! The Deputy Leader of Mr Merlino interjected. the Opposition can leave the chamber for half an hour.
The SPEAKER — Order! The Deputy Leader of Honourable member for Monbulk withdrew from the Opposition! chamber.
Mr DIXON — We have been saying that for weeks QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE to the federal government, and it did not listen. We will not abide those sorts of changes. Our funding offer does Schools: funding reflect what Gonski recommended. It is about recognising the role of the states to manage education Questions resumed. and recognising that needs-based funding is the way to Ms Allan interjected. go, that funding should follow the child and also that there should be an increased commonwealth Mr DIXON (Minister for Education) — Unlike the contribution to education funding. member for Bendigo East, I find school funding
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exciting and challenging — and that is what we are on Victoria. This is a previous ruling from the Chair that, about. We want to work with the new federal minister can I remind you, Speaker, goes back to 1929, and it to support Victorian students. says:
Ambulance services: Geelong region A minister —
Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine) — My question is to the or in this case the Premier — Premier. Last night a Grovedale man with chest pains having quoted from a report of a public officer … the called for an ambulance. He was classified as a code 1 Speaker, holding that the document was a public document emergency, yet the nearest ambulance was and should be tabled … 65 kilometres away. The patient had to be driven to hospital by his wife. Also last night, the closest This is very clearly the practice of this house. It is clear ambulance to a code 1 patient in Ocean Grove, who that the Premier has presented data to the house from was suffering severe respiratory distress, was Ambulance Victoria. We simply ask you to uphold 55 kilometres away. How many more examples does decades of tradition and decades of practice in this the Premier need before he will acknowledge that our place and ask that he table this document in the house. ambulance service is in crisis? The SPEAKER — Order! In response to the point Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the of order, on page 71 a ruling by former Speaker honourable member for her question. With respect to Andrianopoulos says: ambulance services and ambulance resources in the The basic rule is that, where members are only referring to Geelong region, again I advise the house that since we notes or to a document, or paraphrasing a document, those have come to office we have added over 20 new notes or the document referred to need not be produced. ambulance officers to the Geelong region; we have provided additional resources to the Geelong region so So I do not uphold the point of order. that it can respond. Ms Allan — On a point of order, Speaker, with respect, the precedent I was referring you to goes to the With respect to the measures of whether this is delivering an improved outcome, I can advise the house matter of material that has been provided by a public that the benchmark of a 90 per cent transfer within authority. That public authority in this case is 40 minutes from ambulances into an emergency Ambulance Victoria. They are not notes or material that department for this year has been exceeded; the service may have been provided by a department, which is not a public authority, and not material that may have been is doing better than the target. With respect to response times, in 2010–11, which was largely under the Labor provided within a minister’s or the Premier’s own government, the response time was 67.3 per cent office, which are not public authorities. This is response in 15 minutes; in 2011–12 it was 75.6 per cent Ambulance Victoria data that we are talking about here. response within 15 minutes; and this year, 2012–13, to If the Premier has nothing to hide, he should have nothing to fear from tabling the material in the house. date it is 75.9 per cent and in April it was 79.5 per cent. There has been consistent improvement in response The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point times under this government. of order.
Ms Allan — On a point of order, Speaker, at Ms Asher — On a point of order, Speaker, two page 73 of Rulings from the Chair — and you can stop points of order ago the member for Bendigo East stood that cackle up there, you bunch of fools — under the up and in making her point of order hurled abuse at the heading ‘Documents from public officers regarded as government backbenchers. A point of order cannot be public documents — — used to hurl abuse, to make a speech or to make commentary. I request that you advise the member for The SPEAKER — Order! The member will not talk to members of the house like that. Bendigo East that a legitimate point of order is of course legitimate, but points of order are not an Ms Allan — I refer to page 73 of Rulings from the opportunity to hurl abuse at other members of Chair, December 2012, under the heading ‘Documents Parliament. from public officers regarded as public documents’. The Premier has just quoted, and it is very clear that he The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point has quoted a range of figures dating over a number of of order. I suggest that the member for Bendigo East years that he indicated were advised by Ambulance listen to what is being said and take up the issue with me at a later stage.
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Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2449
Dr NAPTHINE — I was referring to advice that I who were seriously affected last night. I ask the Premier have received about ambulance performance which to come back to answering the question. shows that since we have come to government response times in the Geelong region have significantly The SPEAKER — Order! I uphold the point of improved. I can also advise the house that the survival order. I ask the Premier to return to answering the rate for people with cardiac arrest in Geelong and question. across Victoria has significantly improved. We have got better response times and better outcomes for Dr NAPTHINE — In answering the question can I patients, and that is what we are on about through say that since we have come to office we have provided Ambulance Victoria. That is why we are providing over 20 new ambulance officers to Geelong — — Ambulance Victoria with $662 million, a 17.8 per cent The SPEAKER — Time! increase in funding from when we came to government — nearly 18 per cent more than when National disability insurance scheme: launch somebody else was in the role of Minister for Health. Mr KATOS (South Barwon) — My question is to We have increased the funding by 18 per cent, we have the Minister for Community Services. Can the minister put on 397 paramedics across Victoria and we have update the house on the commencement of the national opened new ambulance stations in Warrnambool, disability insurance scheme (NDIS) in the Barwon Horsham, Grantville, Kinglake, Cowes, Chelsea, region this Monday, 1 July? Frankston, Knox, Korumburra and Alexander. We have opened new ambulance stations, we have provided new Ms WOOLDRIDGE (Minister for Community resources — — Services) — I thank the member for South Barwon for his question and for his amazing advocacy for his Ms Neville — On a point of order, Speaker, the community and his constituents. On Monday, Premier needs to be relevant to the question that was DisabilityCare Australia, the national disability asked. It did not refer to what response times were in insurance scheme, will be launched in the Barwon the last financial year but to incidents that occurred last region of Victoria and locations across the state. night. I ask the Premier to come back to answering the question. Honourable members interjecting.
The SPEAKER — Order! The question related to Ms WOOLDRIDGE — I hope we get some whether ambulances were in an area, being Geelong. attention from the other side of the house because I The Premier was in fact answering the question in think this is something that we get support for across regard to what were the ambulance shortages and what the board in relation — — the government is doing to try to overcome that problem. I do not uphold the point of order. Honourable members interjecting.
Dr NAPTHINE — As I advised the house earlier, Ms WOOLDRIDGE — Many years of last night in Geelong Hospital there was a significant campaigning, of hoping and believing that the existing challenge faced in the emergency department. failed, broken system was not a fait accompli but a Ambulance Victoria responded by having the starting point of change have now resulted in a new additional resources that we have provided to redeploy system that I think we all genuinely believe will two additional crews, to put district station officers in revolutionise the lives of many millions of Australians the emergency department to assist and to ensure that with a disability and the families and carers who look there were no adverse events, as has been advised. But after them. the challenges facing Geelong may unfortunately be exacerbated, because on 1 July this year the federal DisabilityCare is a once in a lifetime reform that will Labor government will be taking $5.5 million away ensure that people with a disability have greater choice from Barwon Health and away from Geelong Hospital. and control over the supports and services that they The federal government will be taking money out of the choose, to live the lives they live. They will have hospital, so it cannot treat patients. certainty about getting access to reasonable and necessary supports. There is also a whole of life Ms Neville — On a point of order, Speaker, I again approach and lifetime support for people based on their ask the Premier to be relevant to the question. This is individual needs to help them live independently and not about political attacks; this is about two families achieve their goals.
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2450 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 27 June 2013
Over 5000 people in the Barwon area will participate in The SPEAKER — Order! The member for the launch. They will all come on over the first Geelong! 15 months. People currently on the disability support register or the early childhood intervention services Ms WOOLDRIDGE — It is fitting that Victoria waiting list will come on over the first two months. It is continues to be at the forefront of thinking and important to note that the government will contribute innovation on policy and service delivery for people 60 per cent of the funding for that launch site in with a disability. Most importantly, on Monday the Barwon. That is about $300 million over three years. lives of people with a disability and the lives of their From July 2016 it will start rolling out across the rest of families and carers will be substantially improved. Victoria, and by July 2019 more than 100 000 Victorians with a significant or permanent Ms Green interjected. disability will access the scheme. For the full scheme, The SPEAKER — Order! Member for Yan Yean! 48 per cent of the funding to provide those NDIS supports will be provided by the Victorian government. Ms WOOLDRIDGE — Despite the disrespect, I believe this is something everyone in this house should Monday will be a historic day, and I acknowledge so be supporting. many who have worked so hard for so many years to make this a reality — people with a disability, their Ambulance services: Geelong region families and carers, advocacy groups such as Every Australian Counts, peak groups, service providers, Mr NOONAN (Williamstown) — My question is to public servants, governments and parliaments at all the Premier. Yesterday at 5.26 p.m. an ambulance was levels, and of course the broader community. There has called for a quadriplegic Geelong woman with a serious been overwhelming support. In this house there has infection that caused her to have an altered conscious 1 been widespread support as well. state. At 7.50 p.m., almost 2 ⁄2 hours later, the best the system could manage was to assign her an ambulance I particularly want to acknowledge the Premier for his which was still ramped outside the Geelong Hospital leadership and his commitment to people with a and which still had another patient lying on its stretcher. disability and for his making sure that the NDIS I ask the Premier: how many more examples does he became a reality in Victoria. I also want to need before he will acknowledge that our ambulance acknowledge the contribution of the member for service is in crisis? Hawthorn, who was the first Australian leader of a major political party to publicly commit to an NDIS. I Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — Since coming to thank the member for South Barwon, who has spent government we have increased funding for Ambulance countless hours advocating for his community, for the Victoria. Indeed expenditure on ambulances in this NDIS — — year’s budget is $62 million, an 18 per cent increase on what was provided under the Labor government. We Mr Trezise — On a point of order, Speaker, in have provided 397 more paramedics: 183 in the relation to relevance, this has nothing to do with the Melbourne metropolitan area, 65 in Gippsland, 32 in member for South Barwon and everything to do with Loddon Mallee, 53 in Hume, 35 in the Barwon-south Julia Gillard. western region and 29 in the Grampians region. We have opened new ambulance stations in Warrnambool, The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the Horsham, Grantville, Kinglake, Cowes, Chelsea, member’s point of order. Frankston, Knox, Korumburra and Alexandra. We have Ms WOOLDRIDGE — The member for South also provided a range of mobile intensive care Barwon has also been a great advocate for Geelong to ambulance paramedics across the state. We are about be the home of DisabilityCare Australia, of course providing the resources that ambulances need to do strengthened by a $25 million commitment from the their job. Victorian coalition government. Victoria has long been If one looks at the history and the comments made in a leader in disability policy. Individualised funding 2010 by the then Minister for Health, one sees that he commenced 16 years ago. Deinstitutionalisation has said — — been going on for over two decades, and both policies have been supported by subsequent governments and The SPEAKER — Order! I ask the Premier not to also expanded. debate the issue. Mr Trezise interjected.
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Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2451
Dr NAPTHINE — What we have is a litany of all over Victoria. They will come to the Parliament, sit comments from the previous health minister, who in our chairs and debate a series of very important said — — issues they have been researching. They have been putting their debates together to put to each other in this The SPEAKER — Order! I ask the Premier not to house. debate the question. I ask the Premier to return to answering the question. I do not want to hear about The first YMCA Youth Parliament was held in 1987. issues that have been raised by previous ministers. As it sits in 2013, its 27th year, it continues to be a great opportunity for young people from right across the state Dr NAPTHINE — The context I am presenting is to participate in the parliamentary process, to the problems we inherited from the previous understand the procedures and protocols and to get an government. They were outlined by the idea of how it all works as a result of participating in Auditor-General and outlined with regard to the the legislative process. It also provides young people botched merger between Rural Ambulance Victoria and with a great opportunity to express their views on issues the Metropolitan Ambulance Service. that are very important to them, and it fosters the leadership and presentation skills they will need as they Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, with go forward with their careers in the future. respect, I put it to you that your ruling was very clear and that the Premier ought not to be given an These teams will research and debate a large range of opportunity to reinterpret your ruling. This is about a issues, including the regulation of childhood quadriplegic who is entitled to an answer, not political immunisations, mental health education in schools, attacks and quotes from three, four or five years ago. police pursuit responsibilities and banning alcohol You are in government; you ought to be — — advertising, just to name some. After debate these bills will be presented to the relevant ministers for their The SPEAKER — Order! I ask the Premier not to consideration in the future, and we all know that some debate the answer, and I ask him to get back to of the bills that have been debated by the Youth answering the question. Parliament over the years have actually come into law Dr NAPTHINE — Since we were elected to over time — issues like compulsory bike helmets when government to fix the problems we inherited we have you are riding a bike and zero blood alcohol limits for provided $662 million for ambulance expenditure. We those who are supervising learner drivers. I was also have provided additional ambulance resources in the very pleased last year that the Youth Governor at the Geelong area, and the results in the Geelong area are time introduced the practice of meeting with ministers improved response times and improved outcomes for or their staff prior to Youth Parliament to discuss some patients. Indeed when there was a crisis last night at the of the bills. I am very pleased that the current Youth Geelong emergency department we were fortunate that Governor has also followed the same practice. Ambulance Victoria had additional resources to put two This program sits very well within the government’s additional crews on the road and to provide an officer at youth strategy by involving youth in the the emergency department. It is a pity that the federal decision-making process and helping them gain some government continues to take money out of our health of the skills they might need as they progress into system. careers and leadership positions further on. It is a very Youth Parliament important program, and it is really just one of the many ways that this government is supporting young people Ms MILLER (Bentleigh) — My question is to the to develop and grow for the future. I am very proud that Minister for Youth Affairs. Can the minister update the this government has continued to support Youth house on how the Victorian government is supporting Parliament, as governments have for a number years. young people to get involved in their community, We have not only we continued to support it but have decision making and the parliamentary process? also increased funding to make sure that we increase the participation of young people who come from rural Mr R. SMITH (Minister for Youth Affairs) — I and regional areas. It is very important that we get a thank the member for Bentleigh for her question, for very good cross-section of people from across the state her keen involvement with youth in her electorate and for this thing. for her interest in youth more broadly across the state. Next week we will see enthusiastic young people from I would like to congratulate Youth Governor Oliver right around the state converge on this place for the Tripodi for his work leading into this Youth Parliament 27th YMCA Youth Parliament. They will come from as well as his Youth Governor predecessors, who have
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represented the Youth Parliament so well. Youth that we need to invest in improving our emergency Parliament could not run without the support of the departments so that people can be effectively and parliamentary staff, and I take this opportunity to thank promptly transferred from ambulances into emergency them in advance for the work they are going to do over departments. That is why we on this side of the house the course of the week. Members of the house will be are spending a record $4.8 billion on health acting speakers for the debates. I know the member for infrastructure in this state. A large portion of that will Bentleigh is one such member, and I would be improve emergency departments. Forty million dollars surprised if the member for Melton were not involved, is being spent on the emergency department project at as he often is. All members who give their time for this Frankston Hospital, providing 49 point-of-care beds, very important program should be congratulated. They 12 same-day short-term observation beds and know they are contributing to a great program that has emergency medical imaging. great outcomes for young people. At the Northern Hospital, where there have been Ambulance Victoria: funding problems with ramping, we are spending $24.5 million on a whole new emergency department. It is being built Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — My as we stand here. We are providing a major rebuild of question is to the Premier. Given that since the the Box Hill Hospital — $447.5 million — including Liberal-Nationals government came to office the 29 additional emergency department cubicles. At the number of hours that ambulances have spent ramped at Echuca hospital — a great hospital in a great region — hospitals and unable to transfer their patients has almost we are providing 10 additional treatment spaces in the doubled, given that ambulance response times have emergency department. We are investing in blown out at every single metropolitan ambulance infrastructure and emergency departments, and we are branch across the state and given that 2323 sick investing record levels of funding in our ambulance Victorians have waited longer than 24 hours on trolleys services. We are investing in a record number of in emergency departments in the year to 31 March this ambulance officers and vehicles across this state, and year, I ask: has not the time finally come to admit that we admire — — there is a crisis in our ambulance system, not just in Geelong last night as the Premier confirmed, but right Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, the across our state, every day and every night? Premier was asked whether he would add to the comment he made about the ambulance crisis in Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — When we came to Geelong last night, which he admitted. I ask you to government we were elected to fix the problems we direct him to be relevant to the question. Is there a crisis inherited from the previous government. We inherited a or is there not, yes or no? If it is all good news, why are botched merger between the Metropolitan Ambulance these people waiting in pain? Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria. There is a litany of quotes from the previous Minister for Health The SPEAKER — Order! I have had to speak to on the absolute problems in the ambulance service opposition members a number of times in regard to under his leadership. Since coming to office we have questions where the lead-in to the question becomes provided increased funding for Ambulance Victoria. part of the question. The Leader of the Opposition’s We are providing $662 million — 18 per cent more question related to ambulances that were ramped up, than when we came to government. almost doubled, and hospitals. The Premier was explaining what he is doing about it. We are providing 397 more paramedics: 183 more in the Melbourne metropolitan area, 65 more in Dr NAPTHINE — The Leader of the Opposition Gippsland, 32 more in Loddon Mallee, 53 more in did mention Geelong. There were challenges facing the Hume, 35 more in Barwon south-west and 29 more in emergency department in the hospital at Geelong last the Grampians. We have opened ambulance stations night because of a large number of people coming in. across the length and breadth of this state, including at That is why we are investing nearly $100 million in Warrnambool, Horsham, Grantville, Kinglake, Cowes, additional beds at the Geelong Hospital. We are Chelsea, Frankston, Knox and Korumburra. We have building new beds at the Geelong Hospital because the provided more vehicles, more equipment, more people of Geelong need and deserve those facilities. stations, more ambulance officers and more funding for They were ignored for 11 years under the Labor Ambulance Victoria. government. We are investing in more ambulance services, more beds, more hospital services and more With respect to the issue of transferring patients from emergency departments because we inherited problems ambulances into emergency departments, we recognise from the previous Labor government.
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Honourable members interjecting. results being delivered in regional and rural Victorian communities as we approach the two-year anniversary The SPEAKER — Order! With the roaring that is of the coalition government’s $1 billion Regional going on from both sides of the house, I feel as though I Growth Fund? am at a football game and there is a very close finish. Mr RYAN (Minister for Regional and Rural Development) — I thank the member for Benalla for An honourable member interjected. his question. Next Monday, 1 July, marks a very, very important occasion on the calendar. This will be the The SPEAKER — Order! I said it is coming from second anniversary of the launch of the coalition both sides of the house. This is not a game of football. government’s regional investment policy known as the This is the Parliament of Victoria, where we are $1 billion Regional Growth Fund. What a great two supposed to show a little respect for one another. years it has been. It has been a fantastic two years for Mr Trezise interjected. the operation of this fund. Following the launch of the fund in July 2011 we have recently reached two major Questions interrupted. milestones.
SUSPENSION OF MEMBER The first of those is that we have funded the 1000th project under the fund. One thousand projects Member for Geelong have been funded through the 48 regional municipalities which have been able to be the The SPEAKER — Order! The member for beneficiaries of this fund. The second milestone is that Geelong can leave for an hour and a half. we have been able to leverage over $1 billion worth of investment. I accept that it is not a gazillion dollars but Honourable member for Geelong withdrew from $1 billion of investment has been able to be leveraged. chamber. More than $300 million has been invested by the fund in more than 1020 projects valued at a total of QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE $1.2 billion. That means that for every dollar the growth fund is investing we are attracting an additional Ambulance Victoria: funding $3 on behalf of a variety of other sectors. We have been able to leverage these investments, which is the key to Questions resumed. so many of these projects.
The SPEAKER — Order! The behaviour of Through the fund’s economic infrastructure program members this week has been absolutely appalling. It alone, which was the initial $200 million of the does not seem to make any difference what I say, and it $500 million available to our government in this term, does not seem to make any difference if members get $133 million has been invested in almost 60 projects. thrown out of the place. I hope that in the next five or Those projects have a total cost of $850 million. The six weeks, when there is a break, members will reflect a projects are anticipated to create over 3500 direct jobs little on their behaviour and how appalling it is. That and more than 4700 indirect jobs. They will preserve goes for both sides of the house. This is not a game of more than 6700 jobs and create another 2000 jobs in the football; this is the Parliament. It is about time members course of construction. Is it any wonder that the woke up to themselves and understood what fools they Treasurer has been able to speak this week of the are making of themselves in the eyes of the general unemployment rate in regional Victoria dropping to public. 5.2 per cent, which I understand is the lowest level of Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — As I was saying, we unemployment in the regions in Australia? A lot of that have put more resources into ambulance services and is directly attributable to the work of this fund. into our health services — record levels of funding to Through the local government infrastructure stream of improve those health services that we inherited from the fund, which is another $100 million of it, more than the previous government. $90 million has been allocated across the 48 regional Regional Growth Fund: benefits councils for a total of 360 projects, and an additional investment of a quarter of a billion dollars. Under the Dr SYKES (Benalla) — My question is to the third tranche of funding, the next $100 million under Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural the Putting Locals First program, $38 million has Development. Can the minister advise the house of the
NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT (LEASING POWERS AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL 2013
2454 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 27 June 2013
delivered 350 projects with a total project cost of over to be developed, we saw the mass community $106 million. demonstrations that took place then. I think the community will certainly oppose developments in their Then, of course, as everybody in the house knows, we much-loved and very precious national parks. I oppose have provided the extra $100 million for our Energy for this bill and so does the Labor opposition. the Regions program. What a great success it has been. In places like Huntly in the electorate of Bendigo East it Debate adjourned on motion of has been absolutely wonderful to see that investment Mr NEWTON-BROWN (Prahran). made. I know that all members of the house, particularly those who are fortunate enough to represent Debate adjourned until later this day. the towns that have been the beneficiaries of that funding, have been able to celebrate it with those many PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES communities. Membership There are many examples across the state of where these investments have been made, but in the end the The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! The Speaker bottom line is that in two years there has been has received the resignation of Ms McLeish from the $1.2 billion in leveraged projects, utilising over Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Development $300 million from the Regional Growth Fund. All of Committee and of Mrs Petrovich, MLC, from the Law this can be compared with the Regional Infrastructure Reform Committee, effective from today. Development Fund of the former government, which took eight years — eight years! — to get its first CORRECTIONS AMENDMENT (BREACH $1 billion worth of investment. We have done it in OF PAROLE) BILL 2013 two years. It is a great achievement on behalf of the fund, which is a spectacular success for regional Statement of compatibility Victoria. Mr WELLS (Minister for Police and Emergency Services) tabled following statement in accordance NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT with Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (LEASING POWERS AND OTHER Act 2006: MATTERS) BILL 2013 In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights Second reading and Responsibilities Act 2006 (charter act), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to the Corrections Debate resumed. Amendment (Breach of Parole) Bill 2013 (the bill). In my opinion, the bill as introduced to the Legislative Ms BEATTIE (Yuroke) — I was interrupted by the Assembly is compatible with the human rights protected by evacuation alarm very dramatically, but in the the charter act. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in remaining few minutes that I have I would be pleased this statement. to recap on what I was saying then. Labor is opposing Overview of bill the National Parks Amendment (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013. Labor does not believe that The main purpose of the bill is to amend the Corrections Act we should hand over our national parks holus-bolus to 1986 (the principal act) to provide that it is an offence for a developers to run riot in national parks. This person to breach a prescribed term or condition of parole without reasonable excuse. Any prison sentence imposed in government has proved that developers get their way. relation to the offence of breaching parole will be served All they have to do is go knocking on doors, and they cumulatively on other prison sentences to be served by the get their way. We see that with high-rise development person. The bill also amends the principal act to authorise a in the city. We have seen it before with the police officer to arrest and detain a person if the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the person has breached government’s lack of care for our national parks. We parole. have seen cattle back in the national parks, and we have seen firewood being taken from the national parks. Human rights issues
This government does not care for our national parks, Human rights protected by the charter act that are relevant to the bill and Labor does. While we support eco-based tourism and nature-based tourism, we do not support the Right to liberty — new offence of breach of parole and handing over of our national parks to developers. associated arrest powers Believe me, back when Wilsons Promontory was going
CORRECTIONS AMENDMENT (BREACH OF PAROLE) BILL 2013
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2455
Section 21(2) of the charter act provides that a person must detention is to be regarded as time served in respect of the not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. Section 21(3) sentence of imprisonment for which the person is on parole. provides that a person must not be deprived of his or her liberty except on grounds, and in accordance with procedures, While the person is detained pursuant to these provisions, and established by law. is effectively serving the sentence of imprisonment already imposed for the offence for which they were on parole, the Clause 3 of the bill inserts a new s 78A into the principal act ability to apply for bail is temporarily suspended. to provide that it is an offence for a person to breach a prescribed term or condition of parole without reasonable I consider that these provisions are compatible with the right excuse while released on parole. The penalty attached to this to liberty in s 21 of the charter act. I acknowledge that persons offence is three months imprisonment, 30 penalty units, or detained under these provisions will have their parole both. Clause 5 of the bill inserts a new s 16(3BA) into the temporarily suspended and will be detained before having the Sentencing Act 1991 to provide that a term of imprisonment opportunity for a proper hearing before the board. It will also imposed for an offence against s 78A must, unless otherwise mean a delay before the person is able to apply for bail for the directed by the court because of the existence of exceptional new offence with which they are charged, in the event that the board determines not to cancel parole. However, the detention circumstances, be served cumulatively on any period of occurs pursuant to the sentence of imprisonment already imprisonment the person may be required to serve on imposed by the court and in order to protect the public from cancellation of parole (that is, the remainder of the sentence the dangers that arise where a person is breaching their parole. the person was serving until their release on parole) as well as The provisions require that the matter be referred to the board any period of imprisonment imposed in relation to another within 12 hours of arrest and that the board determine offence committed while on parole (the commission of which whether the person ought to be detained pending will also amount to an offence against s 78A). consideration of the breach of parole, or cease to be detained under s 78B, and then consider the breach of parole, as soon Clause 3 of the bill also inserts a new s 78B(1) into the as practicable after notification. principal act to provide that a member of the police force may, without warrant, arrest a person on parole if the officer Right to be presumed innocent suspects on reasonable grounds that the person has committed an offence against s 78A. Section 25(1) of the charter act provides that a person charged with a criminal offence has the right to be presumed innocent In my view these provisions are compatible with the right to until proven guilty in accordance with the law. New liberty. The grounds for arrest are clear and appropriate, and section 78A creates an offence of breaching a prescribed term cannot be regarded as arbitrary. or condition of parole without reasonable excuse. Pursuant to s 72 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009, the onus is on the A parole period provides an offender with an opportunity to accused to present or point to evidence that could establish a be reintegrated into the community under strict supervision, reasonable excuse. with the ultimate aim of reducing reoffending and minimising associated risks to the community. The terms and conditions Courts in other jurisdictions have generally taken the of parole are specified by the adult parole board (the board) approach that an evidential onus such as this does not limit and communicated to parolees by way of individual parole the presumption of innocence. The prosecution bears the onus orders, with which a parolee must comply. In circumstances of establishing the principal elements of the offence and, once where a parolee breaches a prescribed term or condition of an accused has presented or pointed to evidence of the reasonable excuse, the prosecution must also disprove that parole, without reasonable excuse, it is entirely appropriate excuse beyond reasonable doubt. Additionally, whether a that punishment attaches to the breach. Similarly, the power person has a reasonable excuse for breaching parole will be to arrest a parolee for a breach of parole is appropriate in the within his or her knowledge. By contrast, it would be context of the objectives and essential elements of the parole extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the prosecution to regime. prove the absence of a reasonable excuse given the range of potential excuses available. Accordingly, even if s 78A Right to liberty — detention pending determination by the amounts to a limit upon the right to be presumed innocent, the adult parole board limitation is reasonable and justifiable under section 7(2) of the charter act. New s 78B of the principal act further provides new powers to police to detain persons arrested under s 78(1). New Right not to be punished more than once s 78B(2) provides that the person may be detained where the arresting police officer is satisfied that the alleged breach is Section 26 of the charter act provides that a person must not not trivial or minor and detention is necessary to prevent the be punished more than once for an offence for which he or prisoner continuing the breach or committing a further breach she has been finally convicted. A person who commits an of parole. New s 78B(3) provides that the person must be offence against s 78A is subject to a criminal penalty for that detained where the alleged breach is constituted by an offence offence, as well as any criminal penalty attached to any that is punishable by imprisonment other than an offence separate offence committed while on parole. However, the against s 78A or a breach of a term or condition of parole that elements of these offences, and the purposes to be served by is prescribed (by regulation) for the purpose of this provision. them, are distinct. In such circumstances, the right not to be Detention of the prisoner on parole may also be ordered under punished more than once for an offence for which a person new section 78C(1)(a) pending consideration by the board of has been finally convicted is not relevant. I therefore consider the breach of the term or condition of parole. The detention that new s 78A is compatible with the right not to be punished effectively amounts to a temporary suspension of parole. more than once. Pursuant to new clause 78E of the principal act, also Hon. Kimberley Arthur Wells introduced by clause 3 of the bill, the period spent in Minister for Police and Emergency Services
CORRECTIONS AMENDMENT (BREACH OF PAROLE) BILL 2013
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Second reading to the Sentencing Act 1991 makes this explicit in relation to the new offence. Mr WELLS (Minister for Police and Emergency Services) — I move: The bill provides a new power for the police to deal with breach of parole terms or conditions that do not That this bill be now read a second time. involve further offending — for example, breach of a The bill will amend the Corrections Act 1986 so as to: curfew or breach of alcohol restrictions.
introduce a new offence of breach of parole by The new power provides that any police officer may, failing to comply with a prescribed term or condition without warrant, arrest and detain a prisoner on parole of parole without reasonable excuse (with a if the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that consequential amendment to the Sentencing Act the prisoner, while on parole, has breached a prescribed 1991 to make clear that any prison sentence imposed term or condition of parole. for this new offence of breach of parole is to be served cumulatively on any other prison sentence, Upon arrest for breach of parole, the prisoner will be unless exceptional circumstances exist); and dealt with in accordance with the criminal laws and procedures that currently apply to arrested persons, introduce a new power under the Corrections Act unless the police officer is satisfied that the prisoner 1986 for police to arrest a prisoner on parole if the should be detained in order to prevent the breach police officer suspects on reasonable grounds the continuing or to prevent a further breach of parole. If prisoner has committed the offence of breach of the police officer is so satisfied, the prisoner may be parole. detained until the breach is considered by the Adult Parole Board. Over the last year, the government has introduced significant legislative and operational reforms to the If the breach of parole is the commission of a further adult parole system in Victoria, and this work is offence punishable by imprisonment or some other continuing. serious breach that will be set out in the regulations, the prisoner must be detained until the breach is considered Included in these reforms is the Justice Legislation by the Adult Parole Board. Amendment (Cancellation of Parole and Other Matters) Act 2013, which commenced on 20 May 2013. It If the prisoner is detained under these new provisions, enacted new provisions regarding cancellation of the Adult Parole Board must be notified within parole, including automatic cancellation of parole for 12 hours of the arrest, and as soon as reasonably repeat offending by serious violent offenders and sex practicable after being notified, the board must order offenders. that the person:
The bill builds on those reforms by introducing a new be detained in a prison or police gaol pending offence of breach of parole, where that breach is consideration by the board of the breach (as soon as constituted by failing to comply with a prescribed term is practicable); or or condition of parole. no longer be detained under these provisions. The penalty for the new offence of breach of parole will be up to three months imprisonment, a fine of up to A member of the board (other than the secretary or a 30 penalty units, or both. part time non-judicial member) may exercise these functions of receiving notification of arrest and making The new offence is consistent with the offence of the initial decision on detention or release, on behalf of committing a further offence whilst on bail (contained the board. in a bill amending the Bail Act 1977 currently before Parliament) or whilst subject to a community correction If an order is made that the person continue to be order under the Sentencing Act 1991. detained, the board must as soon as practicable consider the breach, and decide whether to cancel parole or vary As is currently the case with sentences of imprisonment parole terms and conditions. imposed on persons on parole, any prison sentence imposed for the new breach of parole offence will be The bill ensures that in these circumstances the cumulative, unless the court orders otherwise due to breaches of parole are considered immediately and then exceptional circumstances. A consequential amendment criminal prosecutions for an offence will be subsequently addressed. For this purpose, the
EDUCATION AND TRAINING REFORM AMENDMENT (SCHOOL ATTENDANCE) BILL 2013
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2457
provisions of the Crimes Act 1958 and the Bail Act issues in relation to primary and secondary school 1977 that require persons in custody for an offence to attendance could be a flaw in it. We do not think this be taken before a bail justice or the Magistrates Court legislation has been thought through very well. It really or released on summons do not apply until the does not address the problem of school non-attendance detention of the prisoner for breach of parole is or non-enrolment in a holistic way. In all other similar addressed by the board. matters, whether it be workplace safety, road safety or other such issues, fines and penalties are applied but If the board makes a decision that the prisoner should there are also education and awareness-raising no longer be detained under these new provisions or programs and strategies to address the barriers to better decides not to cancel parole, those criminal laws safety — for example, for road workers. In this case dealing with the custody of the person are immediately where are the programs to break down some of the re-enlivened. The result is that a prisoner may continue barriers that may have resulted in children not going to to be detained for the purposes of the criminal school? proceedings before the court or until, for example, bail is granted. The minister said in his second-reading speech that there are programs in place to address non-attendance Even if the board decides the prisoner should not be and engage children in schools, but really the detained under the provisions, the arrest of the person government has a very underfunded, underresourced will, as is currently the case, be the subject of a report to welfare approach. It is not empowering students and the board by Corrections Victoria, and the board will encouraging them to come to school with programs determine whether any further action should be taken. such as the Victorian certificate of applied learning and alternative pathways such as through the TAFE system. The bill reflects that parole is a privilege not a right, and When there are funding cuts to these programs of the paramount consideration for parole is community course it means that in some cases students are going to safety. become less engaged with study — —
I commend the bill to the house. The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! I am sorry, Debate adjourned on motion of Mr MADDEN but I have to ask the member to cease speaking. When (Essendon). the member had the call in the house at an earlier date, she was not here and the member for Prahran adjourned Debate adjourned until Thursday, 11 July. the debate. By giving the member the call now I am giving her a second opportunity to speak on a bill, EDUCATION AND TRAINING REFORM which is not allowed under standing orders. I am sorry, AMENDMENT (SCHOOL ATTENDANCE) but the member cannot continue speaking because she BILL 2013 cannot speak twice on the bill, unless the house will give her leave to continue. Second reading Leave granted. Debate resumed from 25 June; motion of Mr DIXON (Minister for Education). Ms HALFPENNY — I thank the Minister for Education. Ms WREFORD (Mordialloc) — I rise in support of — — I will make a few other comments. We all know that education can change people’s lives. As the Australian Ms Halfpenny — Deputy Speaker, I was actually Council for Educational Research has said, halfway through my contribution. non-attendance at school is a key issue. Failure to be in school long enough — that is, early leaving — or often The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! I apologise. I enough to gain basic skills and knowledge has personal will give the member for Thomastown the call. and social costs, and the disadvantage can be lifelong.
Ms HALFPENNY (Thomastown) — In the first This legislation provides for school attendance officers part of my contribution I was talking about the to investigate absences from school. It gives them difference between non-attendance at school by power to access school records for this purpose and also students in primary and school and those in secondary to issue school enrolment or attendance notices where a school in terms of reasons and suggesting that the fact student has been absent for five days or more without a that this legislation does not differentiate between reasonable excuse. In the case of primary school-aged
EDUCATION AND TRAINING REFORM AMENDMENT (SCHOOL ATTENDANCE) BILL 2013
2458 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 27 June 2013
children, of course, attendance is very much within the bill in that it does not require data on absenteeism to be control of a parent. For a child to miss out on school in centrally collected to find out what is going on and the primary school for no good reason is unconscionable. reasons for it in order to address the problem in a more Parents of primary school students take their children to holistic way. school and decide whether they are at school or not, which may not be the case in relation to secondary Ms WREFORD (Mordialloc) — I rise in support of school students, so it is important that there be the Education and Training Reform Amendment programs and penalties to make sure that those parents (School Attendance) Bill 2013. This bill is about are taking their children to school. ensuring decent attendance, and good attendance brings good results. I would like to remind the member for To give an example from my experience, when I was Thomastown that next time she would like to be absent doing the voluntary reading program at my son’s school when it is her turn to be called to speak — — there was a student in the early primary years who was a very good reader and was very intelligent but who did The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! I ask the not attend school for many weeks because one of his member to speak on the bill. parents had lost their licence and decided not to take him. I often wonder where that child is in terms of his Ms WREFORD — I am getting to the bill, which is education now after missing so much school. However, about attendance. This bill is about ensuring that school I do not know whether the penalty in itself would age children are not absent from school during school necessarily fix this problem. Again, I think we have to times. In my electorate we want children attending look at the problem in a much more holistic way in schools like Parkdale Secondary College, into which terms of the school and the resourcing of the school, we have pumped more than $8.3 million. We want and also ensure that there is proper communication with children in school rather than at the local shops or at Southland. the department, because in this case nothing was done about the child’s absence even though at that time there This bill simplifies the processes but considers the was legislation in place to provide for compulsory holistic approach required to ensure that children are attendance. There may have been ways the school not afraid of going to school. We do not want children community could have assisted in getting that boy to skipping school, and we especially do not want them school, but of course because of privacy legislation skipping school because of bullying. Currently parents there was no way the school could ask other parents to must ensure their child’s enrolment in either a school or help. homeschooling and must have the support of the law to Of course in terms of older students, secondary school ensure that their children attend. However, the law is exceedingly complicated and in many cases requires students, parents may not have as much control over their attendance. I heard an example today of a full court proceedings, so it needs to be simplified. This 15-year-old student who stopped going to school bill will achieve that. Daily schooling is a very because of bullying, even though the issue had been important part of a child’s education and social raised with the school on a number of occasions, development, and completing year 12 or equivalent is proven to lead to better employment outcomes, higher according to that student. The student did not go back to school for the whole year after July, until they moved incomes and better health outcomes. to a different school. Again, what was going on did not We need to make sure bullying in schools is not seem to have been communicated very well between causing absenteeism, and this government has been the school and the department. It is unfortunate that this working hard on that front. We have ensured that legislation does not address those sorts of student support services are optimally placed by communication problems and investigate what it is that schools having management controls over funds is going on within schools around attendance so that we allocated for student support services officers and other could look at addressing this terrible situation in a more allied health workers. We have also provided more holistic way. funding for primary care officers, and in February this The other issue about the infringement system is that it year we provided funding to 90 schools for their first does not assist children in out-of-home care. This is officers. That includes a new position at Le Page another failure of the legislation. We know that Bernie Primary School in my electorate. We have also put Geary, the commissioner for child safety, has expressed $450 000 into the Bully Stoppers round 1 grants, which were announced recently. Bully Stoppers is a $4 million concern about children in out-of-school care not going to school in a more regular way and about their program that is part of a $14.5 million commitment to education being disrupted. There is also a failure in the stamp out bullying. We have even supported the
TRANSPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FOUNDATION TAXI AND HIRE CAR REFORMS) BILL 2013
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2459 development of templates and evidence-based toolkits Council’s amendments: for schools to help students who display difficult, 1. Clause 11, page 14, line 3, omit “The” and insert challenging or disruptive behaviours. “Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the”.
This bill builds on that work with a focus on preventing 2. Clause 11, page 14, after line 8 insert — absenteeism. We will provide refreshed student attendance support kits, which will provide tips and “( ) In determining the boundaries of the Urban and tried and tested strategies to reduce absenteeism. They Large Regional Zone under subsection (2)(a), the licensing authority must include within those will help encourage school attendance and provide boundaries — improved systems to record and monitor student attendance. We want schools to use these systems and (a) the Outer Suburban Taxi-Cab Zone as supports with families and students before referring a described in Schedule 1 to the Order made under section 143A on 17 June 2010 and case to a school attendance officer. This bill will allow published in the Government Gazette a school attendance officer to issue a school enrolment (No. S246) on 28 June 2010; and notice to a parent of a child who the officer believes, on researched reasonable grounds, is not enrolled in school (b) the Port Philip Taxi-Cab Zone as described in or homeschooling. Parents will then have the following Schedule 1 to the Order made under section 143A on 16 November 2011 and options: they may provide a reason for the child not published in the Government Gazette being enrolled, or they may enrol or conditionally enrol (No. S370) on 16 November 2011. their child in a school or homeschooling. This process does not require a court intervention. ( ) The licensing authority does not have power under subsection (2)(b) to alter the boundaries of the Urban and Large Regional Zone in such a way that This bill also considers shared custody situations. A it no longer would include the whole of both the parent can nominate the responsible parent when a Zones referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of child is in the custody of the other parent at the time of subsection (3).”. the infringement. I know from personal experience — — 3. Clause 11, page 14, line 9, omit “(3)” and insert “(5)”. 4. Clause 11, page 14, line 9, omit “The” and insert The SPEAKER — Order! The time set down for “Subject to subsection (6), the”. consideration of items on the government business program has expired, and I am required to interrupt 5. Clause 11, page 14, after line 11 insert — business. “( ) An area of overlap cannot have any point within that area that is more than 3 kilometres from any Motion agreed to. point in either of the two adjoining zones that is outside that area.”. Read second time. 6. Clause 11, page 14, line 12, omit “(4)” and insert “(7)”. Third reading 7. Clause 11, page 14, line 12, omit “(5)” and insert “(8)”. Motion agreed to. 8. Clause 11, page 14, line 22, omit “(5)” and insert “(8)”. Read third time. 9. Clause 11, page 14, line 30, omit “(6)” and insert “(9)”.
TRANSPORT LEGISLATION 10. Clause 11, page 14, line 30, omit “(5)” and insert “(8)”. AMENDMENT (FOUNDATION TAXI AND HIRE CAR REFORMS) BILL 2013 11. Clause 11, page 15, line 1, omit “(7)” and insert “(10)”. 12. Clause 11, page 15, line 1, omit “(8)” and insert “(11)”. Council’s amendments 13. Clause 11, page 15, line 6, omit “(8)” and insert “(11)”. Message from Council relating to amendments further considered. 14. Clause 11, page 15, line 15, omit “(9)” and insert “(12)”. Debate resumed from 26 June; motion of 15. Clause 11, page 15, line 16, omit “(8)” and insert “(11)”. Mr MULDER (Minister for Public Transport): 16. Clause 16, line 15, omit “143B(8)” and insert “143B(11)”. That the amendments be agreed to. 17. Clause 17, page 22, Table in proposed new subsection (2B), omit “$17 000” and insert “$22 000”.
TRANSPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FOUNDATION TAXI AND HIRE CAR REFORMS) BILL 2013
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18. Clause 17, page 22, Table in proposed new (g) the Melton/Bacchus Marsh Taxi-Cab Zone subsection (2B), omit “$13 400” and insert “$18 400”. being —
And Mr WYNNE’S amendments to Council’s (i) the area within a 15 kilometre radius of the amendment 2: Melton Post Office; and
Amendment No. 2: (ii) the area within a 15 kilometre radius of the Bacchus Marsh Post Office; and 1. In the proposed paragraph (b) omit “2011.” and insert “2011; and”. (iii) the area within an 8 kilometre radius of the Ballan Post Office; and 2. After proposed paragraph (b) insert — (h) the Wandong, Wallan, Broadford, Kilmore, “(c) the Ballarat Taxi-Cab Zone being the area within Whittlesea Taxi-Cab Zone being — an 11 kilometre radius of the Ballarat General Post Office; and (i) the area within a 3 kilometre radius of the Wandong Post Office; and (d) the Bendigo Taxi-Cab Zone being the area within an 11 kilometre radius of the Bendigo General Post (ii) the area within a 4 kilometre radius of the Office; and Broadford Post Office; and
(e) the Geelong Taxi-Cab Zone being the area (iii) the area within an 8 kilometre radius of the bounded by the coastline, Hermsley Road to the Kilmore Post Office; and Portarlington Road railway crossing at Curlewis, Curlewis road, a straight south-west line to the (iv) the area within a 9 kilometre radius of the intersection of Ocean Grove Road, a straight Wallan Post Office; and south-west line to the intersection of Barwon Heads and Breamlea Roads, a straight south-west (v) the area within a 10 kilometre radius of the line to the intersection of Torquay and Blackgate Whittlesea Post Office.”. roads, a straight north-west line to the intersection of Anglesea and Dickens Roads, a straight 3. Omit “the whole of both the Zones referred to in north-west line to the intersection of Prices paragraphs (a) and (b) of” and insert “ the whole of all of Highway and Devon Road, a straight north-west the Zones referred to in”. line to the intersection of Barrabool and Hendy Main Roads, a straight north-east line to the The SPEAKER — Order! The minister has intersection of Hamilton Highway and proposed that the house agree to the amendments made Pollocksford Road, a straight north-west line to the by the Legislative Council. The member for Richmond Midland Highway railway overpass at Gheringhap, has moved three amendments to Legislative Council a straight north line to the intersection of Sutherland Creek and Staceys Roads, Staceys Road amendment 2. Therefore, I will deal with Council to Geelong-Ballan Road, a straight north-east line amendments 1 and 2 separately, to be followed by the to the intersection of Geelong-Bacchus Marsh and remaining amendments together. Peak School Roads, Peak School Road, a straight east line to Hughes Road, Hughes Road, Pousties Council amendment 1 agreed to. Road, Beach Road and the coastline to Hersmsley Road; and The SPEAKER — Order! For Council (f) the Sunbury, Gisborne, Macedon, Romsey, amendment 2, initially I will put the question in relation Riddell’s Creek, Woodend Taxi-Cab Zone to the first amendment moved by the member for being — Richmond. He has proposed to omit an expression and insert an alternative expression and word. The question (i) the area within an 8 kilometre radius of the Sunbury Post Office; and is:
(ii) the area within an 8 kilometre radius of the That the expression proposed to be omitted from Gisborne Post Office; and amendment 2 stand part of the question.
(iii) the area within an 8 kilometre radius of the House divided on omission (members in favour vote Macedon Post Office; and no):
(iv) the area within a 10 kilometre radius of the Ayes, 43 Romsey Post Office; and Angus, Mr Napthine, Dr (v) the area within a 2 kilometre radius of the Asher, Ms Newton-Brown, Mr Riddell’s Creek Post Office; and Baillieu, Mr Northe, Mr Battin, Mr O’Brien, Mr (vi) the area within an 8 kilometre radius of the Bauer, Mrs Powell, Mrs Woodend Post Office; and Blackwood, Mr Ryall, Ms
SUSTAINABLE FORESTS (TIMBER) AMENDMENT BILL 2013
Thursday, 27 June 2013 ASSEMBLY 2461
Bull, Mr Ryan, Mr House divided on omission (members in favour vote Burgess, Mr Shaw, Mr no): Clark, Mr Smith, Mr R. Crisp, Mr Southwick, Mr Delahunty, Mr Sykes, Dr Ayes, 43 Dixon, Mr Thompson, Mr Angus, Mr Napthine, Dr Fyffe, Mrs Tilley, Mr Asher, Ms Newton-Brown, Mr Gidley, Mr Victoria, Ms Baillieu, Mr Northe, Mr Hodgett, Mr Wakeling, Mr Battin, Mr O’Brien, Mr Katos, Mr Walsh, Mr Bauer, Mrs Powell, Mrs Kotsiras, Mr Watt, Mr Blackwood, Mr Ryall, Ms McIntosh, Mr Weller, Mr Bull, Mr Ryan, Mr McLeish, Ms Wells, Mr Burgess, Mr Shaw, Mr Miller, Ms Wooldridge, Ms Clark, Mr Smith, Mr R. Morris, Mr Wreford, Ms Crisp, Mr Southwick, Mr Mulder, Mr Delahunty, Mr Sykes, Dr Dixon, Mr Thompson, Mr Noes, 41 Fyffe, Mrs Tilley, Mr Allan, Ms Howard, Mr Gidley, Mr Victoria, Ms Andrews, Mr Hutchins, Ms Hodgett, Mr Wakeling, Mr Barker, Ms Kairouz, Ms Katos, Mr Walsh, Mr Beattie, Ms Kanis, Ms Kotsiras, Mr Watt, Mr Brooks, Mr Knight, Ms McIntosh, Mr Weller, Mr Campbell, Ms Languiller, Mr McLeish, Ms Wells, Mr Carbines, Mr Lim, Mr Miller, Ms Wooldridge, Ms Carroll, Mr McGuire, Mr Morris, Mr Wreford, Ms D’Ambrosio, Ms Madden, Mr Mulder, Mr Donnellan, Mr Merlino, Mr Duncan, Ms Nardella, Mr Noes, 41 Edwards, Ms Neville, Ms Allan, Ms Hutchins, Ms Eren, Mr Noonan, Mr Andrews, Mr Kairouz, Ms Foley, Mr Pakula, Mr Barker, Ms Kanis, Ms Garrett, Ms Pandazopoulos, Mr Beattie, Ms Knight, Ms Graley, Ms Perera, Mr Brooks, Mr Languiller, Mr Green, Ms Scott, Mr Campbell, Ms Lim, Mr Halfpenny, Ms Thomson, Ms Carbines, Mr McGuire, Mr Helper, Mr Trezise, Mr Carroll, Mr Madden, Mr Hennessy, Ms Wynne, Mr D’Ambrosio, Ms Merlino, Mr Herbert, Mr Donnellan, Mr Nardella, Mr Duncan, Ms Neville, Ms Amendment defeated. Edwards, Ms Noonan, Mr Eren, Mr Pakula, Mr The SPEAKER — Order! As the house has not Foley, Mr Pallas, Mr agreed to the amendment, the member for Richmond Garrett, Ms Pandazopoulos, Mr Graley, Ms Perera, Mr cannot proceed with his other amendments, as they are Green, Ms Scott, Mr consequential. Halfpenny, Ms Thomson, Ms Hennessy, Ms Trezise, Mr Council amendment 2 agreed to. Herbert, Mr Wynne, Mr Howard, Mr Council amendments 3 to 18 agreed to. Amendment defeated.
SUSTAINABLE FORESTS (TIMBER) The SPEAKER — Order! The question is: AMENDMENT BILL 2013 That the bill be now read a second time and a third time. Second reading House divided on question: Debate resumed from 25 June; motion of Mr WALSH (Minister for Agriculture and Food Ayes, 43 Security); and Ms ALLAN’s amendment: Angus, Mr Napthine, Dr Asher, Ms Newton-Brown, Mr That all the words after ‘That’ be omitted with the view of Baillieu, Mr Northe, Mr inserting in their place the words ‘this house refuses to read Battin, Mr O’Brien, Mr this bill a second time until the impacts of the measures and Bauer, Mrs Powell, Mrs time lines of the bill have been referred to, and considered by, Blackwood, Mr Ryall, Ms the Environment and Natural Resources Committee’. Bull, Mr Ryan, Mr
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Burgess, Mr Shaw, Mr Baillieu, Mr Northe, Mr Clark, Mr Smith, Mr R. Battin, Mr O’Brien, Mr Crisp, Mr Southwick, Mr Bauer, Mrs Powell, Mrs Delahunty, Mr Sykes, Dr Blackwood, Mr Ryall, Ms Dixon, Mr Thompson, Mr Bull, Mr Ryan, Mr Fyffe, Mrs Tilley, Mr Burgess, Mr Shaw, Mr Gidley, Mr Victoria, Ms Clark, Mr Smith, Mr R. Hodgett, Mr Wakeling, Mr Crisp, Mr Southwick, Mr Katos, Mr Walsh, Mr Delahunty, Mr Sykes, Dr Kotsiras, Mr Watt, Mr Dixon, Mr Thompson, Mr McIntosh, Mr Weller, Mr Fyffe, Mrs Tilley, Mr McLeish, Ms Wells, Mr Gidley, Mr Victoria, Ms Miller, Ms Wooldridge, Ms Morris, Mr Wreford, Ms Hodgett, Mr Wakeling, Mr Mulder, Mr Katos, Mr Walsh, Mr Kotsiras, Mr Watt, Mr Noes, 41 McIntosh, Mr Weller, Mr Allan, Ms Hutchins, Ms McLeish, Ms Wells, Mr Andrews, Mr Kairouz, Ms Miller, Ms Wooldridge, Ms Barker, Ms Kanis, Ms Morris, Mr Wreford, Ms Beattie, Ms Knight, Ms Mulder, Mr Brooks, Mr Languiller, Mr Campbell, Ms Lim, Mr Noes, 42 Carbines, Mr McGuire, Mr Carroll, Mr Madden, Mr Allan, Ms Howard, Mr D’Ambrosio, Ms Merlino, Mr Andrews, Mr Hutchins, Ms Donnellan, Mr Nardella, Mr Barker, Ms Kairouz, Ms Duncan, Ms Neville, Ms Beattie, Ms Kanis, Ms Edwards, Ms Noonan, Mr Brooks, Mr Knight, Ms Eren, Mr Pakula, Mr Campbell, Ms Languiller, Mr Foley, Mr Pallas, Mr Carbines, Mr Lim, Mr Garrett, Ms Pandazopoulos, Mr Carroll, Mr McGuire, Mr Graley, Ms Perera, Mr D’Ambrosio, Ms Madden, Mr Green, Ms Scott, Mr Donnellan, Mr Merlino, Mr Halfpenny, Ms Thomson, Ms Duncan, Ms Nardella, Mr Hennessy, Ms Trezise, Mr Edwards, Ms Neville, Ms Herbert, Mr Wynne, Mr Eren, Mr Noonan, Mr Howard, Mr Foley, Mr Pakula, Mr Question agreed to. Garrett, Ms Pallas, Mr Graley, Ms Pandazopoulos, Mr Read second time. Green, Ms Perera, Mr Halfpenny, Ms Scott, Mr Third reading Helper, Mr Thomson, Ms Hennessy, Ms Trezise, Mr Motion agreed to. Herbert, Mr Wynne, Mr Question agreed to. Read third time. Read second time. NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT (LEASING POWERS AND OTHER Third reading MATTERS) BILL 2013 Motion agreed to. Second reading Read third time. Debate resumed from earlier this day; motion of Mr R. SMITH (Minister for Environment and BAIL AMENDMENT BILL 2013 Climate Change). Second reading The SPEAKER — Order! The question is: Debate resumed from 26 June; motion of That this bill be now read a second time and a third time. Mr CLARK (Attorney-General). House divided on question: Motion agreed to. Ayes, 43 Read second time. Angus, Mr Napthine, Dr Asher, Ms Newton-Brown, Mr
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Third reading 2013 has been to sympathise with and to acknowledge the vulnerability of the particular client. But he goes on Motion agreed to. to say:
Read third time. … the federal magistrate cannot order VLA to provide funding and there is no ‘exceptional circumstances’ funding Business interrupted under sessional orders. that is available to be accessed.
ADJOURNMENT He also makes it clear that VLA’s stance in regard to this matter, and others like it, will not change ‘without The SPEAKER — Order! The question is: an increase in funding.’ This degree of rigidity and inflexibility is absolutely contrary to the interests of That the house now adjourns. justice. It is simply wrong that a vulnerable woman in this situation should have to represent herself because Victoria Legal Aid: funding guidelines of inflexible guidelines and the VLA funding crisis.
Mr PAKULA (Lyndhurst) — The matter I wish to The action I seek is that the minister comply with the raise is for the attention of the Attorney-General, and it order of the former Federal Magistrates Court of concerns changes to legal aid funding guidelines which Australia to review the application of the current VLA have been effective since 7 January this year and the guideline which has been in place since 7 January 2013 particular impact those changes are having on family and to, at the very least, provide sufficient funding to law matters. One such matter has been brought to my allow VLA to fund these types of matters where attention by Mr Terry Weerappah of Bayside Solicitors exceptional circumstances are found to exist. in Frankston. Mr Weerappah has a client who cannot be identified for obvious reasons. She has been denied Consumer affairs: misleading advertising legal aid funding for the trial stage of her family law matter, ostensibly because her former partner is Mrs FYFFE (Evelyn) — The matter I wish to raise unrepresented and, under the new guidelines, that is for the attention of the Minister for Women’s Affairs, automatically makes Mr Weerappah’s client ineligible. who is also the Minister for Consumer Affairs. I ask her to examine what action can be taken to ensure truth in This is despite the fact that federal magistrate Kate advertising and in the use of promotional material — in Hughes made orders in February this year that particular the use of digital enhancement — and also to requested the Attorney-General, the director of Victoria look at the false claims of the various beauty products. Legal Aid (VLA) and the commonwealth Attorney-General to review the application of the I am deputy chair of the Commonwealth Women guidelines in these circumstances. Parliamentarians group. We have spent a lot of time looking at these issues, and we all agreed to call on our The court further found that: various ministers to look at enacting a law similar to one that has been in place in Israel now for over a year … there are substantial issues of child abuse and risk alleged in this case which require appropriate legal representation of whereby any image that is produced in that country that the mother at trial and it is requested that Victoria Legal Aid has been digitally enhanced has to carry the words provide trial representation for the mother in this case as there ‘This image has been digitally enhanced’. It does not are exceptional circumstances. prevent the advertiser or the promoter from digitally The ‘exceptional circumstances’ referred to by Her enhancing any of those images, but they must have the Honour are detailed in the family report and include disclaimer on them. ‘highly sexualised, inappropriate correspondence’ with I also did quite a lot of work for the Minister for the eldest child, stalking, family violence and breach of Community Services on anorexia and bulimia, and the intervention orders. In these circumstances it is unrealistic and unattainable images that are presented in absolutely understandable why the mother would be advertising and in the marketing of magazines have terrified of the notion of representing herself and having been recognised to cause depression and low to cross-examine her former partner without assistance. self-esteem and to result in anorexia and bulimia. But that is exactly what she must do. Although these are still predominantly female illnesses, The Attorney-General’s response to correspondence there are an increasing number of young males who are has been simply to handball the matter to Victoria not eating and who are also overexercising in trying to Legal Aid, despite Her Honour’s order. The response of reach these images. These perfect images cause anxiety. Mr Bevan Warner of the VLA, by letter dated 17 April,
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Extreme anxiety is a mental illness, and we need to I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate later this eliminate anything that will trigger it off. year to turn the first sod for the Warragul railway precinct project. This project was a pre-election With regard to the beauty products that are now on the commitment announced by the Minister for Public market, some of the claims of what they can do are Transport, as the then shadow minister, and me prior to completely unrealistic. How many women have bought the 2010 election. In that announcement we committed mascara that is supposed to be waterproof, when even $17 million to the railway station car park and the natural moisture from their eyes has it running underpass — a third rail crossing. With significant down so that they look like a panda? There is also the changes to the scope of the project and subsequent land marketing of creams that will ‘make you look 10 years acquisition, this project will now be delivered for younger in 7 days’. Yes, we would like a magic cream around $26 million, which includes a contribution from that does those things, but all of these claims are the federal government of around $3.3 million. Since misleading. I ask the minister to look at what can be coming to office in 2010 we have funded and done within the powers of the state government and undertaken extensive planning and design work for the what influence she can use on the federal government project, and it has now proceeded to tender, which to introduce legislation to create honesty in advertising closes in early July. and in marketing. The project will deliver a new 200-space commuter car Skye Primary School: funding park on the south side of the Warragul railway station, including bus terminals. There will also be more Mr PERERA (Cranbourne) — The matter I wish to disability parking spaces in the current forecourt of the raise is for the attention of the Minister for Education. I station, which will give those needing disability parking call upon the minister to take action and fund the very close and safe access to the station. There will also much-needed modernisation of Skye Primary School. It be a kiss-and-ride drop-off point close to the station is home to 526 students and is ably led by principal proper. The project also establishes a critically needed Chris Short and his dedicated staff. Skye Primary rail underpass between Normanby Place and Alfred School is located in the city of Frankston, in my Street. This will open up access between the north and electorate of Cranbourne. Skye has a number of newer south of the town. housing developments, many of which have been developed since 2005. Young families call Skye home, Warragul, like many towns in Gippsland, is divided by and many of these young families send their children to the Gippsland rail line, which restricts movement in and Skye Primary School for their educational needs. around the towns. When our early settlers decided on the location of the rail line in Warragul all of the The school’s drainage system is in dire need of an business and residential development was on the north upgrade. Every time it rains the school’s buildings get side of the line. Today well over a third of Warragul’s flooded. Now that we are in the winter months of the population of 15 000 lives south of the rail line. West year it is even more urgent that the modernisation of the Gippsland Hospital, significant recreation drainage system is duly attended to as soon as possible. infrastructure, education precincts and businesses are Skye Primary School is also home to three mod 5s — also located to the south and, more importantly, so is hence, six classrooms — and they are also in dire need direct access to the Princes Freeway both eastbound of replacement as they certainly have had their day. and westbound.
Members may find it hard to believe that, in addition, Warragul is experiencing unprecedented subdivision the school has two portables with asbestos. and housing development to cater for a rapidly growing Unfortunately this Liberal-Nationals government has population, which is creating enormous demand for not invested a red cent over its last three budgets to public transport and increased commuter parking rectify these much-needed works at Skye Primary facilities. I invite my colleague and strong supporter of School. I urge the minister to take action and fund these this project, the Minister for Public Transport, to visit much-needed works at Skye Primary School for the Warragul once the successful tender is announced to sake of the 526 students, the parents of these students, officially turn the first sod and get this critical the staff and the Skye community in general. infrastructure project under way. Rail: Warragul station
Mr BLACKWOOD (Narracan) — I wish to raise a matter for the Minister for Public Transport. The action
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Charitable organisations: landfill levy rebates small part of fixing the problem. This actually refers to an announcement made on 3 April, which was about Mr PALLAS (Tarneit) — The matter I wish to raise $500 000 to go towards security and a trial, which is a is for the Minister for Environment and Climate completely separate program from the one being Change. The action I seek is that the minister clarify the discussed at the time. current state of the government’s relief to charities under the landfill levy rebate scheme — that is, the It seems that the minister either misrepresented to the $1.5 million scheme which was announced in listeners or does not know what program his September last year — and also the department is in fact running. He did not address the $500 000 surveillance support trial announced in April question of the rebate fund, which is what the charities this year. Essentially, what I ask of the minister is that are most concerned about. I ask the minister to clarify he clarify whether these schemes are continuing, being the situation of the landfill levy charitable rebate. discontinued or in some other way being altered. Rodney electorate: elite athlete funding The landfill levy, which raises revenue that goes in part towards funding education programs and waste Mr WELLER (Rodney) — 1 address my question management infrastructure, also provides capacity for to the Minister for Sport and Recreation regarding the waste management groups and Environment Protection important funding through the Victorian government’s Authority enforcement programs, as well as elite athlete travel grant program. I specifically ask the encouraging waste minimisation and the use of minister to consider funding for three Rodney electorate alternatives to landfill. In the 2011–12 budget it was sporting representatives who wish to represent their announced that the Treasurer would bring forward by state at a national level in their chosen fields. 12 months the increased landfill levy rates as announced by the previous government. The coalition’s elite athlete travel grant program, part of a 2010 election commitment worth $2 million, aims to One of the indirect consequences of the landfill levy is support elite athletes as they prepare for major the impact on charities such as the Salvation Army, competitions such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games St Vincent de Paul and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and Winter Olympics. The costs associated with which bear the cost of having to get rid of illegally travelling to compete at major national and dumped goods, meaning that they are paying the international events can be a significant burden for landfill levy on other people’s rubbish, which is money Victoria’s elite athletes, especially those living in rural they could be spending on assisting vulnerable and regional areas. These grants of up to $2000 go a members of our community. long way towards removing some of the obstacles our top athletes face, making it easier for them to focus on To deal with this issue, in September 2012 the Minister their sporting careers as they strive to take on the world for Environment and Climate Change announced a and represent their club, their community and their $1.5 million grant program for charitable recycling state. Since January 2012 the elite athlete travel grant organisations. On 29 January this year the minister program has provided over $1.26 million to assist with announced the second round of funding for charities to the travel costs of 840 elite athletes. recover the costs of illegally dumped material. This announcement noted that the coalition government had Grant recipients must be recognised by their state committed to the $1.5 million landfill levy relief for sporting association as representatives of Victoria or charities. Australia to be eligible to compete at the highest level nationally or internationally, and the current round will In the announcement the minister said, ‘We are distribute funds to a total of 57 different sports. I have providing $1.5 million for landfill levy relief to help three such individuals who would greatly benefit from charities prevent illegal dumping at their premises’. the grants. They are Maria Greco, who is representing According to the charities, the rebate covers 30 per cent her community at the 2013 national bocce of the cost of getting rid of the rubbish, and without it championships in Brisbane; Mrs Lucia Portia, who is charities will bear the brunt of illegal landfill dumping. also representing her community at the 2013 national Despite this, reports have surfaced that the government bocce championships in Brisbane; and Ms Elizabeth is considering abolishing the rebate scheme. Bassett, who is representing her community in the 2013 Australian women’s croquet championship and In a discussion on radio 3AW on Tuesday the minister interstate cup in Adelaide, South Australia. argued that it was only a pilot program that covers a handful of bins and that the CCTV cameras are only a
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All three women wish to represent their communities purchasing that property. It is what the community has and their sports and have long and decorated careers in sought, and it is what the Liberal Party committed to in their chosen sporting fields. It is my belief that these opposition prior to 2010. The government should grants will give those local athletes the support they honour that commitment. need to reach their full potential and realise their dreams of sporting success. The funds will help with Local government: federal referendum the costs of travelling and performing at elite sporting events, and their families and friends can look forward Ms RYALL (Mitcham) — My adjournment matter to cheering them on as they compete in their major is for the Minister for Local Government and it events across Australia and potentially around the concerns the use of ratepayers funds by the City of world. Whitehorse. The action I seek is for there to be transparency in the expenditure of public funds by It would be a wonderful result if the coalition could municipal councils in relation to the provision of support these three women in their sporting endeavours information about the forthcoming referendum on local and help them to lead the way for women of any age government. The federal government has announced with passion for their sport to compete at the highest there will be a referendum to give the commonwealth level. I ask the minister to consider these three requests increased powers to provide funding to local favourably. government on such terms and conditions as the commonwealth Parliament thinks fit. This referendum Planning: Sunshine school site will be held on 14 September, the same date as the federal election. However, it is not clear whether the Ms THOMSON (Footscray) — My adjournment referendum will still be held if the new Prime Minister matter tonight is for the Minister for Planning. It relates chooses to change the date of the election. to the planning zoning for the site of the former Sunvale Primary School and the community’s request that it be The federal government has mishandled this completely zoned as public open space and that referendum, giving the public only about three months community recreation be developed on the site. The to learn about the question and consider the important action I seek from the minister is that he rezone the constitutional issues. The federal government has whole site as public open space and that he support the announced that it will be providing $10 million to the use of that space for a community recreational purpose. Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to run a yes campaign and only $500 000 to run a no Since Sunvale Primary School was vacated a number of campaign. ALGA will also spend $10 million of years ago, the community at Sunshine has sought to ratepayers funds on the yes campaign, taking the total have the area utilised as open space. The community to $20 million. It has been reported that the Whitehorse has come up with a master plan that has it being used City Council has provided $49 700 of local ratepayers for passive recreation, as active space for children of all funds to the ALGA propaganda campaign. Ratepayers ages and to provide opportunities for people to in the community have expressed to me their disgust at experience open space in many ways. Prior to the last the hard-earnt money that they raised to pay their rates election the Labor government indicated that it would being used by the City of Whitehorse to push a political support a partial allocation of public space on the site. bandwagon without their consent or consultation. The Liberal Party, through Mr Finn, a member for Western Metropolitan Region in the other place, I have heard the Minister for Local Government say committed to support all of it being available for public that if the referendum passes it may render our councils, open space. However, there is some concern in the and therefore the City of Whitehorse, worse off. Some community that because this property has been declared have even said to me that if the councillors want to surplus, it will be sold off to the highest bidder and will push their political bandwagon, then they should use be developed — if not in full, at least in part. their personal funds to do so and not ratepayers funds. My request is that the minister outline what actions she I seek from the minister an assurance that the whole site can take to ensure there is transparency in the allocation will be made public open space to meet the of those funds and to ensure that the money is not commitment made prior to the election in 2010; that the wasted. I ask her to also outline what guarantees exist community be engaged in a consultative process, that ratepayers who have contributed to the ALGA including in relation to the master plan that has been campaign will receive fair and balanced information on developed by the community; and that the government both the case in favour of the referendum and the case work with the council to ensure that there is not an against it. overly restrictive burden imposed on the council in
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Austin Health and Northern Health: merger views were respected and that the government consulted with them. Ms HALFPENNY (Thomastown) — I wish to raise a matter with the Minister for Health. The action I seek Melbourne High School: gifted and talented is that the minister make a public statement education academy guaranteeing that no services or front-line staff will be cut at either the Northern Hospital or the Austin Mr NEWTON-BROWN (Prahran) — My Hospital if Northern Health and Austin Health are adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for merged. This is a very sensitive and concerning issue Education, and the action I seek is that he review the for residents of the northern suburbs. There has been a community benefit of the proposed gifted and talented complete lack of communication from the government, education academy at Melbourne High School. The and this goes against the core principles of Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the education of democracy — a transparent government that is gifted and talented students recommended a range of accountable to the people. This lack of community extension and outreach services for gifted and talented consultation and transparency is causing uncertainty students, including selective entry schools offering both among residents of the area and in the health holiday and exchange programs to gifted students, services themselves. For months media reports have improved provision for gifted students from revealed that the minister has been pursuing a merger, disadvantaged and regional backgrounds, early access even though publicly he denies that any decision has to university courses of study, collaboration between been made. This raises the question: if nothing is going schools to offer programs for gifted students, teacher on, why can the minister not come clean? Why is he so placements or exchanges to schools with gifted hushed up about it? education programs and the extension of provision for a gifted student through ‘virtual school’ classes. Adding fuel to the fire, the new Northern Health CEO, Janet Compton, is a former Eastern Health acute care The Victorian selective entry school network consists executive director and has vast experience in merging of Victoria’s four selective entry academic schools and or amalgamating acute health services. It is is the primary provider of gifted and talented education understandable that residents and staff are asking, for secondary students in this state. The network has ‘What is going on? Why was she appointed? Is it to agreed to collaborate to deliver programs recommended merge the health services?’. On 19 June the Victorian by the inquiry, including a residential hostel for Government Gazette revealed that regulations had been students from rural and regional Victoria who gain changed to allow the boards of both the Austin Hospital entry to Victoria’s selective entry schools, including the and the Northern Hospital to be increased from 9 to Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School; a 12 members. Again residents of the area are asking, residential and program facility for holiday and ‘Why is this? Is it because it will allow the existence of exchange programs for students in other schools; a two separate hospital boards with identical members conference facility for teacher exchange and which could later facilitate an easy merger to become professional development programs; and a program one board sometime down the track?’. facility for students in secondary schools seeking to access higher education studies. Local residents and staff have voiced their concerns to me about what any possible merger might mean for The Melbourne High School Foundation, a company service provision in the northern suburbs. They are very limited by guarantee, has recently acquired a parcel of worried that it will mean less services in the north land adjacent to Melbourne High School. This site has rather than more. The government refuses to engage the capacity to be developed into a four-storey or with the community to allay concerns. If there is five-storey complex capable of providing the identified nothing going on, why will the government not talk to services. Two storeys would consist of a residential the community, talk to people and explain what it is hostel able to accommodate 40 rural students who gain doing and why? A merger may not necessarily be entry to any of the state’s selective entry schools. The something to oppose, but this government has to realise hostel would also accommodate students from other that residents and patients are key stakeholders. They schools who are in holiday and exchange programs. do have an interest. They should be consulted with, and The complex would include a higher education studies they should be part of the decision-making process. In centre, consisting of a tertiary-style teaching space. keeping with people’s view that they have a right to These new hybrid courses, to be offered for the first know what is going on with their health services, it is time in 2014, will be jointly recognised as part of the about time that residents were respected, that their Victorian certificate of education and will be equivalent to a first-year university unit credit. As it is unlikely that
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any single school would have the critical mass or comprises $10 million of ratepayers funds, levied from resources to offer higher education system (HES) councils right across the state, such as Whitehorse courses independently, the complex would serve as a council, and $10 million of taxpayer funds, provided by hub, offering HES studies through a combination of the federal Labor government. online study and weekly intensives operating from 4.30 p.m., thereby enabling any student attending any Unlike previous referendum campaigns, such as in the nearby secondary school in Prahran or the surrounding republic debate in 1999 when the then commonwealth area to access these courses. government allocated funds equally, the current federal government is allocating funds in a very biased fashion, I am informed by the principal of Melbourne High providing $20 million for the yes case and $500 000 for School that the proposed facility will have a substantial the no case so far. By contrast, for the 1999 referendum statewide and systemic educational benefit in giving there was an expert panel, chaired by Sir Ninian effect to key recommendations of the parliamentary Stephen, to oversee all publicly funded public material inquiry. The facility will also have a local community to ensure that it was fair and balanced. This ensured that benefit in that it will provide access to HES courses to the Australian public was equally informed of the all students attending secondary schools within merits of both the yes and no cases. However, there is approximately a 7-kilometre radius of Melbourne High no such commitment from the current federal School. I seek that the minister consider the benefits of government. such a facility in the electorate of Prahran and also the benefits to the wider Victorian community. While it is important to note that not all Victorian councils have supported the MAV fund, many councils Responses like Whitehorse council have committed ratepayers funds to the yes campaign only. Some councils have Mrs POWELL (Minister for Local Government) — also indicated their intention to run local campaigns in The member for Mitcham raised an issue with me about support of the yes case. the Whitehorse City Council allocating I think just over $49 000 of ratepayers funds to support the yes Given the importance of the referendum and the campaign in the upcoming referendum on local potentially very significant impacts of change, government. The action the member is rightly seeking including the real risk of reduced funding to Victorian is for there to be transparency in the expenditure of councils, and given the stated intentions of a number of those public funds by councils regarding the provision councils to support only the yes campaign, I consider of information about the referendum. The member was that it is in the public interest to require public concerned about the wasting of ratepayers money for disclosure by councils of any expenditure undertaken or no real benefit. proposed to be undertaken to provide information about the referendum. In the interests of transparency I will be As members will be aware, the federal Labor issuing a section 135 notice under the Local government has announced that there will be a Government Act 1989 directing all councils to submit referendum to give the commonwealth power to fund financial statements and related information on any local government ‘on such terms and conditions as the committed or proposed funding or expenditure or Parliament thinks fit’. The Victorian government, as in-kind contribution or resource provided by councils members know, is opposed to the referendum question related to the referendum. This would include because it believes Victorian councils will be worse off expenditure on publicity, advertisements, brochures or and disadvantaged by the proposal. We are joined by any activities held. The disclosure would relate to any three other state governments that are also opposed to information in relation to either the yes or the no case of the referendum question. The reason we oppose the the referendum debate. I will issue the notice to referendum is that Victorian councils are at great risk of councils next week, once it becomes clearer whether receiving less federal funding if the referendum is the new Prime Minister intends to continue with the passed. There is also a risk of constitutional uncertainty referendum, as the member for Mitcham said. in the referendum question. Mr DELAHUNTY (Minister for Sport and The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has Recreation) — I rise to answer an issue raised with me been asked to raise $2 million via a voluntary levy on by the member for Rodney, who knows that my local councils to contribute, as the member for Mitcham greatest aim is to see more people more active more said, to a $20 million referendum yes campaign run by often. I have five key priorities, and one of those is to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). assist Victorians in reaching their potential. As the The $20 million ALGA propaganda campaign member spoke about, we had a 2010 election
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commitment to provide $2 million over four years for long after that, and the successful tenderer will be able the elite athlete travel grants program. I am pleased to to come down and join the hardworking member for inform the member about the three athletes he spoke Narracan in turning the first sod and getting that great about today. I can inform him that Maria Greco and project under way. I congratulate the member on the Lucia Portia will each receive $1350 to travel to the work he has put in. 2013 national bocce championship in Brisbane, and Elizabeth Bassett will receive $600 to travel to Ms VICTORIA (Minister for Women’s Affairs) — Adelaide for the Australian women’s croquet I thank the member for Evelyn very much for raising championships. her adjournment matter tonight. The topic she raised concerns the portrayal of women’s bodies and how they This is one way in which we can assist with the cost of are perceived in the media when digital image travel and accommodation for these elite athletes to manipulation takes place. This issue has been on the compete in this case at a national level, but also agenda of all the women’s affairs ministers, and it was sometimes internationally. Our athletes deserve this discussed at a recent meeting of the Select Council on support to be able to achieve their potential, whether it Women’s Issues (SCWI). A resolution of the SCWI be in Australia or across the world. I congratulate the meeting before last was to write to all the relevant member for Rodney for his strong advocacy for these ministerial councils to make sure that they are letting athletes, and I wish them all the best in their pursuit of media outlets know that we want more truth in media sport. and to make sure that beauty pageants for children are deemed inappropriate because they can cause long term Mr DIXON (Minister for Education) — The damage to children’s perceptions and to women and member for Cranbourne raised with me an issue girls’ perception of themselves. We also want more regarding the need for an upgrade at Skye Primary truth in advertising. The lack of realistic images used in School. I can assure him that the needs of Skye Primary advertising can cause major health problems for some School will be considered as part of our capital budget people later in life. considerations for next May’s budget. It will be my job to try to influence the Australian The member for Prahran raised with me a very positive government, whoever that may be in the near future, to issue that Melbourne High School had come to talk to make sure that there is truth in advertising, that we him about, and that is the gifted and talented education outline principles to guide industries and that women academy, which also includes provision for higher and children, especially young girls, are not influenced education studies. He has asked me to consider the detrimentally by what they see in the media. broader community benefits of that proposal. This is an excellent idea, and it shows that government schools Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and are thinking outside the square and forming Small Business) — The member for Lyndhurst, whom partnerships for the benefit of not only their students I acknowledge is in the chamber, raised a matter for the but the whole government school system. I am more Attorney-General in regard to legal aid funding than happy to consider the proposal, and I thank the guidelines. He raised a specific case, and I will refer member for his real work and effort in what is a very that matter to the Attorney-General. exciting project. The member for Tarneit, whom I acknowledge is also Mr MULDER (Minister for Public Transport) — in the chamber, raised an issue with the Minister for The member for Narracan has asked me to join him for Environment and Climate Change regarding the landfill the turning of the sod on a great project at Warragul levy scheme and sought clarification of the impact on railway station: a new underpass and also construction charities. I will raise the matter with the minister. of a new car park. It is a beautiful old station, constructed in 1918. It has great architectural features The member for Footscray, who is not in the chamber, and has served that community very well. raised a matter with the Minister for Planning regarding zoning of the former Sunvale Primary School site. I It is extraordinary that it has taken nearly 100 years for will refer that matter to the minister. a major upgrade to take place at that station. It only came about because of the advocacy of and hard work The member for Thomastown, whom I acknowledge is put in by the member for Narracan. I can inform the in the chamber to hear the responses, raised a matter for member for Narracan that tenders were called for in the Minister for Health and called on him to make a March 2013. The submission period ends on 10 July. public statement in relation to the Northern and Austin We will be able to announce a successful tender not
ADJOURNMENT
2470 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 27 June 2013
hospitals. I will refer that matter to the Minister for Health.
The SPEAKER — Order! I now declare the house adjourned. We will meet again at a date and time to be fixed.
House adjourned 4.57 p.m.