PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-SEVENTH PARLIAMENT
FIRST SESSION
Thursday, 5 September 2013 (Extract from book 11)
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 and 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. Economic Development, Infrastructure and Outer Suburban/Interface Services Committee — (Assembly): Mr Burgess, Mrs Fyffe, Mr McGuire and Mr Shaw. (Council): Mrs Peulich. Education and Training Committee — (Assembly): Mr Brooks and Mr Crisp. (Council): Mr Elasmar and Mrs Kronberg. 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, Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee — (Assembly): Mr Carroll, Mr McCurdy and Mr Southwick. (Council): Mr Ramsay and Mr Scheffer. 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: Mr Angus, Ms Beattie, Mr Blackwood, Mr Burgess, Ms Campbell, Mr Gidley, Mr Languiller, Mr McCurdy, Mr McIntosh, Ms McLeish, Mr Morris, Mr Nardella, Mr Northe, Mr Pandazopoulos, Ms Ryall, Dr Sykes, Mr Thompson 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, 5 SEPTEMBER 2013 UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT AMENDMENT (FEDERATION UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE BILL 2013 Notices of motion ...... 2975 Second reading ...... 2987, 3032 Adjournment ...... 2976 Third reading ...... 3032 PETITIONS PLANT BIOSECURITY AMENDMENT BILL 2013 East–west link ...... 2975 Second reading ...... 3006, 3020 Kalparrin Early Childhood Intervention Third reading ...... 3030 Program ...... 2975 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Doncaster rail link ...... 2975 Notice of motion 350 ...... 3010 VicRoads engineering staff ...... 2975 East–west link ...... 3011, 3012, 3014 DOCUMENTS ...... 2976 3015, 3016, 3017, 3018 STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL 2013 Goulburn Valley fruit industry ...... 3013 Referral to committee ...... 2976 Fringe benefits tax ...... 3015 Local government funding ...... 3017 MEMBERS STATEMENTS Government financial management ...... 3019 Kalparrin Early Childhood Intervention Program ...... 2976 SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS Fitted for Work ...... 2977 Member for Monbulk ...... 3012 Les Misérables ...... 2977 Member for Mill Park ...... 3014 Clayton South Primary School ...... 2977 Member for Lara ...... 3015 Victorian Multicultural Commission ...... 2977 Minister for Manufacturing ...... 3018 East–west link ...... 2978 Member for Tarneit ...... 3018 Electoral boundaries redivision ...... 2978 OPEN COURTS BILL 2013 Geelong health services ...... 2978 Second reading ...... 3030 Rosella brand relaunch ...... 2979 Circulated amendments ...... 3030 Eastern Football League second division grand Third reading ...... 3031 final ...... 2979 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES AMENDMENT Primary school cyberbullying ...... 2979 BILL 2013 John Joseph ...... 2979 Second reading ...... 3031 Oakleigh Primary School and Kindergarten ...... 2980 Third reading ...... 3031 Cobram Parkinson’s Disease Support Group ...... 2980 CATCHMENT AND LAND PROTECTION Back to Youanmite Primary School ...... 2980 AMENDMENT BILL 2013 Cobram and District Spinners and Weavers ...... 2980 Second reading ...... 3031 Rural City of Wangaratta Tidy Towns finalists ...... 2981 Third reading ...... 3031 Murray Valley electorate ministerial visit ...... 2981 SUCCESSION TO THE CROWN (REQUEST) Dawn Keefe ...... 2981 BILL 2013 Fringe benefits tax ...... 2981 Second reading ...... 3032 Firefighter compensation ...... 2981 Third reading ...... 3032 Glen Waverley Bowls Club ...... 2982 ADJOURNMENT Mazenod Panthers ...... 2982 VicRoads engineering staff ...... 3032 Brentwood Secondary College ...... 2982 City of Knox learner driver program ...... 3033 Holmesglen Youth Foyer ...... 2982 Clayton electorate school sites ...... 3033 Residents 3000 ...... 2982 Kids Time Early Learning Centre Moorabbin ...... 3034 University of the Third Age winter lunch ...... 2982 Heatherhill Primary School ...... 3034 Princes Park Carlton Bowls Club ...... 2982 Fruit fly control ...... 3035 Latrobe Regional Hospital ...... 2983 West Swanson Dock workplace safety ...... 3035 Barrier Breakers ...... 2983 National Asthma Week ...... 3036 Thessaloniki International Trade Fair ...... 2983 Metropolitan planning authority ...... 3036 David Kemp Debating Challenge ...... 2983 South Barwon electorate schools ...... 3037 Moorabbin Meals on Wheels ...... 2983 Responses ...... 3038 Teejri festival ...... 2984 PROFESSIONAL BOXING AND COMBAT SPORTS AMENDMENT BILL 2013 Statement of compatibility ...... 2984 Second reading ...... 2985 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS ...... 2987
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Thursday, 5 September 2013 ASSEMBLY 2975
2. before the state government cut funding to the Northern Thursday, 5 September 2013 Early Support Service, Kalparrin was able to help 50 families on the ECIS waiting list; The SPEAKER (Hon. Ken Smith) took the chair at 9.33 a.m. and read the prayer. 3. the funding cut has meant that the Northern Early Support Service now has only two part-time staff and provides much less support to families on the waiting BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE list.
Notices of motion Kalparrin has the capacity and willingness to support 50 more funded places in its current location. However, the state The SPEAKER — Order! Notices of motion 7 to government chose not to allocate any places to Kalparrin in a 21 will be removed from the notice paper unless recent statewide allocation. members wishing their notice to remain advise the By Mr BROOKS (Bundoora) (560 signatures). Clerk in writing before 2.00 p.m. today. Doncaster rail link PETITIONS To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:
Following petitions presented to house: This petition of Victorian residents implores the Legislative Assembly of Victoria to abandon plans for a costly and East–west link unsustainable east–west toll road and tunnel in favour of funding urgently needed public transport priorities including To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria: the Doncaster rail link.
The petition of certain citizens for the state of Victoria draws By Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave) to the attention of the Legislative Assembly recent news (4009 signatures) and regarding the Napthine Liberal government’s intention to Mr WYNNE (Richmond) (277 signatures). build an $8 billion tunnel. In particular we note that:
1. the Napthine government is trampling on the rights and VicRoads engineering staff homes of local residents; To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria: 2. the Premier has failed to present a business case for this tunnel which will do nothing to fix traffic congestion for This petition of residents in the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the house the loss of over 100 engineering staff most Victorian motorists; and from VicRoads over the last 18 months. In particular we note the potential consequences of these actions: 3. the $8 billion tunnel will mean there is no funding available for other desperately needed transport 1. a recent APESMA survey found 80 per cent of infrastructure. engineers agree with the 2012 Senate inquiry finding that governments no longer have sufficient in-house Petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly expertise to avoid wasting large amounts of public calls on the Napthine Liberal government to seek a mandate money; from the people of Victoria before spending $8 billion of taxpayers money on this tunnel. 2. the same survey found that 73 per cent of engineers believe this lack of internal capacity has the potential to By Ms GARRETT (Brunswick) endanger the public; and (970 signatures) and 3. engineering skills shortages have led to the erosion of Mr WYNNE (Richmond) (180 signatures). government capacity to be an informed purchaser of infrastructure, with the Victorian Public Accounts and Kalparrin Early Childhood Intervention Estimates Committee finding ‘being an informed buyer Program provides a number of benefits in project procurement and delivery’. The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws The petitioners therefore request the Legislative Assembly of to the attention of the house the need for the state government Victoria ensures VicRoads is exempted from current and to immediately fund a minimum of 50 additional early future staffing cuts as they relate to engineering and acts to childhood intervention service (ECIS) places at Kalparrin alleviate the current crisis in capacity in Victoria, thereby early intervention service. We also ask that the government saving taxpayer dollars and protecting public safety. Any immediately reinstate the former Kalparrin-run ‘Northern current or future organisational restructure at VicRoads must Early Support Service’ to assist families on the waiting list for not diminish the internal engineering capacity of the early intervention places. organisation. In particular, we note: By Mr DONNELLAN (Narre Warren North) 1. Kalparrin provides an invaluable service to children with (821 signatures). special needs and their families; Tabled.
DOCUMENTS
2976 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 5 September 2013
Ordered that petition presented by honourable Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Act 2001 — member for Mulgrave be considered next day on Report on the Yellingbo Investigation motion of Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave). Victorian Health Promotion Foundation — Report 2012–13 Ordered that petition presented by honourable Victorian Multicultural Commission — Report 2012–13 member for Narre Warren North be considered Youth Parole Board and Youth Residential Board — Report next day on motion of Mr DONNELLAN (Narre 2012–13. Warren North). STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL 2013 Ordered that petitions presented by honourable member for Derrimut on 20 and 21 August be Referral to committee considered next day on motion of Mr LANGUILLER (Derrimut). Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business) — By leave, I move: Ordered that petitions presented by honourable member for Richmond be considered next day on That the proposals contained in the Statute Law Revision Bill motion of Mr WYNNE (Richmond). 2013 be referred to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee for inquiry, consideration and report. Ordered that petition presented by honourable Motion agreed to. member for Bundoora be considered next day on motion of Mr BROOKS (Bundoora). BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE DOCUMENTS Adjournment
Tabled by Clerk: Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and Boort District Health — Report 2012–13 Small Business) — I move:
Cohuna District Hospital — Report 2012–13 That the house, at its rising, adjourns until Tuesday, 17 September 2013. Financial Management Act 1994: Motion agreed to. Report from the Minister for Health that he had received the reports 2012–13 of: MEMBERS STATEMENTS Geelong Cemeteries Trust Kalparrin Early Childhood Intervention Maldon Hospital Program Report from the Minister for Women’s Affairs that she had received the report 2012–13 of the Queen Victoria Mr BROOKS (Bundoora) — Today I tabled a Women’s Centre Trust petition of 560 signatures calling on the Napthine government to allocate funding for more early Health Purchasing Victoria — Report 2012–13 childhood intervention service (ECIS) places at Parliamentary Committees Act 2003 — Government Kalparrin Early Childhood Intervention Program in response to the Law Reform Committee’s Report on the Greensborough and to reinstate the service for those Inquiry into Access to and Interaction with the Justice System families on the waiting list in that area, a service which by People with an Intellectual Disability and their Families and Carers was recently scrapped by the government. Kalparrin is a great early intervention service in Melbourne’s Radiation Advisory Committee — Report 2012–13 north-east that has a reputation for excellence across the Road Safety Camera Commissioner — Report 2012–13 sector. Approximately 142 children are nurtured, supported, encouraged and helped to develop at this Robinvale District Health Services — Report 2012–13 wonderful centre, which receives about $7500 per child from the government to run the program. Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust — Report 2012–13
Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 — Documents under s 15 In the most recent funding round for these places, in relation to Statutory Rules 106, 111 Kalparrin applied for funding to be able to assist another 50 children. Staggeringly it did not receive Swan Hill District Health — Report 2012–13 funding for even one extra child. That is a disgrace, but it gets worse. To assist those families who were on the
MEMBERS STATEMENTS
Thursday, 5 September 2013 ASSEMBLY 2977
waiting list for a placement at Kalparrin, the centre ran involved, especially the talented students and Andrew a limited service to support those families until they Lewis, Beryl Birrell, Shane Kruger, Jacki Baldry, were taken in. This was known as the north-east Marten Visser, Kate Chamberlain and Carolyn Nuttall. support service. Clayton South Primary School I can only imagine the stress and anguish of parents being told that their child has a developmental disorder. Mr LIM (Clayton) — Last Friday, 30 August, I was The most important thing for them is to access early invited by the years 5 and 6 class at Clayton South intervention — something that will have a positive Primary School to discuss politics and the role of impact on the rest of their child’s life. It is bad enough members of Parliament in our political system. The that through inadequate funding these parents are then years 5 and 6 students are fully engaged and appeared placed on a waiting list and told to be patient, but to reasonably informed about our political system. I look scrap the service that is provided while these families forward to conversations with them in coming years as are on the waiting list is just obscene. The Minister for they move on to high school. Children and Early Childhood Development has let down these families and children. I ask her to fund This school has a great mix of students from over more ECIS places at Kalparrin and reinstate the waiting 40 countries, and it has been working with the City of list service. These families deserve more support, not Kingston on the relocation of the Kallay Street less. Preschool to its site. The school community is very excited about this project, and once it is signed off by Fitted for Work the department work will be under way for completion, ready for the 2014 school year. When finished there Ms VICTORIA (Minister for the Arts) — Fitted for will be two kindergarten rooms, one for 22 children and Work is a not-for-profit organisation that has another for 33 children. There will also be playgroup transformed over 12 500 women’s lives since 2005. and meeting rooms in a new modern building. Clayton The organisation’s mission is to help some of the South Primary School already has three playgroups, 350 000 women who are experiencing disadvantage and with the demographics of the area showing growth, and are looking for work in Australia. For the victims the community is very excited about this. of domestic violence, the long-term unemployed or single mothers, finding work can be a difficult task. It is The three damning failures of the Victorian Liberal even harder for these women to afford government to support this school are its decision not to interview-appropriate outfits and have the skills rebuild the school in 2011 when the project was ready necessary for interviews. Fitted for Work provides a for tender; the refusal of the Minister for Education to free personal outfitting service, which includes free attend the school to look at asbestos issues in the oldest business clothing, interview training, mentoring and school building, which is over 40 years old; and the transition-to-work programs. refusal to erect variable 40-kilometre signs on Clayton Road, which has extremely high volumes of traffic Tomorrow, Friday, 6 September, is Little Black Dress during peak periods. It will be on this government’s Day, a collaboration between Fitted for Work and head if there is a fatality due to this negligence. I can designer David Lawrence. People are invited to wear a only imagine how bad things will be if Tony Abbott is little black dress and make a donation at elected Prime Minister on Saturday. littleblackdressday.com.au or purchase a DL Initiative dress, available in stores now, with all profits going to Victorian Multicultural Commission Fitted for Work. I commend Fitted for Work on this great initiative, and I ask all female MPs to go through Mr KOTSIRAS (Minister for Multicultural Affairs their wardrobes and donate any business-style items and Citizenship) — The Victorian Multicultural that may be surplus to their needs. Commission is this year celebrating 30 years of outstanding service — 30 years of supporting new Les Misérables migrants and refugees and 30 years of being the voice of multicultural Victoria. It was first established in 1983 Ms VICTORIA — I recently had the absolute to provide independent advice to government on how to pleasure of seeing Wantirna College’s production of best meet the needs of our multicultural community. I Les Misérables. It was one of the highest quality understand that Peter Spyker was the first minister with versions of this much-loved story I have seen. The cast charge of that, and Gary Sheppard was the first chair of could have easily walked onto a Melbourne main stage, the then Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission. Since and the orchestra was flawless. I congratulate all then there have been a number of changes made to the
MEMBERS STATEMENTS
2978 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 5 September 2013
commission to ensure that it remains relevant and of Electoral boundaries redivision benefit to the community. Mr WELLER (Rodney) — In relation to the Since 1983 there have been a number of commissioners proposed draft boundary changes by the Electoral who have served with dedication, commitment and Boundaries Commission, The Nationals have supported passion, making sure that governments never lose sight the fight to retain the seat of Rodney and not lose a of the benefits that come with our cultural diversity. voice for regional and rural Victoria in this Parliament. Recently three commissioners who provided I was not surprised that in November last year the outstanding service have retired, and I am delighted to Victorian Labor Party advocated for removing a seat announce three new commissioners. They are Ms Safa from rural and regional Victoria. It clearly does not Almarhoun as youth commissioner, Ms Maryum Aziz have the interests of all Victorians at heart. Therefore Chaudhry as a part-time commissioner and The Nationals will continue to fight for the voice of Mr Abeselom Nega as a part-time commissioner. They rural and regional Victorians, and I am urging the joined the other eight part-time commissioners, under commission to reconsider its draft and think about the the leadership of Chin Tan, to continue the good work impact the loss of a rural and regional Victorian seat that has taken place over the last 30 years and which would have. Research has shown projected growth in has made Victoria the multicultural capital of Australia. our country areas, and we need to look to sustain and further enhance our country areas for the future, not East–west link abandon them.
Ms CAMPBELL (Pascoe Vale) — For those There are many issues relating to rural and regional residents in Collingwood, North Melbourne, Parkville communities that are simply not a consideration for and other suburbs who are hoping that they will be those living in metropolitan Melbourne. Issues such as fairly compensated and protected when the Napthine water security, Indigenous matters, native vegetation, government’s proposed multibillion-dollar inner east agriculture, bushfires and access to government tunnel is built, I point out the situation faced by my services are of critical importance to those living in constituents who live in Glenroy and Gowanbrae. rural and regional Victoria, and it is imperative that they receive due attention in the Victorian Parliament. In the massive $2.25 billion upgrade to the This is why The Nationals have made a submission to M80 ring-road, which is expected to carry the Electoral Boundaries Commission arguing against 142 000 vehicles per day — making it the the current proposal to remove one elected member second-busiest road in the entire state, with more cars who represents a seat outside metropolitan Melbourne. than the tunnel — the Napthine government has refused We will not die. to install the basic protection of noise walls. These ordinary Victorian families have nothing more than a Geelong health services paling fence between their children in the backyard and the rumbling, constant noise of 142 000 vehicles, Mr EREN (Lara) — It was not long ago that I made including many tens of thousands of trucks up to a speech in this place outlining the need for more health B-triple size. This incessant intrusive noise continues services in the northern suburbs of Geelong. Recently all night and all day, every day of the year. Richard Marles, the federal member for Corio, announced $1 million for the master plan for a health If people think that this government is one that cares hub in the north. This is fantastic news. This means that about people impacted by road projects, they are sadly if Labor is elected, Barwon Health can start the mistaken. In Glenroy and Gowanbrae this government planning of this important infrastructure. The plan will is relying on a technicality to opt out of its obligation to involve provision of advice on services that could be install noise walls. The previous Bracks and Brumby offered, including a potential emergency department governments showed leadership in erecting noise walls that would work alongside Geelong Hospital, using along the Monash Freeway when it was upgraded. e-health and national broadband network technology Unfortunately the Napthine government does not linkages; working with the Barwon Medicare Local to demonstrate that same care for the wellbeing of coordinate service delivery, including services not families. I warn those near the proposed tunnel: do not currently available in the region; investigating an rely on goodwill or flexibility in the belief that this appropriate location for the proposed facility; government will respond to your needs — it will not. It determining its staffing profile; and developing the has ignored my residents’ desperate calls for action on master plan and design of the proposed facility and noise walls. additional works.
MEMBERS STATEMENTS
Thursday, 5 September 2013 ASSEMBLY 2979
We are yet to hear from the state and federal Liberal Rosella and give it a go and support our local coalition parties on this very important issue. A manufacturers. newsflash for the Premier and Mr Abbott, the federal Leader of the Opposition: Geelong does not need a Eastern Football League second division grand 5-kilometre, $8 billion east–west tunnel. It will do final nothing for the people of Geelong. It will not improve their daily commute, it will not make their roads safer Mr HODGETT — Mooroolbark plays Montrose and it will only delay the projects they so desperately this Saturday in the Eastern Football League second need. The amount of $8 billion is about 21 times the division grand final. I wish both teams all the very best annual budget of Barwon Health. That means that the for the grand final — with a bias towards the Mustangs, health system in Geelong will continue to suffer, and given that my son will be lining up with the team. Go projects such as the northern health hub may be put on Barkers! the backburner for decades because of this tunnel. Primary school cyberbullying Once the master plan is completed it will be up to the state to fund it, and I urge this government and the Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine) — Recently serious federal Liberal Party to support all of Geelong, not just concerns about bullying on a local primary school the electorates they hold. website were raised with me. The bullying took the form of racist and sexually explicit abuse, naming The SPEAKER — Order! The member’s time has students and staff, posted on the site. Reading the expired. material was devastating, particularly for the young students, and it had a ripple effect, impacting on family Rosella brand relaunch and friends. The school responded appropriately, following the process set down under its student Mr HODGETT (Minister for Manufacturing) — engagement policy, which included removing the The food and beverage sector is an important industry abusive post, an apology from the student concerned for the Victorian economy. It has an annual turnover of and counselling for those involved. Unfortunately there more than $25 billion and employs more than are copies of the material still in existence, and the 133 000 people across the value chain. It is also distress caused by the experience is still being felt by Australia’s largest state exporter, exporting to over some of the students and their families. 100 countries worldwide. The Napthine government sees an exciting future for Victoria’s food processing This incident raises the question why a statewide and manufacturing industry. It was my pleasure to visit filtering system to pick up abusive words is not Silvan, in the beautiful Yarra Ranges, and announce on mandatory in schools, particularly primary schools. 23 August the return of iconic Victorian food brand Such a system would enable staff monitoring the site to Rosella to Victoria, providing a great boost to the state. work with students who break the rules and post abusive or bullying material. I understand other states We all know Rosella; we grew up with the cans and have mandatory filters for schools to prevent this sort of bottles in our pantry or fridge. In its time the famous incident. It is important that students learn about their brand, with a bright red native bird perched on the rights and responsibilities in using social media and the label, was the top-selling sauce and soup in the country. internet more broadly. Starting in primary school would The iconic brand was founded in 1895 and is now back be entirely appropriate — when teaching children about on Australian shelves, its products being produced in respect for themselves and for others. But with children Victoria thanks to the Australian-owned business under 12 it is important that their vulnerability and Sabrands, which has brought Rosella back into inexperience is taken into account. I encourage the business. The new Rosella has already generated minister to investigate putting in place such a filter to 20 jobs, and the relaunch will have a ripple effect better protect our young primary school students. throughout the state’s economy. John Joseph We have all read and heard a lot in recent years about the loss of Australian bands — the loss of our favourite Mr McINTOSH (Kew) — John Francis Joseph iconic products to foreign shores. This announcement is died in his home at Lithgow, New South Wales, on a celebration of the return of a great one. This relaunch 12 August, aged 61. Johnny became a great mate of is a vote of confidence for our manufacturing sector and mine, after I first met him at the Australian National an endorsement of our local producers and workers. I University (ANU) way back in 1974. He came from a urge all Victorians and Australians to get behind large family and was educated at St Ignatius at
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Riverview in Sydney, at the University of New England the world or for a particular group of people or and finally at ANU. community. Following their proposal and selection of a notable person, the students undertake research and My first impression of Johnny was frankly one of fear. prepare to become that person for a night of Who Am Our first encounter was on the Rugby pitch during an I?, with their parents and friends in attendance. intercollege Rugby match. Johnny was a bit taller than Biographies, brochures and business cards are prepared, me but about twice the size, fit and very, very strong portraits painted and questions written to prompt and agile. That he had a large and rather bent 45-degree interest in who they have become. sideways nose just added to his awesome reputation as a schoolboy and university Rugby player. I was the To watch these students working enthusiastically either opposition that day, and I thought it best to call him independently or sometimes helping each other with ‘sir’. Regrettably the intercollege rugby match had to be layout, text, concept et cetera was inspiring, as were abandoned in the second half with the scores already at their choices of notable persons. I was also able to 77 for his team and my team at nil, my team having spend time discussing matters relating to leadership and exhausted all its reserves and with our third major education with Oakleigh primary school’s great casualty hospitalised. principal, Jack Fisher. I thank Jack and Oakleigh primary school for a truly inspiring and interesting However, I soon learnt that Johnny was a wonderful experience. man. He studied hard and succeeded academically. He married Annie, one of my best mates from college. His Cobram Parkinson’s Disease Support Group overflowing funeral in Lithgow was a real celebration of a life well led by a genuinely nice bloke. Johnny is Mr McCURDY (Murray Valley) — I was pleased survived by his wife, Annie, and their four children to participate in the inaugural walk for Parkinson’s Andrew, Tom, David and the youngest, Lucy. Each, I disease event in Cobram recently to boost awareness should note, publicly claimed to be dad’s favourite, a and raise funds for Parkinson’s disease. Organised by question that was never satisfactorily resolved. My Ann Sampson, the event raised almost $1000 for the sincere condolences and love go to Annie, the four kids Cobram Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. As Ann and Johnny’s extended family. Vale Johnny. said, let us try to be mindful of our community members and their carers who struggle with this Oakleigh Primary School and Kindergarten insidious disease. Cobram Parkinson’s disease campaigner Melvyn Dougherty told his story and gave Ms BARKER (Oakleigh) — I would like to thank an educational presentation, explaining how the disease the staff and students of Oakleigh Primary School and has affected him and sharing strategies to cope with the Kindergarten for the opportunity to learn a great deal symptoms. more about their work as principal for a day. I first joined a meeting of parents who are organising the Back to Youanmite Primary School Acorn Community Market to be held on Saturday, 16 November, as a major fundraiser for the school and Mr McCURDY — The Back to Youanmite kindergarten. Plans are well under way through the Primary School event on the weekend celebrated the work of these impressive parents. centenary of the school, and a time capsule was unveiled. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring I was delighted to spend time with the preps during members of the community together to reflect on times their perceptual motor program training and in a junior and people gone by and for us all to look back on our classroom, where we placed as many ‘s’ words as school days. Apart from some minor water damage to possible into a spiders web. I observed a Japanese class the capsule, the stories were intact and were quite and visited the art room. With grades 3/4 students I entertaining. watched two presentations on government dealing with enrolling to vote and the balance of power. We then Cobram and District Spinners and Weavers discussed those presentations, as well as generally discussing government, members of Parliament and Mr McCURDY — Cobram and District Spinners their work. and Weavers celebrated its 35th birthday last week at the Yarroweyah Hall. The group was founded by Eileen In a grade 5/6 class I clearly saw innovative and Overeen, who is still an active member today. There are interesting teaching as students prepared for the annual more than 50 members in the group. The group Night of the Notables. They first discuss what makes a celebrated its birthday with a summit of like-minded person notable and what they may have achieved for garment makers who came from across Victoria and
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New South Wales to visit the local club. Thanks to Jill I was fortunate to know Dawn, and it was a great Warren, Bernadette West and Heather Gloury. delight to bring her to lunch to meet former Premier and Ballarat boy Steve Bracks during my by-election Rural City of Wangaratta Tidy Towns finalists campaign in March 2012. I can recall Dawn and Steve sharing many stories about Ballarat. Dawn was a proud Mr McCURDY — Congratulations to the Rural mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will City of Wangaratta on being a finalist in the 2013 Tidy be dearly missed by all those who knew her. Vale, Towns awards. The Wangaratta Community Pride comrade Dawn Keefe. Committee has five projects in the finals in the categories of sustainable city of the year, community Fringe benefits tax action leadership, litter prevention, environmental sustainability and cultural heritage. The Milawa Ms WREFORD (Mordialloc) — I rise to condemn Heritage Group is a finalist in the cultural heritage the Rudd Labor government’s horrific section, while the Oxley Residents Association is a production-line-stopping, economy-stifling changes to finalist in government partnerships. the fringe benefits tax rules. This is an issue that affects any electorate with a car dealership, car parts Murray Valley electorate ministerial visit manufacturer, car leasing company or aged-care or community services provider. My electorate certainly Mr McCURDY — It was all smiles on Friday when has all of those. It is hard to imagine an electorate that the Minister for Health, David Davis, visited the does not. Murray Valley electorate. Seventy per cent of Australia’s car manufacturing Dawn Keefe occurs in Victoria, and the industry employs 24 000 Victorians. Labor’s fringe benefits tax changes Mr CARROLL (Niddrie) — I rise to celebrate the are expected to reduce Australian automotive life of Clarice Dawn Keefe, who was born on production by 20 per cent. That is 4800 Victorian jobs. 15 August 1925 and passed away peacefully There is also a flow-on effect for car dealerships, surrounded by family and friends on 13 July, aged 87. suppliers and so on. Total job losses have been Clarice was a constituent of mine and a long-serving predicted to be well over 21 000. ALP member and volunteer in my local area. In every sense of the word she was a beautiful woman. It was Over 10 000 car sales have now been cancelled or her family tradition to be known by a second name, so suspended. Fleet sales have crashed by 37 per cent. she is fondly remembered by those who knew her as Ford is expecting six down days immediately and more Dawn. Born and raised in Ballarat, Dawn attended to follow. Charities, which are some of the biggest fleet Ballarat High School, where she was a prefect in her users, are anticipating a negative impact of up to matriculation year, and then went on to the University $5 million each. A total of 250 car leasing and salary of Melbourne to study arts. Around this time she joined packaging jobs have gone, and more will follow. Yet the Australian Labor Party, hiding the fact from her again we see a policy, like the great GST rip-off, where parents as she believed they would disagree with the the federal Labor government hurts Victoria to direct decision. money to its favoured states. Shame, Labor. Shame.
Dawn’s university years were interrupted when in April Firefighter compensation 1945, at the age of 19, Dawn joined the Royal Australian Air Force, enlisting at South Ballarat and Ms GARRETT (Brunswick) — I rise to condemn serving as an aircraftwoman until January 1946. After the Napthine government and the Minister for Police the war Dawn returned to her studies, began work as a and Emergency Services for their continued failure to postie at the postmaster general and married Wal, progress the very important issue of presumptive whom she met at the Ascot Vale post office. Together legislation for the hardworking men and women — Dawn and Wal bought a block of land and made a career and volunteer — of the fire services, who put family home in Price Street, Essendon, where they their lives on the line every day to keep our community would raise their children, Greg and Clayton. Dawn safe. later commenced teaching at Pascoe Vale Girls High School. Throughout this time she was a tireless Once again in the other place the Liberal-Nationals volunteer and contributor to the local political scene coalition chose to talk the motion out rather than put it and a dedicated campaigner for the Labor Party. to a vote. When Shaun Leane, a Labor member for Eastern Metropolitan Region in the other place, sought
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to extend the time available for the debate to take place Holmesglen Youth Foyer and for the motion to be put to a vote, the government refused to consider the matter. Mr GIDLEY — Holmesglen Institute of TAFE’s Waverley campus is home to the Hanover and Once again the government is citing that the medical Brotherhood of St Laurence’s first Youth Foyer. The evidence is not conclusive and that more research needs foyer provides the opportunity for highly disadvantaged to be done. It is referring to studies by Monash young people aged between 16 and 25 years to gain an University. Those studies are being conducted by education and ultimately become employed. It offers people who themselves say their studies should not be purpose-built student-style accommodation for students used to delay the introduction of this important whilst they study at the adjacent education facility. I legislation. This government stands condemned for its thank Hanover, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and failure to stand up for both city and country firefighters, importantly the Minister for Housing, Wendy Lovell, and we call on it to stop this wrangling and procedural for pushing this project as key stakeholders in nonsense and look after those who look after us. establishing the Holmesglen Youth Foyer program and managing its first year of operation. Glen Waverley Bowls Club Residents 3000 Mr GIDLEY (Mount Waverley) — On Saturday, 31 August, I joined with members of the Glen Ms KANIS (Melbourne) — On 22 August I Waverley Bowls Club, their sponsors and supporters attended the celebration of 21 years of the group and Monash councillors to celebrate the opening of the Residents 3000. The celebration was held at the 2013–14 bowls season. Thanks to the dedication and Melbourne town hall and was attended by current and hard work of members, the greens, clubhouse and former office-holders and members. It was a great gardens all looked magnificent. Thanks to club night. During the evening we reflected on just how president, Russ Nichols, club committee members and much the city has changed in 21 years. We reflected on volunteers for hosting a great morning. I wish the club the positive impact the increase in city residents has had all the best for the season ahead. on the city for residents, workers and visitors. Of course many challenges lie ahead, and that is why Mazenod Panthers Residents 3000 is so important. I congratulate and thank Residents 3000, the current and former Mr GIDLEY — The Football Integration office-holders and all its members on 21 years of Development Association (FIDA) oversees and advocacy. You have made a difference. develops a program of football for people with an intellectual disability throughout Victoria. The University of the Third Age winter lunch Mazenod Panthers is a FIDA club based at Central Reserve, and I was fortunate to attend its end-of-season Ms KANIS — On 29 August, along with Jenny break-up event on Friday, 30 August. Special thanks to Mikakos, the shadow minister for seniors and ageing, I Mr Andrew Sharp and the club’s committee, coaches, attended the University of the Third Age winter lunch. sponsors and supporters for their dedication and work With the theme of diamonds, it was indeed a sparkling with the club. It was a pleasure to witness the obvious event. The lunch was a recognition of the valuable joy, excitement and sense of fulfilment that players work the U3A does in the community. It was also a experienced as a result of their involvement with the celebration of the friendship and camaraderie enjoyed Panthers in 2013. by members. The lunch was held at the Angliss Restaurant in the city, and it was terrific to see its Brentwood Secondary College students exhibiting their excellent training. I congratulate the organising committee for all their hard Mr GIDLEY — Education opportunities and work; it was worth it. outcomes remain a key priority in my duties representing the Waverley area. I greatly appreciated Princes Park Carlton Bowls Club the opportunity to attend Brentwood Secondary College’s recent school council meeting. I thank the Ms KANIS — On 24 August I was honoured to school council president, members, principal Vicki open the bowls green for another season at Princes Park Forbes and other staff for the chance to meet, listen and Carlton Bowls Club. I congratulate the committee and discuss the opportunities and challenges at Brentwood. the greenkeeper for maintaining the green and getting it ready for the new season. I wish the club all the best as it builds its membership for the season ahead.
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Latrobe Regional Hospital Business Council, which is led by Ioanna Gouvatsou, a former Austrade official. Mr NORTHE (Morwell) — I rise to support the Victorian coalition government’s increase in funding to This is an attempt to grow two-way trade between Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) for the 2013–14 Australia and Greece. We talk a lot about trade, but financial year. LRH will receive an additional participating in it and delivering it are very hard to do. $8.35 million — a 5.6 per cent increase on its funding Despite Melbourne having the third-biggest Greek for 2012–13. As a major regional hospital it is community in the world and a unique heritage link, and imperative that as demand grows for services at LRH despite having a very well-qualified professional Greek so too do funding and capital investment. I am pleased community, many members of which are involved in that our government has invested significantly to business, two-way trade between the two countries is improve health services in Gippsland, including mental very small and in Greece’s favour, certainly in the health services. services sector.
This funding increase is in stark contrast to the federal Many opportunities are available to grow Australian Labor government, which conversely seeks to repel trade into Greece, despite the economic situation in funding from Victoria. The Rudd Labor government Europe generally and in Greece in particular. has advised it will pay Victoria’s hospitals $368 million Opportunities exist in the areas of property less over the next three years than it had promised development and the ICT sector. ICT provides initially. For LRH this will mean a reduction of efficiencies both to government and to industry as well $7.5 million over a three-year period. The state as opportunities for tourism and the international coalition government’s funding boost will go some way student market. Greece is known as a country which to addressing the cut, but imagine how many more sends many of its talented young people to universities patients our hospitals could treat if the federal Labor around the world. Australia has not been on the radar government did not reduce its funding. To make because it has not developed that opportunity. This is a matters worse, the Rudd Labor government’s carbon great way to start growing two-way trade by tax has meant that LRH has had to pay an additional participating in the international trade fair in $161 000 in energy costs over the past 12 months, Thessaloniki in Greece to showcase what Australia has placing further financial pressures on our health to offer Greece. I congratulate the organisers and wish services. the delegation well in its trade mission.
Barrier Breakers David Kemp Debating Challenge
Mr NORTHE — On a more positive note, I wish to Ms MILLER (Bentleigh) — On Tuesday, also make mention of the Barrier Breakers annual 27 August, I was delighted to co-host the David Kemp charity dinner which will be held this Saturday evening Debating Challenge with the member for Caulfield. to help raise funds for a mental health supported Students from colleges in our electorates visited accommodation project in Traralgon. Whilst the state Parliament House to engage in debates on a variety of coalition government has already announced funding pressing issues. Students were able to engage in a for the accommodation project, the fundraising effort Parliament-style debate in the Legislative Assembly for this year’s dinner is vitally important. I take this with interjections from an opposing team as they opportunity to congratulate all involved in organising presented on their topic. I congratulate Georgia this wonderful event and the Gippsland community for Riordan, Aaron Sanford and Jason Kelly from its ongoing support for this project. McKinnon Secondary College on winning the debating competition. This was the third year the event has been Thessaloniki International Trade Fair run and the third time a school from the Bentleigh electorate has won. Mr PANDAZOPOULOS (Dandenong) — I rise to congratulate the Melbourne-based Hellenic Australian Moorabbin Meals on Wheels Chamber of Commerce and Industry for sending a Melbourne-based delegation to the Thessaloniki Ms MILLER — I was honoured to assist the International Trade Fair in Melbourne’s sister city, Moorabbin Meals on Wheels on Monday, 26 August. Thessaloniki — the biggest trade fair in the Balkans. I Meals on Wheels is an important service that provides congratulate the trade director, George Iliopoulos, who the elderly or disabled with nutritious home-delivered has organised the program, and the chamber’s meals. This service is important as it ensures those in equivalent body in Greece, the Hellenic-Australian need receive healthy meals and engage in regular social
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2984 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 5 September 2013 interaction upon delivery. I especially thank Debra under the act, and makes a number of other amendments to Barbarino and Faye Heber for the wonderful work they the act and other legislation to give effect to the bill’s objective. do with Meals on Wheels, as well as Bruce and Robyn Caporn, the dedicated volunteers I went out with. Meals Human rights issues on Wheels is a great community service that many Section 13 of the charter act provides that a person has the residents of the Bentleigh electorate benefit from. right not to have his or her privacy unlawfully or arbitrarily interfered with, and not to have his or her reputation Teejri festival unlawfully attacked. Section 15 of the charter act provides for freedom of expression, including the right to seek and receive Ms MILLER — I was pleased to attend the Sindhi information. Section 24 of the charter act provides that a Association of Victoria’s event for the Teejri festival, person has the right to a fair hearing. which celebrates the empowerment of women and girls These rights are engaged by clauses 6 and 9 of the bill which with prayers for the success of their families. The provide that, where the board decides to refuse a licence, festival is strongly linked to the cycle of the moon. I holds an inquiry to determine a licensee’s continued was proud to be part of the event on Friday, 23 August. suitability, or decides to vary, suspend or cancel a licence, the Bentleigh is a multilingual and multifaith electorate. I applicant is not entitled to be provided with detailed reasons for that decision if those reasons relate to advice provided by was honoured to be invited to an event that celebrates the Chief Commissioner of Police that was based on cultural identity. protected information. ‘Protected information’ refers to information the disclosure of which is likely to: reveal the PROFESSIONAL BOXING AND COMBAT identity of, or endanger the safety of, members of the police force, informants, or others involved in an investigation or SPORTS AMENDMENT BILL 2013 subject to an investigation; risk compromising an ongoing police investigation or disclosing police investigative Statement of compatibility methods; or otherwise not be in the public interest.
Mr DELAHUNTY (Minister for Sport and Rights under sections 13, 15 and 24 of the charter act are also Recreation) tabled following statement in engaged by clause 21 of the bill, which sets out a special procedure for review of decisions by VCAT. A person who accordance with Charter of Human Rights and has been refused a licence, or whose licence has been Responsibilities Act 2006: modified, suspended or cancelled by the board, is entitled to seek a review of the board’s decision at VCAT unless the In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights decision was made on the grounds that the person is a and Responsibilities Act 2006 (charter act), I make this ‘prohibited person’ (as discussed below). If the board informs statement of compatibility with respect to the Professional VCAT that its decision was based on advice from the chief Boxing and Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2013 (the bill). commissioner, and the chief commissioner subsequently informs VCAT that advice to the board was based on In my opinion, the bill, as introduced to the Legislative evidence that included protected information, then a special Assembly, is compatible with the human rights protected by review procedure applies. A special counsel is appointed to the charter act. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in represent the interests of the applicant. The special counsel this statement. undertakes to keep confidential any evidence disclosed during proceedings. Overview of bill Proceedings are held in closed session excluding the applicant The bill seeks to amend the Professional Boxing and Combat and the public, and also excluding members of the board if Sports Act 1985 (the act) with the objective of upholding the they are not privy to the protected information. VCAT must integrity of the professional boxing and combat sports first determine whether the information has rightly been industry whilst maintaining a balance with the act’s current classified as protected information. If VCAT determines that purposes of controlling professional boxing and combat any of the material constitutes protected information, the sports, reducing the risk of malpractice and promoting safety. hearing of the remainder of the proceeding must also be closed to the extent that it relates to the information. If VCAT The bill amends provisions in the act to allow the Professional determines that the criminal intelligence is not protected Boxing and Combat Sports Board (the board) to consider information, the remainder of the proceedings are conducted whether an applicant for a licence is a fit and proper person as a normal session. and to consider public interest when determining whether to issue or renew a licence to act as a promoter, trainer, The board can change its decision at any time before VCAT matchmaker, referee, judge or timekeeper. makes a final determination on its review of the board’s decision, or the chief commissioner may ask the board to The bill provides for the board to vary, suspend or cancel reconsider its decision without the benefit of protected existing licences issued to a person if, in the board’s opinion, information. Either action will result in the VCAT that person is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence or it proceedings being brought to a close. is no longer in the public interest for that person to hold a licence. It is important that criminal intelligence remain confidential. To release it publicly, or even to the applicant, may The bill specifies circumstances whereby a person is compromise an ongoing police investigation, or the safety of automatically prohibited from obtaining or holding a licence
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investigating officers. There is also a need to avoid abuse of Conclusion the licensing and appeals regime by those seeking to discover what criminal intelligence is held by Victoria Police in For the reasons given in this statement, I consider that the bill relation to themselves or others. is compatible with the charter act.
The concept of a ‘fair’ hearing is a mutable one that requires a Hugh Delahunty, MP balancing of competing interests to be undertaken. It is Minister for Sport and Recreation reasonable to limit the right to a fully adversarial procedure where necessary due to a strong countervailing public interest, Second reading such as the need to protect police investigative techniques, avoid compromising an ongoing police investigation, and Mr DELAHUNTY (Minister for Sport and ensure the safety of investigating officers and informants. The Recreation) — I move: provisions ensure that all available information relevant to an applicant’s probity can be considered by the chief That this bill be now read a second time. commissioner when providing advice to the board, as well as by VCAT when reviewing a decision of the board, while The government is proud to support a wide range of ensuring that there is no disclosure of information which could place persons at risk or compromise police sports in Victoria. This includes professional boxing investigations. and combat sports, which are contests conducted for profit, or where contestants participate for monetary Comparable provisions to those proposed in the bill appear in reward or, with limited exceptions, where the public other Victorian acts: pays an entry fee to attend the contest. Sections 150A–E of the Private Security Act 2004 define the process, powers and parameters for a review In 1975 Victoria became the first Australian jurisdiction by VCAT in relation to the licensing of security agents to introduce a law to control professional boxing where protected information is involved. contests to ensure the safety of contestants. This Section 74A of the Casino Control Act 1991 and followed a commonwealth inquiry into boxing and section 35E of the Racing Act 1958 define the process, combat sports and the death of a young man after a tent powers and parameters for a review by VCAT of boxing fight in Geelong in late 1974. An additional law exclusion orders made by the Chief Commissioner of to control martial arts was introduced in 1986 and was Police. subsequently amalgamated with boxing legislation in Part 4 of the Criminal Organisations Control Act 2013 1996 to bring all professional contests in the fields of provides for protection of criminal intelligence used in boxing and martial arts under the control of one board. creating control orders (it should be noted that the Further amendments in 2001, including a change of provisions in that act are more stringent than those proposed in this bill, which is appropriate as there are name to reflect the focus on professional contests, serious penalties for contravening a control order). resulted in a fully integrated scheme for regulation of professional boxing and combat sports. Section 56(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 controls the disclosure of documents by VCAT if an The Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985 exemption from release under the FOI act has been claimed for documents that are the subject of an establishes a board that, among other functions and application for review. duties, licenses people to act as promoters, matchmakers, trainers, judges and referees. Under the A person who has been refused a licence or had their licence current act, the board must issue or renew a licence to cancelled cannot seek a review of the board’s decision at VCAT if they are a ‘prohibited person’. This is a reasonable any person who has submitted the correct paperwork limitation on the right to a fair hearing as there is no absolute and fee, has an appropriate knowledge of the act and its right of access to court and, as the bill stipulates that a regulations as well as contest rules, and agrees to prohibited person cannot be issued or hold a licence, VCAT comply with any conditions that would be placed on a would have no scope to make a decision other than that made by the board. VCAT is not prevented from considering licence. There is no provision in the current act for the whether a person meets the definition of prohibited person if board to consider an applicant’s character or reputation, there is a dispute as to whether the definition applies to that or to refuse to grant a licence for any reason besides a person. lack of knowledge of the act, regulations, rules and The right to privacy is also engaged by a number of clauses conditions. relating to the collection and disclosure of information (particularly clauses 6, 14, 15, 24 and 25). These clauses do Fit and proper person tests are part of regulatory not unlawfully or arbitrarily interfere with the right to privacy controls over professional boxing and combat sports in as the information to be collected is for a specified purpose, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and provision has been made for information to be disclosed and Tasmania. Regulatory frameworks that license only for certain purposes. other activities in Victoria — such as firearms, involvement in the gaming industry, liquor sales,
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private security, real estate agents and motor car comparable convictions and sentences, as well as traders — also include either a ‘fit and proper person’ comparable orders, in other states or territories. or some other form of character test. As part of considering the probity of applicants, the bill As with all sports, the Victorian government wants provides for the board to refer applications to the chief professional boxing and combat sports to be run by commissioner, who must provide advice to the board people of good character and reputation. This is within 28 days. That advice may take a number of important not only to ensure that community forms, such as advising that an applicant is expectations are met but also to uphold safety while automatically prohibited from obtaining a licence, or reducing the risk of malpractice. giving a view as to whether an applicant is a fit and proper person or whether it would be contrary to the This bill will amend the Professional Boxing and public interest to issue a licence to that person. The Combat Sports Act 1985 to provide for the board to board must give special consideration to advice that consider the probity of industry participants, with the indicates an applicant is not a fit and proper person or objective of upholding the integrity of the professional that it is not in the public interest to issue a licence, and boxing and combat sports industry whilst maintaining a the chief commissioner must give reasons to the board balance with the act’s current purposes of controlling so that it can have confidence to rely on that advice professional boxing and combat sports, reducing the when making its decision. risk of malpractice and promoting safety. The bill also includes provisions to protect sensitive The bill amends criteria for issuing licences to information used by the chief commissioner when participate in the professional boxing and combat sports providing advice to the board in the event that the industry — including the roles of promoter, board’s decision is reviewed by VCAT. These matchmaker, referee, judge and trainer — by allowing provisions are similar to existing statutes and have been the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board (the adapted to reflect the fact that the chief commissioner board) to consider whether a person is a fit and proper provides advice to the board, which is the person to hold a licence and whether it is in the public decision-maker. interest for that person to hold a licence. It is important that criminal intelligence remain In practice, the board will give regard to available confidential. To release it publicly, or even to the information relating to a person’s character, honesty, applicant, may compromise an ongoing police probity and reputation, which may include financial investigation, or the safety of investigating officers. matters as well as criminal activity. This bill provides There is also a need to avoid abuse of the licensing and for application forms to be changed so that pertinent appeals regime by those seeking to discover what information can be sought from people when they criminal intelligence is held by Victoria Police in apply for a licence, and also provides for the board to relation to themselves or others. request further information from an applicant before making a decision. If VCAT receives an application for review of a decision by the board to refuse, not renew or to cancel a The bill defines circumstances whereby a person is licence, VCAT must ask the board whether the reasons automatically prohibited from obtaining or holding a for its decision were based on advice provided by the licence under the act. These circumstances involve: chief commissioner; if that is the case, VCAT must then ask the chief commissioner if any of the advice being convicted of an indictable offence and provided to the board was based on protected sentenced to imprisonment for information. 10 or more years; If advice provided by the chief commissioner was being subject to a control order under the Criminal based on protected information, then VCAT must Organisations Control Act 2012 (either as an follow special procedures to protect sensitive individual or as a member of a declared information. These procedures are largely based on organisation); provisions in the Private Security Act 2004 and have being subject to an exclusion order by the Chief been developed in consultation with VCAT. Commissioner of Police in relation to the casino or The special procedures include appointing special racecourses; and counsel to represent the applicant, and also to represent the board if it is not privy to any protected information,
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and conducting all or part of the hearing as a closed Debate adjourned on motion of Mr HERBERT session. There are also measures to prevent release of (Eltham). protected information when VCAT makes its decision. Debate adjourned until Thursday, 19 September. The board can change its decision at any time before VCAT makes a final determination on its review of the DISTINGUISHED VISITORS board’s decision, or the chief commissioner may ask the board to reconsider its decision without the benefit The SPEAKER — Order! I would like to welcome of protected information. Either action will result in the to the gallery Professor David Battersby, who is the VCAT proceedings being brought to a close, which has vice-chancellor of the University of Ballarat, soon to be the intent of providing a final recourse to protect the vice-chancellor, I would think, of Federation sensitive criminal intelligence. University Australia. We welcome him to the Parliament. The bill provides for the board to vary, suspend or cancel existing licences if it determines that an existing UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT licensee is not a fit and proper person or that it is not in AMENDMENT (FEDERATION the public interest for that person to continue to hold a UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA) BILL 2013 licence. Second reading The bill changes the means of controlling timekeepers from being listed by the board to being formally Debate resumed from 22 August; motion of licensed, so that this role is subject to the same probity Mr DIXON (Minister for Education). considerations as other roles relating to professional contests. Mr HERBERT (Eltham) — It is a pleasure to rise to speak on the University of Ballarat Amendment The bill creates a duty for a licensed promoter to neither (Federation University Australia) Bill 2013. In employ nor enter into any business relationship or summary the bill makes several amendments to the arrangement relating to a professional contest with any University of Ballarat Act 2010. It changes the name of person who has been refused a licence or had their that principal act to reflect the change in the university licence cancelled because they are not a fit and proper name, from University of Ballarat to Federation person to hold a licence or because it is not in the public University Australia, and also amends the preamble of interest for that person to hold a licence. This will the act to reflect the change of name. It provides for prevent controls from being circumvented, for example, transitional arrangements to ensure that the university is by people who have either been refused a licence or had the same body under the new name. It ensures that their licence cancelled using other people without students enrolled in the University of Ballarat criminal histories as a front for their operations. immediately before 1 January 2014 will be taken to be enrolled as students of Federation University Australia. Similarly, to ensure that the intent of the act is upheld, a It proposes a six-year transition period to enable the person who has been refused a licence or had their awards for students currently undertaking courses at the licence cancelled because they have failed to meet university to be conferred either in the name of the probity requirements will be barred from reapplying for University of Ballarat or Federation University at least 12 months. People who are automatically Australia on written request. The bill also makes other prohibited will only be able to reapply if their technical changes to the act, such as removing circumstances change so that they are no longer redundant definitions, and makes consequential prohibited from obtaining or holding a licence under amendments to other acts. the act. Of course the bill does a lot more than make a simple The bill also makes several amendments to the act in name change. It puts in place a process for the order to facilitate its overall objective, including new University of Ballarat to acquire Monash University’s powers for the chief commissioner to share information Churchill campus, or Monash Gippsland, which will with the board, controls for disclosure of information make it the premier higher education provider in relating to probity by the board and staff of the Gippsland and in the Latrobe Valley in particular. The department, and repeal of powers relating to delegation opposition of course is not opposing this bill. We and review of decisions that will no longer be certainly do not oppose expanding regional higher appropriate once the act is amended. education, which is what the new entity seeks to do. I commend the bill to the house.
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Before going on to discuss the bill itself I will just say a Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the few words commending both universities, and both government in terms of its commitment to this project. vice-chancellors in particular, for the enormous amount We have had a lot of words, but when it comes to of work they have done in terms of consultation and substance we have not seen commitment. What we negotiations aimed at finding an outcome. This is have seen is a shameful refusal by the government to incredibly important to the provision of higher provide any substantial financial support for the education in the Latrobe Valley and in Gippsland, university in the transition process. It has abandoned its incredibly important to the economic infrastructure and responsibility to consult with the community, leaving it incredibly important to the opportunities offered to entirely to the two universities, and they have done it people within that region. very well; I want to acknowledge that. But governments have a role to play too, and this As the Speaker acknowledged a few moments ago, government should have some independent role in the Professor David Battersby is in the gallery for this process. debate, as he was during the debate on this bill in the upper house. I think that is a sign of the commitment The government’s political intervention earlier in the Ballarat has to this project, and I am sure Professor year in the democratic processes of university and Battersby is pleased that both sides of politics are TAFE councils has inspired community distrust in supporting this initiative. In the short time since this many organisations. Above all, its massive cuts to process was publicly announced Professor Battersby TAFE across the country, particularly in Gippsland, has won the respect of staff and students in Gippsland. have been a massive blow to confidence in the He has done this because he has adopted a particularly post-secondary education sector. That is simply and open and accessible approach to the issues that occur undeniably the case. Thank goodness for the there, and he has won respect because of his passion for competence of our universities, because the the new venture. government does not give confidence to anybody that it can manage the complexities involved in the University I want to put on record that a couple of weekends ago of Ballarat’s acquisition of this new campus and in the the Churchill campus had its open day. Rather than formation of the new university. simply breezing through the institution, as politicians sometimes do, Professor Battersby and his wife, who is The government’s record is appalling in this area. It has also in the chamber, impressed everyone at the campus simply acted like a wrecking ball, crashing through by spending the entire day helping to shoulder the load higher education and training in Victoria. In every and talking to students and staff about his plans for instance it has created upheaval and turmoil right across education for the region. He was involved in taking this state and right across this sector for stakeholders, forms at the front desk right through to chatting at communities, universities and TAFEs. If you look at various stalls and with different groups of people. the record in Gippsland, you see that $10.5 million has Professor Battersby not only won respect from the staff been slashed from GippsTAFE, 20 courses have been at the university but also gave a lot of confidence to the cut and 105 jobs have been lost, plus contract staff. students who were making choices about their Funding of $5 million has been slashed from Advance enrolments next year. TAFE, 34 courses have been cut, 46 jobs have been lost and contract staff have gone. In Ballarat, as we all I am also pleased that Professor Battersby has given know, we have seen more TAFE course closures and undertakings that at least one of the four executive staff losses as a direct result of $20 million being deans will be located in Gippsland and at least the slashed from the training budget. That cannot be senior executive will be there so that the campus is a denied; it is all part of the $1.2 billion in cuts this genuine part of the entire university, not just an government has made to TAFE and training, and these offshoot. That undertaking is to be commended and cuts have led to devastation in the sector. will be welcomed by all. Professor Battersby has also undertaken that there will be an expansion of courses I said earlier that distrust has been caused by the way there and that the courses will relate particularly to the the government sacked staff and student representatives needs of that region. That is a very good thing for from university and council boards, but perhaps the Gippsland. Before moving on, I want to acknowledge most distrust has been caused by the way it that, if there is one person whose passion for this new unceremoniously sacked the TAFE board chairs. If venture will ensure its success, it is Professor Battersby there was one example of a government not and his team. Well done! understanding the sector, not being prepared to work with it and not being prepared to consult with it, it was the sacking of those TAFE chairs in so many
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institutions. I would hope that the government deals any of the Monash campuses or at Ballarat in the with this current merger a lot better than the way it has transfer of the new entity. That is a straightforward dealt with those other issues. guarantee that the minister could come out and give right now. He could put the stamp of the Crown on that There are other issues, of course, that we would like to government-backed guarantee, and he could make that see the government address. As I said, we have faith promise now. We have not seen any commitment that universities are on track in the work they are doing, whatsoever. but in Parliament we have a government that has a legislative responsibility in this state, and we would like What we do know is that the minister was happy to act to see it honour that. to save the jobs of some staff in the print division at the Monash Gippsland campus. He was quick to act there. Let us have a look at the actual process. Currently we We have had indications that one of the reasons he is have this bill before us that changes the name of the not signing off on the formal acquisition is that he University of Ballarat to enable that great expansion in wants to make sure the staffing situation is completely Gippsland. However, as I understand it, the Minister for sorted out first, but he should make that public. He Higher Education and Skills is required to give formal should come out and say that. Talk about hypocrisy! On approval for the transfer of land and assets from the one hand he is responsible for the sacking of Monash Gippsland to Federation University before the 2000 TAFE staff but on the other hand he moves to acquisition can go ahead. Whilst the Victorian secure the jobs of some teachers in Gippsland. We government has given in-principle support for that support the securing of those jobs, but this is an act of acquisition, my understanding is that the minister is yet gross hypocrisy. If the government is going to be clear, to grant his approval; he has not signed on the dotted it should be clear on what its position is on the jobs in line. That is certainly what was explained to me in the the new entity and with the existing providers. bill briefing — a very good bill briefing, I must say — so it is a bit hard to understand how the minister could Another important issue is underwriting financial loss if introduce a bill into this place which changes the name it should occur. I have faith that under the management of a new merged institution and yet has not given of Professor Battersby and his team the target of 5 per formal written approval to transfer those assets. Talk cent extra growth in enrolment will be met; however, about putting the cart before the horse. we are entering an uncertain era. We have a federal election where we have seen quite a few changing That is part of the whole problem with this government policies on both sides — — and the way it deals with matters. This should have been a simple thing. I note that the commonwealth Ms Ryall interjected. government took a different view. The commonwealth Minister for Higher Education, Senator Kim Carr, was Mr HERBERT — The member for Mitcham thinks pretty quick to act in transferring the that Monash Gippsland, or Federation University commonwealth-supported places from Monash Australia, and the apprentices down there — — Gippsland to Ballarat so that the new entity can offer The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! The member higher education contribution scheme-funded courses next year. It was quick to act on that, but in a whole will ignore interjections, and the member for Mitcham range of areas the formal signed-off approval for the will not interject. land transfer and acquisition, as I understand it, has still Mr HERBERT — Yes, through you, Deputy Chair, not been acted upon by the government. That should the issue here is that sometimes transitions take a little occur because it gives certainty to the whole process. bit longer than projected and that it can take a bit longer There are still a range of other issues on which we hope for targets to be met. That can cause a great deal of we will get clarity from the government. There have uncertainty, which has financial implications. We been undertakings given by the universities, and I would like to see the minister come out and say the state government will underwrite this new entity in would like to have the minister provide confirmation in this place of the rights of existing staff, at both Monash Gippsland — in the minister’s own electorate — in University and what will be the new Federation case financial targets are not met. We would like to University Australia, about their employment, their make sure that there is a guarantee from the minister enterprise bargaining agreements and their entitlements. that if there are short-term losses at the new entity, there will not be any loss of funding for the current Ballarat There has been some very good work done by the universities, but we have not had a government University campuses in Ballarat and other regions of guarantee up to this point that jobs will not be lost at Victoria. We would simply like to see the government
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do what governments should do in a major undertaking going to be some concern at the Berwick campus about like this and provide some sort of financial statement of its future. It is understandable that staff and students support for the new entity. It is straightforward: the and the community at Berwick are wondering what minister could come out today and say, ‘We guarantee implications the Churchill campus transfer will have for any financials over the next 10 years’. It is pretty its campus and its activities. simple, and he could do it today or tomorrow, but we are yet to hear it. There is some tension on this issue. People are talking, and they want answers. Will the campus continue? Will There are further issues in terms of the transfer which the expansion plans the university had happen? Will the government should be making statements on, rather another institution be looked at with a takeover than the minister hiding in his office behind his desk. provision? What is going to happen with the Berwick There has been a lot of debate in Gippsland and in the campus? What is going to happen to the courses offered valley about the implications of a Group of Eight (G8) across the two institutions? university exiting and another university with a regional focus taking over. I have been talking to groups down To add to the confusion, the commonwealth there quite a bit, and whilst there is a huge amount of government recently allocated $500 000 to investigate positivity about the provision of undergraduate higher education options in the south-east, and in education and the changes that are happening, such as particular the formation of a university college at better accessibility and support for students in Berwick. I would have thought that concept would be Gippsland, there is the issue of the research capacity of in direct contrast to Monash University’s G8 aspirations a G8 university. in terms of raising its level of research and raising its world rankings standing. That in itself is a worthwhile I would like to see this government have a look at that ambition. We all want our universities to aspire to be issue and have discussions with Federation University internationally recognised. What does that mean for the Australia about what sort of support it could provide in government? You would think the government and the terms of underpinning extra research activity in Minister for Higher Education and Skills would make a Gippsland with research into the economic clear statement about this. That would be very much development of the area, research into social and welcomed by people in Berwick. The government educational needs of the area and research into how it should give a firm commitment that the campus will can link with local government. These are the roles of grow and that the provision of education there will government. We have a great institution there, but in grow under Monash or whatever arrangement is made the mind of most taxpayers the government plays its there. part too. I would like to see the minister make some statements about how the government will underpin Presumably the government has a position on this. This and support research activity for the new entity, government does not seem to have too many positions particularly in Gippsland. On those issues all we get is on anything, and it does not seem to have done too silence. much deep thinking on anything. One important issue in higher education is the provision of tertiary education Moving on, the bill makes clear that students who are in the south-east. As we all know, the state government currently enrolled — and there is a six-year transition commissioned a study into tertiary education in the period — will be able to take whatever name on their south-east; there was a tertiary education plan. It was certification that they want: the University of Ballarat undertaken by the highly esteemed Professor Kwong or Federation University Australia. That is excellent, Lee Dow. That plan was finished and was given to the because if students want to change it, they can; if they Minister for Higher Education and Skills sometime in do not want to, they do not have to. 2012. We are all waiting to see it. The Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan was published and is out there, There are some other issues raised by the acquisition, but where is the plan for the south-east? There are a few not so much for the Ballarat and Gippsland campuses government members in the chamber who come from but for other Monash campuses, and I will refer to the the south-east, and I wonder if they have seen the plan. Berwick Monash campus. Currently courses are linked between the Berwick and Churchill campuses and There is a fair bit of tension at the Berwick campus of academics move between them. They are two outlying Monash University. People there are wondering about Monash campuses which have a slightly different its future. The commonwealth is providing funding of cohort of students in comparison to the bulk of students $500 000 for the south-east plan, but there is deafening at the Clayton campus. It would be foolish to think that silence from the government on this. Presumably the if one of the campuses leaves Monash, there is not plan that the government undertook underpins its
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thinking, if it has done any, and that plan has been provided to students who often have very low sitting in the minister’s bottom drawer for probably a Australian tertiary admission rank (ATAR) scores and year now. The Minister for Higher Education and Skills who need extra academic support to get through their has a secret report, and he refuses to release it. undergraduate education. If we cut to the chase, the University of Ballarat offers expertise in kids who have I take this opportunity to ask the minister whether, if he not had the best educational pathway into university will not make that plan available to his own members in and who need extra support to get through, particularly the south-east, if he will not make it available to the in the first year of an undergraduate degree. The community of the south-east and if he will not make it university offers expertise in raising both the available to the people who want to know about expectations of those kids and their capacity in terms of education provision in their area, he will at least the courses they do. We have had many discussions on guarantee that he will give the plan to the federal this, and this is why the community in Gippsland is inquiry into education in the south-east so that it does embracing Federation University Australia. That not have to duplicate effort and waste taxpayers money community sees it as an opportunity to offer those producing a plan the same as the one he has sitting in students help, with more support and a different type of his bottom drawer. I ask the minister to come out now education. and say, ‘I will make this report available to the federal government inquiry’. It is a simple thing. It would be I note that the government’s Gippsland Tertiary reasonable for any minister to do that. Education Plan, which was publicly acted on and publicly released, referred to the establishment of Honourable members interjecting. technology centres. It makes sense in what is happening here that the Churchill campus of Monash University Mr HERBERT — I do apologise to Professor has expertise in the delivery of online education. The Battersby for concentrating on other important issues to University of Ballarat has expertise in face-to-face do with this whole arrangement, but those issues teaching and in supporting students — and it is often needed to be put on the public record. those with lower ATAR scores and those who need Returning to the bill, as I have said, there are some extra support to get through the academic side of their issues with transitional arrangements that have been undergraduate work. If the two institutions come complicated because of the government’s stance on together, we have a very good option. However, I take TAFE and its stance on interfering in the boards of issue with the government here: it is not just about universities and in TAFE councils. Hopefully that era spending a bit of money, putting in some computers at has gone. Hopefully the government has gained an outlying regional centre and expecting kids who wisdom from its previous mistakes and will not need a lot of extra support to flourish in them, because interfere in the operations of these major tertiary they simply will not. Online learning is great for more institutions. That would be a good thing. I hope the mature people, for people who want to get a secondary government will provide some real support, that it will qualification, for people who are engaged in work and answer some of the questions out there about its public have time constraints, but when it comes to young stance on the new arrangements and that it will open its people who are seeking to fulfil their aspirations on wallet and provide a bit of cash to make sure that this their merits through higher education and who need new entity not only succeeds but also exceeds extra support, you have to have that face-to-face expectations. That is what we in this place should be component working well, together with that online aspiring to achieve for Gippsland. component.
Gippsland has very low year 12 retention rates and very When the government allocates resources to the low numbers of students moving from secondary Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, I would like to see education to post-school education, but it is an area for it sit down with the new university, and say, ‘Yes, we which there has been so much promise. That is what we have a position where we are going to set up these want to see, and that is why we want to see more online education outposts, but what do we need to do to resources allocated and action from the government to adapt them so that we get really good education support the great work that the University of Ballarat provision for the types of student cohorts that this and Monash University are doing to provide education. region needs to provide opportunities for? I can assure government members that the opposition would be Another hope we have relates to the actual provision of more than happy to support such an endeavour. With education. We can talk about name changes but really that I wish the new Federation University Australia all what is important comes down to how education is the very best, and I look forward to working with it in the future.
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Mr NORTHE (Morwell) — It also gives me great has been undertaken with the name change. Back in pleasure to rise this morning to speak on the University 1870 it was known as the School of Mines, Ballarat, of Ballarat Amendment (Federation University and various changes were made through to 1994, when Australia) Bill 2013. The bill is quite simple; it changes it became known as the University of Ballarat. As I the name of the University of Ballarat to Federation understand, the initial enrolment around that time was University Australia. It does so because of the scope about 2000 students. That figure has now grown to and broad range of education delivery that the new 23 000 people, and that is a significant increase in a entity will have, which goes far beyond its existing relatively short space of time. That just underpins the presence in central and western Victoria. By making credentials of the University of Ballarat. Through this this change we amend the University of Ballarat change we anticipate substantial growth going forward. Act 2010. It is important to note that as I understand it approximately 25 per cent of the student body are As the member for Eltham indicated and as referred to international students, and approximately 75 per cent of in the bill itself, from a local perspective this will see an domestic students are from regional areas. Again, that is expanded regional campus and presence in Gippsland, very important for regional members of Parliament and and that is a great thing. We will essentially see the in the case of Gippsland. merger of the Monash University Gippsland campus and the University of Ballarat under the new identity of Through this process there were a number of names Federation University Australia. It is important to note that were considered for the change, and they were that the University of Ballarat not only has three many and varied. They included names such as Barton campuses in Ballarat but also has a presence in other University, Robert Menzies University, Doug Nicholls areas of Victoria, including Ararat, Stawell and University and the University of Regional Victoria, but Horsham. Within that, there are a number of eventually there were two possibilities that were put partnerships that the University of Ballarat has with a forward, and those were Federation University, which number of different entities, and they are varied is becoming more commonly known as ‘FedUni’, and throughout the state of Victoria. They include State University. After further consultation and Sunraysia TAFE, Wodonga TAFE, GOTAFE, Bendigo feedback that was received it was ultimately determined TAFE, Advance TAFE and GippsTAFE; it has that that Federation University Australia would be the strong presence in various parts of regional Victoria. university’s name. I want to take up that point, because unfortunately during the debate in the Legislative It is important to note that under the changed name the Council and in some quarters of the community some university remains the same body and preserves the people determined that the acronym for Federation exercise of powers held by the University of Ballarat, University Australia might sound a little bit hilarious, the terms and conditions of members appointed to the but Mr O’Brien from Western Victoria Region in the council and the terms by which students were enrolled upper house made some very important points in at the University of Ballarat. Importantly, as part of the respect of that. There are a number of universities bill, when we are talking about students who might worldwide which have the same initials, including have a conferral of awards and how that plays out with Flinders University, Fordham University, Fisk the name of the University of Ballarat, the bill provides University, Fudan University, et cetera. I am sure the for a six-year period from 1 January next year in which jocularity around that will only last for a short time. the council may confer an award in the name of the ‘FedUni’ will certainly resonate with many people; University of Ballarat. The council may do so where there is no doubt about that. students would have been entitled to such an award as at 1 January next year. They can make a written request In his contribution the member for Eltham talked about, that awards be confirmed in the name of the University in part, the performance of this government around of Ballarat, so it has that protection going forward, higher education and tertiary education. I want to point which is vitally important. out that he was remiss in neglecting the fact that the federal Labor government has reduced funding to All members of the Legislative Assembly would universities by billions. That has had a far greater remember the regional sitting of Parliament at the impact, and it is something which many universities University of Ballarat campus and the strong around Australia have to suffer at the moment. He also endorsement from many members of the ability of the made mention of the land transfer, and the minister campus itself as host. It was absolutely fabulous. responsible for the bill in the Legislative Council, the Minister for Higher Education and Skills, answered It is interesting to consider the background of how the some of those questions during the debate there. My University of Ballarat came to be and the process that understanding is that the land monitor process is under
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way, and the minister indicated in the Legislative In conclusion I would like to say that this is important Council that that would hopefully be resolved within legislation for the people of Gippsland and indeed the next three or four weeks. people right across Victoria. The name change and the new entity in Gippsland will provide enormous I also want to mention some of the rest of the debate in opportunities for young people to participate in higher the upper house, which referred to the Monash education and training. It is an important initiative, and University Gippsland Student Union (MUGSU). it is welcome that all sides of Parliament support this Having met with representatives of the student union bill. over a period of time — and I know the minister has done likewise — I am very keen to see the presence of Ms GRALEY (Narre Warren South) — I rise to MUGSU continue in student support services with the speak on the University of Ballarat Amendment new entity; that is for sure. MUGSU has a presence (Federation University Australia) Bill 2013, and I say at much broader than just in the university itself. It has a the outset that the opposition does not oppose this bill. lot of community assets and business opportunities This is an important bill because it deals with which it runs within the Churchill community, and it is institutions that are of great value to the Victorian very important that they continue. We are therefore public — universities. These are places where our best very supportive of the notion that their presence should and brightest and those wanting to improve their life continue in the future through the provision of student chances get the opportunity to excel, to obtain support services. qualifications, to get a good job and to have a future rich with lifelong learning. The bill is also important to I also want to mention a couple of the programs that are me because I represent an area that is home to the really important around not only Monash University Monash University Berwick campus. It is an excellent but other training providers and regional campuses. The institution. I am very pleased to say that I am on the member for Eltham mentioned that the Education and university advisory council at Monash, and we are very Training Committee in the last term of Parliament dedicated to making sure the Berwick campus undertook a very important report about geographical continues to grow from strength to strength. differences in the rates of participation in higher education. The conclusions of that report included that It is essential that our university sectors be well we were performing pretty poorly in regional areas in managed, because the reputation of a university is comparison to metropolitan Melbourne. invaluable. It is not just the local reputation but the international reputation that is important; there are It is important that we have programs and support in 45 000 universities in the world, which represents an place to be able to lift that rate. One of the programs we extraordinary number of higher learning institutions in have — and the minister made a relevant existence. Victorian universities, which try to attract announcement on 2 September — is funding for international students, have to be of the highest quality; student retention rates. I know that some of our local their reputation has to be such that overseas students as schools have successfully applied for that funding, well as local students say, ‘This is a place where I want which has been a great thing for those schools. to spend an important period of my life from which I Traralgon Secondary College, Kurnai College’s want to take away a degree, displaying that alma mater Churchill campus and the campus of Berry Street proudly in the community and in the world of work’. School, the BEST Centre, at Morwell were successful past applicants under the Local Solutions Year 12 I heard a Greens MP say the other day that the future Retention Fund. was about minds, not mines. I must say that I disagree; it is actually about mines and minds. We see down at I note another important program announced in July — Gippsland especially the need for concentration on the a partnership between Monash University and the areas of vocation and research that equip both minds University of Ballarat involving $2.1 million for the and mines with the best qualifications to ensure the higher education programs and pathways project. This prosperity and sustainability of that region. I concur was funding provided under the $20 million Regional with the point made by the opposition’s lead speaker, Partnerships Facilitation Fund, and it enables higher the member for Eltham, who spoke about the need to education pathways in Gippsland and Ballarat in the secure a good future for the new university at fields of engineering, business administration, criminal Gippsland. justice, midwifery and biotechnology. I do not have time to talk about some of the other initiatives that have I will mention one of the things I think really needs to been undertaken locally. be investigated. I am not telling the vice-chancellor how to do his job, and I am very pleased to see him in
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the gallery. It was delightful to hear the story about his … equip yourself for life, not solely for your own benefit but presence at the front desk on open day down at his new for the benefit of the whole community. campus at Churchill. I am, however, a little In 1994, when Monash was in an expansive mode and old-fashioned about universities, and given my went out and established the Berwick campus and later relationship with Monash and having been a university went down to Churchill, it really was about making teacher myself, I not only am a strong supporter of sure that universities were meeting the needs of the quality teaching but am very aware of the real capacity growing areas, areas that may not have had any of universities to do world-class research and the universities in them at the time, and it was also about capacity for a university’s reputation to be consequently improving the commitment to social inclusion. I am enhanced, benefiting not only the university itself but very pleased to see that Monash University and, I the students, the staff and the members of the local understand, the new University of Ballarat, or community who work there. Federation University Australia, are totally committed I would therefore really like the government to get to making sure that more local students can go to these campuses. behind developing some sort of research capacity for this university. Goodness knows, there are a number of Through my own experience at Monash Berwick I issues down in the Churchill area — in the valley — know that the university is definitely committed to that really need to be looked at in depth and where there making sure that the campus continues to expand its is a need for some funding commitment to make sure course selection and provide more accessible pathways the valley continues to thrive in the future. to its courses. I would like to think that is going to continue at Monash Berwick, and given especially what As other speakers have said, this bill sets out to achieve our lead speaker was talking about I certainly think that, a change of name from the University of Ballarat to Federation University Australia; the university remains with the sorts of courses and Australian tertiary admissions ranks that will be required to enter the same body. As I said, I am acutely aware that universities need to be grounded in their local Federation University, more local kids will be able to go to our local universities and get the qualifications community, and knowing many staff who operate out they need to serve our local community, just as Sir John of both the Berwick and Gippsland campuses I am also Monash would have liked. aware that despite the best endeavours of everybody involved, there have been a few unhappy times with I notice that for all of the criticisms of the Berwick staff and students during the transition from Monash to campus by some people, it is actually showing a Ballarat University, or Federation University Australia, dividend. It has actually got its books in order. It is in a as it will now be called. fast-growing area.
I draw to the attention of the government and the Mr Battin interjected. university that my reading of the bill suggests that those students currently at the campus who enrolled as Ms GRALEY — I know that the member for students at Monash University will now end up with a Gembrook has got a lot of constituents who go over qualification from the University of Ballarat, or there, and I am sure he would be a great supporter. I Federation University Australia. Heads are shaking know that 50 years ago, when Monash University was opposite — they will still be able to take out a Monash established in Clayton, it was on the outskirts of degree. I am very pleased to hear that — and I am Melbourne. I remember catching a plane to Europe seeing that the vice-chancellor is nodding in the with Monash students when I was a young university gallery — because I know that, firstly, many students student, and they were all chirpy, forward-thinking, went to Gippsland campus because the Monash bright, smart kids talking about what they were going to University emblem would come up on their degree in do in life. They have become the engineers, doctors, the future, and secondly, many of them had quite high nurses, teachers, artists and public servants of today. entrance scores, which would have meant they qualified to go to the Monash campus in Gippsland. Therefore I Mr Foley — The politicians. am very pleased to hear that those students will still be able to get the university degree that they thought they Ms GRALEY — And the politicians who have were going to get from a G8 university — that is, that gone on to work hard for this state for 30 years. I would really esteemed Monash University degree. like to think in relation to these campuses that are on the outskirts of Melbourne now, like the Berwick I noticed when I was looking at the Monash website campus, which I have said is very close to me and my that Sir John Monash was quoted as saying: heart, that the government will continue to commit to
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local kids in these fast-growing areas on the outskirts of Since that time the University of Ballarat has had a Melbourne — because, as I said, Clayton 50 years ago significant presence across western Victoria. Although was on the outskirts of Melbourne, and Berwick and technically the university came into existence in 1994, increasingly Gippsland campuses are on the outskirts of it has a significant history going back to 1870 and to the Melbourne — and we want to make sure that the School of Mines Ballarat. The Mount Helen campus government commits there. The Berwick campus came into existence in 1975 when the school of mines unfortunately is alive with rumours about changes, determined a need for a tertiary division, and for many takeovers, layoffs, sell-offs and things like that, and I years after that — until 1994 — it was the Ballarat call on the government to commit to making sure that College of Advanced Education (BCAE). Many the Berwick campus remains a Monash campus for the students came through the BCAE over those years, kids in the south-east who want to go university, get a including former Premier Steve Bracks. degree and serve their community. Prior to 1994 the university had a great history in I wish Federation University Australia the best of luck Ballarat. Since that time it has expanded and become a in its new campus at Gippsland. I hope it is a successful very progressive university for the region. It has education enterprise, and I hope the government gets recognised the need to provide quality courses for behind the university and says not only that it will make students who are able to access its courses in Ballarat sure kids can get a good education but also that it will and at the other campuses in western Victoria, which is raise the bar a little bit higher and talk about developing very important because we want regional students to some research capacity at that university that will serve have good opportunities to access higher education. It the local community well. Without further ado, I would continues to be a concern that they are not as involved like to commend the bill to the house. I hope the in higher education as are students from metropolitan vice-chancellor and his wife have a very enjoyable time Melbourne. Universities like Ballarat have a very in our chambers, and I wish them well in their important role in providing quality education that is endeavours down at Gippsland. comfortable for students from regional Victoria, but I note also that the University of Ballarat is able to attract Mr HOWARD (Ballarat East) — I do not know students from across the world and especially from the quite what has happened with those on the other side of Asia and Middle East regions. the house, but clearly they are in disorder, so it is appropriate for me to have the call a little earlier than I Over the years I have been pleased to attend graduation might have otherwise expected. However, I am very ceremonies at the university, which on occasion have pleased to speak on this very significant bill as the been very exciting and multicultural. I always feel for member for Ballarat East, which is home to the Mount the people introducing the graduates because they have Helen campus of the University of Ballarat. Of course to work through a complex range of names of graduates this house was in the position of being convened at the who have come from Middle Eastern and Asian Mount Helen campus only last year, so members will cultures, which are so different to ours. The graduation be aware of the facilities that are on offer at the ceremonies are fantastic events that provide a great University of Ballarat. sense of the breadth of the University of Ballarat and its coverage. For the people of Ballarat it was a source of great excitement when the University of Ballarat came into Not only has the university provided great opportunities existence in 1994 to think that the people of Ballarat for students, but it has seen an opportunity to be a could have a university of their own. This came with a partner with the communities of Ballarat and western great deal of work from many people who saw this as a Victoria. Under its first vice-chancellor, David James, vision and pushed it forward, and it was something that the university undertook programs where it took of course Ballarat has not looked back from as a result. connectivity out to many regional or smaller rural However, the other thing I want to say is that since towns in western Victoria. It established community 1994, when the University of Ballarat came into internet centres in towns from Daylesford through to existence, it has not just been a university for Ballarat, it Minyip and Rupanyup and provided those communities has been a university that has extended. In 1998 the with the opportunity of having these centres in the university extended and merged with the former School towns where they could learn about internet of Mines and Industries Ballarat — known as SMB — opportunities. I remember they had knowledge and its Ararat campus, and also with Wimmera Institute navigators operating in the centres, which was clearly of TAFE and its Horsham and Stawell campuses. something the university was doing to show this could benefit communities and not just provide educational opportunities for students.
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More recently under Professor David Battersby, who I TAFE. I am concerned about the future of those am glad to see is in the gallery today, that kind of students. It saddens me that the members on the other development has continued extensively. The university side of the house refuse to understand this concern. recognises it has a significant role to play, and I am glad to see it has developed in so many ways in Mr DELAHUNTY (Minister for Sport and broadening its footprint in the western Victoria region. I Recreation) — I rise to speak on this very important am very pleased that UB Tec has come into existence, bill, the University of Ballarat Amendment (Federation which was a vision of former Minister for Education University Australia) Bill 2013. Firstly, I want to speak Lynne Kosky. I am even more excited to see that its on behalf of the electorate of Lowan. The University of new building is under construction at the moment and Ballarat has a campus in Horsham. There are also that UB Tec will further develop in providing courses campuses in Ararat and Stawell. I want to say up-front for secondary school students and providing great that I believe strongly that education and training are opportunities and quality facilities for students who vital to continuing personal, regional, state and national want to undertake technical courses. development. I take up the point raised by the member for Ballarat East about funding. The fact is that when The university continues to do a great many things in a we came to government less than $900 million was very progressive way, and the recent move to take on being spent on the TAFE sector. My information is that the Gippsland campus of Monash University is another we are now spending about $1.2 billion — nearly of those opportunities. I commend the university for $300 million more is being spent on the TAFE sector. ensuring that it has a broader role in providing great We are doing a lot of work with apprentices, training service delivery to regions across the state, and hence and those types of courses. We are picking up where we come to the bill before us today. The university has there is a demand for skills in our area. We need to had to consider that if it is going to move into make sure we give people the skills to contribute to this Gippsland and has a view that it has more to offer great state. outside Ballarat, then it has had to question its name. It has been a source of much anxiety to many people I recognise that we have the University of Ballarat across Ballarat, people such as Dr Bill Pryor and others vice-chancellor David Battersby and his wife in the who were part of the original group that helped to see chamber today. I know we are not supposed to send the University of Ballarat come into existence. They are cheerios to people in the gallery, but through you, very disappointed that the label of Ballarat may be lost Acting Speaker, I want to say that working with the from the university. But I understand that if the vice-chancellor and his staff has been a very university is to broaden its service delivery across cooperative process. He has been a breath of fresh air. Victoria and perhaps further across Australia — who He does a great job of looking after both a large area of knows how this might develop in years to come — then western Victoria and, with these changes, Gippsland, as the name ‘Ballarat’ clearly will be limiting, and for was mentioned by the member for Morwell. students who are in Gippsland an alternative name to the University of Ballarat seems to be appropriate. This bill has two main parts. Firstly, and I want to make sure I get the details right, it changes the name of the Many names have been considered. I am sorry that the University of Ballarat to Federation University University of Eureka was not the agreed name, because Australia. There was a lot of discussion about this when I think it would have had a great link back to Ballarat as it came through the cabinet and in other places. The well as being an exclamation of discovery. That would member for Ballarat East referred to his views on it, as have been my choice, but I did not get my choice. have many others. I have a son who lives in Ballarat Federation University Australia has been the decision and many of my friends have gone through the from a long list of over 30 names under consideration, University of Ballarat. To them the loss of the word and it is not up to me to stymie the decision that has ‘Ballarat’ in the name is a concern. We have to been made over a period of time. I am happy to remember, however, that the university is holistic, acknowledge that the new university will be Federation providing training and opportunities for people right University Australia and should do well. across Victoria and the world. It is to be commended on the work it does in that regard. I am very disappointed that TAFE courses, which have been such an important part of the dual sector Secondly, the bill allows the university to confer University of Ballarat, have had funding cut by awards on students under the name University of $20 million since 2012, which has seen 57 courses Ballarat or Federation University Australia for a period dropped this year. Another 15 courses will be dropped of six years after the commencement of the act. That is next year. Nearly 1300 students have been lost from good transition period. I think there will be people who
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have already started at the university and will opt for a thought and ingenuity that went into this building. The University of Ballarat certificate when they qualify or staff and students built it. It was off the campus of the graduate. This is a common-sense approach, and it has university. It gave the building and carpentry people the been well worked through with the university. I opportunity to construct the building on the racecourse, congratulate the university on the work it has done. which is very close to the university. Importantly it provided the opportunity for students to be trained in Before I talk a bit about the work the university does in hospitality. We have all been to many events held in training in my area. as Minister for Sport and what is known as Rosebrook Restaurant to give Recreation I want to highlight the fact that the students the opportunity to exhibit their work. In 1994 university does a lot of work in helping people achieve the Rosebrook training centre was officially opened by sporting excellence. It trains a lot of people. In fact my a former minister, the Honourable Haddon Storey. In chief of staff went through the University of Ballarat, as 1995 the Garinja Koori preschool was opened by the did my two daughters-in-law. My son went through the Premier of Victoria at the time, the Honourable Jeff Ballarat School of Mines. The School of Mines is over Kennett. 100 years old, having been established in Ballarat in 1870. I have been through that facility many times. The These are some of the developments that have university is now located out at Mount Helen. It is a happened at the western campus of the University of fantastic facility that is highly regarded in western Ballarat, which in those days we knew as the Wimmera Victoria. campus of TAFE. New amenities and resources facilities at the Horsham campus were completed in We must also remember that the Legislative Assembly 1996, and that is when things started to change. On had a regional sitting at the University of Ballarat on 1 January 1998 the campus officially known as the 6 September last year. That was a good exercise. The Wimmera Institute of TAFE amalgamated with the Assembly has conducted regional sittings in Gippsland University of Ballarat and the Ballarat School of Mines and at Bendigo, Geelong and Ballarat. and Industries. It was a large amalgamation project. I was a councillor with the Horsham Rural City Council Ms Knight — Ballarat was best. at that stage. There had been the possibility of the Mr DELAHUNTY — The member for Ballarat institute amalgamating with the University of West says that the Ballarat sitting was the best. As Melbourne, but nearly everybody involved felt that if western Victorians we would have to say that. an amalgamation were to occur, it should be with the University of Ballarat, and I think it was a good The university does a lot of good work in providing outcome. In 2000 it was a great thrill to be given the education and training, and I want to highlight the opportunity to officially rename some buildings at the history of the Horsham campus in my electorate. It was Horsham campus. Buildings formerly known as A, C established in 1989 on the vacated site of the old and M were renamed Grampians, Wimmera and Horsham West Primary School. In 1990 a master plan Mallee. was drawn up for the development of a new carpentry building, and later the hospitality facility was opened at On Saturday the people of the Mallee will vote in the the Stawell campus. The new on-campus child-care federal election. For the past 20 years they have been facility began operating in Horsham in 1990. It represented at the federal Parliament by John Forrest, a provides students with the chance to be trained there good member of The Nationals who has recently and also facilitates opportunities, particularly for female resigned from the Parliament. I wish our new candidate, students, by offering child-care facilities. Andrew Broad, well; he is a great candidate for the seat of Mallee. Many things have happened over the years. In 1992 the university acquired five new modular buildings with At this point I want to pay some compliments to the which to establish a business centre. It was at that time University of Ballarat. In 2009 enormous bushfires that General Motors Holden presented motor vehicle destroyed the facilities at Horsham Golf Club. At that mechanics with a new vehicle to use in training time the University of Ballarat, in conjunction with the programs. This is where the partnership between Horsham Rural City Council and the Horsham Golf industry and the university was developed. It was Club, arranged for the relocation of the Rosebrook known as the Wimmera campus of TAFE at that stage. Training Restaurant to the Horsham Golf Club. For the last four years the restaurant has been able to use the In 1993 a new welding facility was completed and golf club’s facilities and clubrooms. This is not only operational, and a training restaurant at the Horsham about providing opportunities for education and Racing Centre was almost complete. I acknowledge the training but also about working with the community
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through industry, the local council and other bodies. arrangements, I think it is important to reflect upon why There has been a great deal of cooperation in that area. this legislation is before the house and why the name is changing. We are here because of the evolving vision I will finish by talking about some of the programs run of the University of Ballarat. The institution has been by the university at Horsham, including TAFE courses. part of our community since 1870, when the School of The school of education and arts offers a bachelor of Mines and Industries was founded. Since then the early childhood education and a certificate III in visual institution has had eight changes in name — this will be arts. There have been some challenges in this area, but the ninth — and each name has represented an work is still going on. The campus was a very strong evolutionary step. This one is no different. arts precinct and still is, and I am keen to see that continue. I understand that there has been some angst and anxiety around the name change, but I think any change will A lot of work is going on in the business school, cause some anxiety. Locally there has been a natural including students participating in the advanced association with the geographical positioning of diploma in management, the masters of business Ballarat within the university’s name. Several of the management and the masters of leadership. The school university’s earlier names have not included the word of health sciences runs courses in allied health and ‘Ballarat’; however, most members of my community nursing, which has been a real fillip for training local relate to the word ‘Ballarat’ being in the title. I have nurses. If we can train nurses locally, we have a better received some communications from citizens, including chance of recruiting them to work in local hospitals. current students, who are concerned about the name Among other courses, the UB Industry Skills Centre Federation University Australia and its possible delivers courses in hair and beauty, plumbing, abbreviation, and I put those concerns on record. They hospitality and other such courses, and the UB College may be right — I do not know; only time will tell — delivers a certificate in general education for adults and but the name Federation University Australia the Victorian certificate of advanced learning program. encapsulates the theme of coming together, collaboration and partnership. I believe the university The University of Ballarat is a good university doing a has engaged extensively in consultation and has lot of great work in providing not only university undertaken market research and conducted focus standard education but also training in the TAFE sector. groups around the name. The Horsham campus enables people to access training in their local area and helps provide skilled people to It is important that this bill provides that current work in our community. I say well done to the students will be able to request that their academic university. certificates be conferred under the current name of University of Ballarat over a six-year transitional Ms KNIGHT (Ballarat West) — I am very pleased period. This is a welcome measure as it provides to stand in support of the University of Ballarat continuity for students who are currently enrolled. Amendment (Federation University Australia) Bill 2013, and I will go through some of the The university is very much part of my community, amendments it contains. Basically the bill changes the employing about 1000 people and teaching about name of the University of Ballarat to Federation 23 000 students. The university’s merger with Monash University Australia. It also amends the preamble of the University’s Gippsland campus will see that number University of Ballarat Act to reflect the university’s swell by about 3000 students and another 500 staff. change of name, provides some transitional These numbers are significant for our local economy arrangements so that the university may continue in and for our local sense of wellbeing. The university is a existence under its new name, proposes a six-year major contributor to local organisations through support transitional period to enable the award for students and sponsorship and a leader in research and regional currently undertaking courses at the university to be teaching practices. conferred either in the name of the University of Ballarat or Federation University Australia and makes I never tire of telling anyone who will listen about how some other technical changes to the act, such as the innovative and proactive the university is. It is not just removal of redundant definitions et cetera. innovative in the good times; it is also innovative in the bad times. The recent brutal cuts to TAFE have been an I am very proud to talk about the University of Ballarat incredible challenge for the university. Some because, while this bill may be seen as a $20 million of funding has gone, as have many courses straightforward amendment regarding a change of and jobs. These changes have had a real impact on the name as well as encompassing some transitional
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local community, which I have spoken about on other lose sight of the contribution the university makes to occasions. social and intellectual strength and wellbeing in Ballarat and the wider district. That is a real asset, and we The University of Ballarat is a leader in education, and should never forget it. despite the cuts I believe it will go from strength to strength as Federation University Australia. That is all Universities like the University of Ballarat do not just about the university board and very little about the become successful by accident; it takes hard work and current government. Having a university of this calibre dedication. I would like to acknowledge the work of in Ballarat sends a strong message to regional some people and unions. I acknowledge Athan McCaw students — that is, that education is available and from the National Tertiary Education Union, accessible and that no matter where you live or who Julie-Anne Noble from the Australian Education you are, you have a fundamental right to aspire to Union, Roger Castleman from United Voice and Ray higher education. We know the uptake of higher Farnsworth from the Australian Workers Union. These education is lower for rural and regional young people. union delegates unflinchingly and unapologetically have the best interests of the staff — all the staff — We also know that the University of Ballarat educates students and community at heart, and they advocate many kids who are the first generation in their families accordingly. I acknowledge the dedication, skill and to access higher education, so that breaks a generational commitment of the vice-chancellor, Professor David cycle. It is not just young people who attend; a local Battersby, who has led this partnership, merger and university provides educational opportunities for collaboration, and the team behind him. I know that it workers who have lost their jobs and need retraining or has not been easy, but a clear vision and focus, some women like me who return to education a little later in bloody hard work and really long hours have seen this life and see education as a way of breaking out of that expansion happen. cycle of poverty. I hope that Professor Battersby and all his team take The university has always acknowledged our some time to acknowledge and celebrate what they Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. have done, because this will be a great step for the That is embedded in its statement of reconciliation. I university in our community. I hope you all get to have know about the work the university does with local a lie down and a cup of tea or something. Indigenous people and its commitment to education for all. I am really proud of the work that it has undertaken The ACTING SPEAKER (Ms Ryall) — Order! in partnership with local communities. The university Through the Chair! understands the disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in regard Ms KNIGHT — The work that the vice-chancellor to not only education but also employment and many and the team he led have done is just another step for other opportunities. The university has shown that it Ballarat as the university further develops into a great will work hard to alleviate those disadvantages, and regional, Australian and international educational education is absolutely critical to doing so. institution of our time.
The university is also a great supporter of local I wish the new Federation University Australia a long industries through providing an educated workforce, and prosperous future. Labor will be supporting the bill, undertaking research that informs modern work and I wish it a speedy passage through the house. practices and lifestyle improvements, purchasing and employing locally and contributing to local Mrs BAUER (Carrum) — May I say at the outset, organisations. The university is committed to Acting Speaker, that it is a great pleasure to see you in undertaking research. That is incredibly important the chair for the first time. because it adds to our sum of knowledge — to what we I rise to support the University of Ballarat Amendment know and believe — and it also challenges us a little, (Federation University Australia) Bill 2013. The bill which I think is good. amends the University of Ballarat Act 2010. The I think that having a university that is aspirational is a legislation was introduced by the Minister for Higher really great symbol to inspire individuals to be Education and Skills to enable the change of the aspirational as well. It builds our community and gives university’s name to Federation University Australia us all a sense of pride and achievement. While it is from 1 January 2014. The new name is appropriate as it absolutely critical that large organisations are fiscally provides a much broader representation of the responsible and economically viable, we should never university, which has campuses not only in Ballarat but
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also in Horsham, Stawell and Ararat and is also a The bill is also being debated in the broader context of leading partner with regional TAFE institutes. the University of Ballarat and the Monash University Gippsland campus in Churchill combining to become a Historically the University of Ballarat was, in 1994, a larger regional Victorian facility. This will mean a very much smaller provider at Mt Helen. Since then it has exciting future for regional education. Both campuses dramatically expanded in scope, with a number of have acknowledged that they want to improve the campuses in other locations. We have heard previous delivery of regional education. The combining of speakers mention that there are now over facilities will mean that students will have access to a 23 000 students and teachers involved. Under this bill wider range of courses that are tailored especially to the students will be able to have their qualifications needs of regional students. It is terrific to see recognised under the banner of either Ballarat in-principle support from both the Victorian coalition University or Federation University Australia. As the and commonwealth governments, which have member for Carrum, it is a great privilege for me to undertaken due diligence assessments of the Ballarat support this important legislation, which will present University. great opportunities to students and young people across the region. If the two do combine, students across Victoria will be provided with greater access to a wider range of Ballarat is a town that we are all as Victorians very courses. Some courses to be accredited at Churchill will proud of. It is only 2 hours from the electorate of include a bachelor of business in finance and 1 Carrum and only 1 ⁄2 hours from the central business investment, a bachelor of IT, a master of professional district of Melbourne. There are students living in the accounting and a master of geomechanics and Carrum electorate who attend Ballarat University geohydrology. These courses are planned to run in because it is becoming much more accessible. The 2014. coalition government has made significant investment in road and rail, which has made it much easier to The coalition government gets how important higher access Ballarat. I am very pleased to see students not education is. We have been focused on making sure only within the regions but also within metropolitan that students in our regions have greater opportunities Melbourne attend the university. and better support to pursue their dreams and obtain higher levels of study. It has been proven that the I will just touch on the regional rail link. This is a number of students in the regions who finish year 12 significant investment in the Ballarat community, and go on to university is significantly lower than particularly on the Geelong and Bendigo lines. That is metropolitan statistics. The statistics state that 39 per just one way that we are making Ballarat more cent of regional students completed year 12 in 2012 accessible to enable metropolitan students to attend compared to 58 per cent of metropolitan students. some of the fantastic programs and courses provided by Ballarat University. We have also made significant road In July the minister announced $4.6 million will go investments, which are ongoing. One of those is the towards the Monash University Gippsland campus in Ballarat western link road, which is an over $30 million Churchill through the second round of the Regional investment. Partnerships Facilitation Fund. The University of Ballarat Gippsland campus, supported by Monash I am a mother of four teenage sons. One day one of my University, is running the $4.5 million higher education sons may decide to go to study at Ballarat because it is programs pathways project, with $2.5 million now more accessible. I am pleased to see that the contributed through the Regional Partnerships University of Ballarat has a bachelor of arts in Facilitation Fund. This project ensures that we grow communications. I went to RMIT University to do my pathways in engineering, administration, business, bachelor of arts in communications. It is terrific to see criminal justice and biotechnology in both Gippsland that Ballarat University is now one of many and Ballarat, and certificate through to postgraduate organisations that provides a bachelor of arts in courses will also be delivered in those regional areas. communications and public relations. It is great. Ballarat is not only a wonderful tourist destination, The Napthine government has also put in place famous for some wonderful visitor attractions; it also recommendations from the Gippsland Tertiary has a terrific university. This bill will encourage more Education Plan by providing $5 million for metropolitan and international students to attend technology-enabled learning centres. This means that, Ballarat University. instead of having to come to the city to learn, students can study locally. The aim is to combine online and face-to-face learning in 22 locations at both TAFE
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campuses and schools. I am very proud as the member say to me. But that provided me and a lot of my for Carrum to support the University of Ballarat colleagues with opportunities that had not been (Federation University Australia) Bill 2013. It is very available to our immediate predecessors and to the important legislation that will not only support generations before ours. That was one of the changes education in our regions but also right across Victoria. I that was made. commend the bill to the house. We then had the changes of the introduction of the Mr NARDELLA (Melton) — Acting Speaker higher education contribution scheme and the Dawkins Ryall, it is good to see you in the chair for the first time. reforms of the mid-1980s. We have had some further I support the University of Ballarat Amendment changes in terms of the lifting of limits and restrictions (Federation University Australia) Bill 2013. Ballarat on the numbers of students at universities. Now the University — and I will start calling it Federation university sector is dealing with the changes the federal University — provides a fantastic range of services not Labor government has been making — that is, slowing only to the Ballarat and district community but also down the growth of funding to the university sector — through its expansion to Monash Gippsland and within and the sector may in fact be facing a severe downturn the districts of Melton and Bacchus Marsh. I will in funding after this Saturday’s election. discuss that further later in my contribution. The university sector and the universities themselves The leadership of Professor David Battersby has been have to face these challenges and be innovative in remarkable. As vice-chancellor Professor Battersby is facing them throughout the time they are in operation. held in great respect within the university sector for his One of the great things about Federation University is innovation, thinking and foresight. I want to pay my that it is innovative. It works with Djerriwarrh respects to David for his continued great leadership of Community and Education Services and it is working the university. I have contact with a number of other in with the Melton City Council, and through the great people within the university in relation to the provision leadership of Peter Blunden at the council’s community of services to my local communities. Professor learning board it is involved in the development of the Catherine Laffey is somebody else I have a lot of new library and making courses and subjects available respect and time for. She is committed to raising to my communities both at Melton and at Bacchus standards and raising educational opportunities for my Marsh. That innovation is important in keeping ahead communities, and again I want to thank her for the of the changes that are occurring and in increasing the work that she does. Quite a number of people I know number of people who want to learn and hopefully are have gone through Federation University — Alana able to learn. It is increasing that offering and also Greco, who was my electoral officer and is now a making it local. psychologist, went through and then did some further studies. She really appreciated the opportunities that Since I was at university one of the challenges for the were given to her at Federation University. The university sector has been that teaching and lectures university has given working-class people not only in have changed. This is part of the thinking that needs to Ballarat but in the wider community the opportunities occur within the sector. It is now no longer necessary to that a lot of us take for granted. have a lecture theatre full of 400 people studying politics 101 with Professor Rufus Davis at Monash In terms of changes within the higher education sector, University; a lot of that stuff is online. The lecture notes one of the greatest policy changes that affected people are online. Students still need to turn up to tutorials, but of my generation was that of the Whitlam government. a lot of those things are now done online. The Whitlam government got rid of the higher education fees — the university fees. That meant that as Ms Graley interjected. a working-class young lad, I suppose, as a working-class student from Sunshine who had gone to Mr NARDELLA — He was. He passed away a Sunshine Technical School, I was able to go to Monash couple of years ago. He was a very interesting lecturer. I slept through many of his lectures, but we will not go University — even though I was a terrible student and I was only there for a year. Some would say that I am there. still a terrible student. The changes the university sector is undertaking are Honourable members interjecting. really important. The question is how you then engage and connect with people to study. A number of Mr NARDELLA — I still have a lot to learn, I universities in America, for example, are now offering imagine my honourable friends on the other side would courses and notes online, where people can do their
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study. They will not necessarily get a certificate for it, great leadership of Professor David Battersby. I wish but they can get used to studying online and then look the university all the best in the future. at doing those subjects more formally. So the survival of universities and being able to innovate is very Mr WAKELING (Ferntree Gully) — It gives me important. pleasure to rise to speak on the University of Ballarat Amendment (Federation University Australia) Bill I think Federation University is at the forefront of that, 2013. By way of background, this bill comes about as a not only in terms of what it is doing down in Gippsland result of a request by the University of Ballarat to but in terms of penetrating the outer suburbs and the change its name to Federation University Australia. It growth suburbs and the opportunities that are there. proposes that this change in name take effect from Melton and Bacchus Marsh certainly have low 1 January 2014, and I am pleased to see that all socioeconomic indexes for areas ratings. The figures members of the house have indicated their support for demonstrate that there are fewer people going into this important name change. I also acknowledge the higher education than in the wider metropolitan area presence of representatives from the University of and in some cases the wider rural areas. That is Ballarat in the gallery. I congratulate them on behalf of certainly a challenge and we need to lift those rates, and the Parliament for the work they do in educating many I welcome the role of Federation University in doing thousands of Victorians, if not Australians, at their that. fantastic institution.
I want to pick up on one of the things the honourable Many of us had the pleasure of attending the University member for Carrum talked about — the transport links of Ballarat when Parliament held a regional sitting. We into Ballarat. In relation to the regional rail upgrade one had a wonderful opportunity to see the university of the things to be aware of is that the 8.03 a.m. train operating, and it was a very impressive institution. In that connects into Ballarat was a Labor government addition to operating at its Ballarat campus, the initiative. Before then the first train that used to get university has campuses at Horsham, Stawell and into — — Ararat. It is also a lead partner with many regional TAFEs in delivering a suite of degrees across Victoria. Dr Sykes — Get off the train and onto the bill. It is significant that the University of Ballarat is more than just a regional city university, that being the city of Mr NARDELLA — It is on the bill, because I am Ballarat. It offers a range of important educational responding to the honourable member for Carrum, as services in many towns across regional Victoria. you would know if you had been listening. Victoria is known for its education sector. In fact, here The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Morris) — Order! in the CBD one of our greatest avenues of employment The member should not be responding to interjections. in terms of generation of income is the education sector. Mr NARDELLA — In terms of the regional rail Some of us had the opportunity last week to visit the link upgrade, before we did that the first train arrived in Bendigo campus of La Trobe University for a regional Ballarat at 9.30 in the morning, which meant that cabinet meeting, and we found that to be another fine people could not get to university on time. We brought institution operating in regional Victoria. that forward to 8.03 a.m. and put in the connections to I applaud the University of Ballarat for seeking to the Mount Clear College and the bus services to change its name to ensure that it is more reflective of Ballarat University. I support what the member for the community it wishes to represent. I am advised by Carrum said, but I wanted to give that historical the university that it considered a number of names, perspective to it. which included naming it after various famous It is important that we support Federation University Australians. These included politicians, such as Barton Australia in its quest to be innovative and provide and Chifley; members of our Indigenous community, services and courses to people in the immediate such as Pastor Doug Nicholls; and others, such as John community it services but also the wider community. Flynn, Redmond Barry, Thomas Mitchell, Mary That will go a fair way towards beginning to Gilmore, William Stawell and Henry Lawson. The differentiate between the university as being just based name Eureka, which is obviously symbolic for Ballarat, in Ballarat as opposed to servicing a much wider was also considered. community. A lot of it is marketing and branding, but However, the university in making its decision the major marketing and branding is in the university’s indicated that it wanted to choose a name that would be excellent reputation, and that will continue under the capable of becoming known and recognised quickly
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and widely within Victoria and Australia, would have university for its work and wish this bill a speedy international appeal, would suggest strength, stability, passage through the house. confidence, professionalism, initiative and integrity, was able to be used readily for marketing and branding, Mr LIM (Clayton) — I am happy to contribute to was ‘crisp’, was not too geographically or locationally the discussion on the University Of Ballarat specific — and I would have thought Eureka might fall Amendment (Federation University Australia) Bill into that category — and was also going to define that 2013. It would be remiss of me not to mention my organisation and make it stand out from others personal experience with the university. I well throughout the country. remember during my second term in this Parliament that I was called on to provide some advice to a I am advised that of the 11 000 universities that operate Chinese family in regard to one of their offspring who worldwide, none has adopted the name ‘Federation had applied to study in Victoria and had been allocated University’, so that name is clearly going to place this a place at the University of Ballarat. I remember important university on the map in terms of having a detecting a certain degree of reluctance on the part of name that is more reflective of the broad number of the family. They had misgivings about sending their communities it seeks to represent. I also applaud the children to Ballarat University because to them the university for its work in seeking to develop a name reflected a regionally focused university. Having partnership with the Monash University Churchill said that, for some of the Chinese parents I come campus. Those of us who served in previous across, even the name RMIT University does not parliaments took part in a regional sitting at Churchill appeal — it has to be the University of Melbourne or and had the great pleasure of attending both universities Monash University. and seeing them in operation. The name change outlined in the bill is very welcome Mr Northe interjected. because since the time I was asked to give that advice, more than 10 years ago, the University of Ballarat has Mr WAKELING — I commend the member for come a long way. We heard from previous speakers Morwell, who is interjecting, for his efforts on behalf of that the university now has more than 20 000 students his community to ensure that that important facility is enrolled. It has international appeal and stature, and it operational. deserves to command that kind of respect, so the change of name is most appropriate. In the time that is left to me — and I understand that other members wish to speak on this bill — I want to The purpose of the bill is to amend the University of say that education is vital. As someone who has Ballarat Act 2010 to change the name of the University attended three universities, I understand the significance of Ballarat to Federation University Australia from of higher education — — 1 January 2014. Despite the name change, the university will remain the same body, as is specified in An honourable member interjected. new section 79 inserted by clause 10 of the bill. The Mr WAKELING — I did qualify, and I completed change will allow the university to better reflect a all of my studies at each of those three universities, broader focus beyond central and western Victoria. The although none of them was the University of Ballarat. It expansion is reflected in the university’s recent is certainly important for people to be afforded the announcement that the University of Ballarat, in opportunity to attend university, particularly later in conjunction with Monash University, intends to acquire life. The member for Ballarat West indicated the the Monash Gippsland campus. The expansion is a significance of that opportunity for her education. It is continuation of the university’s growth in the area, and important that people who live in regional cities have that is an understatement. In addition to the existing the capacity to be educated within their own three Ballarat campuses, the University of Ballarat has community without automatically having to travel to campuses in Horsham, Stawell and Ararat and also Melbourne. It is imperative that we afford the assists in many TAFE institutes in the area. opportunity for education, particularly higher Extensive consultation occurred when deciding the new education — whether that be at a central facility such as name. The Monash University Council considered over that at Mount Helen or a smaller facility such as those 30 names, and the previous speaker mentioned a few of in some of the satellite communities — to as many those names. Public feedback was requested for the people as possible in the Victorian community. I selection of the final two short-listed names: the State believe that as a community we are all beneficiaries of University of Victoria and Federation University that opportunity. With those comments I commend the Australia. The majority of those consulted supported
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the latter name. Research conducted into the names of Frankston were originally in an area called Baxter. other tertiary institutions worldwide, of which there are However, the residents were upset with having the more than 11 000, also confirmed a preference for Baxter postcode — I am not picking on the member for Federation University Australia. which aligns closely Hastings, who has Baxter in his electorate — and with the university’s strategic direction and values and wanted their area to be called Frankston South. That the aspirations of the community. The name ‘State name change probably helped with property prices too. University of Victoria’ was considered to be possibly The Bank of New South Wales changed its name to misleading in a geographical sense, as some people Westpac. More locally, Pratt’s supermarkets became may have assumed the institution encompassed the Safeway. Peninsula TAFE and Frankston TAFE whole state of Victoria. There was also a desire to avoid became the Chisholm Institute of TAFE; however, it is any possible confusion arising with Victoria University, interesting that in a Google search the first result on the as the two universities would have shared a similar list is still Frankston TAFE. name. I went to the Chisholm Institute of Technology, which The bill also deals with several transitional matters. In is now the Monash University in Frankston. We also particular it deals with the possibility that enrolled had the Gippsland Institute of Technology, and before students may still wish to have the name ‘University of that we had the Frankston Teachers College. Name Ballarat’ listed on their certificate rather than changes have been important in the past, and they Federation University Australia. In such instances a continue to be important now. Here we have an act of written request from a student for their award to be Parliament where a university needs to change its name, conferred in the name of the University of Ballarat will and we need to put our tick of approval on what the be actioned so long as the request is submitted within university council has set up. six years of the 1 January 2014 date. This provision is found in new section 79, which is inserted by clause 10 The member for Ballarat West said there could be some of the bill. Awards conferred after this six-year period unwanted abbreviations to the new name of the will be in the name of Federation University Australia. university. There are many universities whose names As per new section 81, which is inserted by clause 10 have ‘F’ as the first letter. For example, Flinders of the bill, students enrolled just before 1 January 2014 University in South Australia does not have the are to be taken as enrolled at Federation University problem the member for Ballarat West described. Australia. Other technical changes, such as the removal Fordham University in the Bronx in New York has of redundant definitions, are made to the act in those initials as well. clause 11, but I will not elaborate on those details today. Given that the new name better reflects the The name Federation University Australia has an international quality. The Minister for Innovation, strategy and evolution of the institution, and particularly its wider international appeal, I commend Services and Small Business has said in the past that the bill to the house and wish it a speedy passage. students from outside the country are of great importance to Australia and to the Victorian economy. Mr SHAW (Frankston) — I am pleased to speak on If one way of attracting students is to look the University of Ballarat Amendment (Federation internationally and create that international flavour University Australia) Bill 2013. I will keep my through a name change, then I am all for that. However, comments to the name change because that is what the it is also about attracting students locally. The bill is about. Sometimes names outgrow their relevance University of Ballarat has a number of campuses, and it and sometimes they do not. The name change from is looking at taking over the Gippsland campus of University of Ballarat to Federation University Monash University. As far as the name change is Australia seems a sensible idea with the goal in mind concerned, the university went through a number of not just local and regional recognition but also processes and did its marketing. international recognition. That is important. We can consider some of the great worldwide name changes — Marketing is very important when you want to sell or nicknames — that have resulted as part of a branding something, have a direction and take your product to or marketing strategy. Members might remember that the public. I am reminded of stories from when I was in Lucky-Goldstar is now LG and Kentucky Fried business. One story that sticks out is about the Sydney Chicken is now KFC. There have been many other Swans. When South Melbourne went to Sydney, its major name changes around the world. marketing campaign was about getting Australian Rules Football, or the Victorian Football League at that In the Frankston area, Baxter Technical College is now time, into Sydney, which had, and has, a large Rugby Mount Erin College. Sages Road and Stotts Lane in League fan base — Australian Rules was not known so
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much in Sydney. What the club did in marketing dismissed and considered. A lot of consultation took Australian Rules was very interesting. First it did some place, and I commend the university for the approach it consultation; it did not just say, ‘We’re going to go to took in making this important change. The change was Sydney and that’s it’. It said, ‘How do we market made for very good reasons: to identify more clearly Australian Rules, and how do we get the public through the regional focus of the university and its commitment the door to watch the Sydney Swans?’. The club’s to support its local community; to allow it to broaden its marketing guru took photos of all the different sphere of influence; and to recognise the fact that it is players — — no longer only a university in Ballarat but in fact a university of the world. Ms Graley — Warwick Capper. The University of Ballarat has campuses in Horsham, Mr SHAW — Yes, I am going to speak about Stawell and Ararat, and it is a lead provider in a Warwick Capper. Well done. Do you barrack for the dual-sector partnership with several TAFE Swans? The club showed those photographs to people organisations, including Advance TAFE, Bendigo in the market it wanted to attract, which at that time TAFE, GippsTAFE, GOTAFE, Sunraysia TAFE and were younger females, and high school and university Wodonga TAFE, which deliver a range of Ballarat students of a certain age in particular. Representatives degree courses. This is a very important change, of the club showed those young women photographs of because the university has recognised the future of all the players and asked them, ‘Which one tickles your universities, and this university in particular, is about fancy?’. Warwick Capper came up, so he was the one being able to educate the world in a range of ways. who was marketed and pushed through at that particular time, and they put the tight shorts on him and all of that The bill has been brought forward as an amendment bill type of stuff. That was the marketing scheme. So a rather than a stand-alone bill. This is a really important name is very important. Marketing in business and in aspect of the way this has been done, because it ensures education is exceptionally important. It is about growth, that it is clearly understood that this is a name change attracting the right types of students and lecturers and and that we are not establishing a new entity. We are having a name that stands above competitors. For that simply changing the name of a very well-respected very simple reason, I wish this bill a speedy passage organisation. through the house. The university already has an international presence. It Mr BURGESS (Hastings) — It is a great pleasure educates 1000 students throughout Asia through to rise to speak on the University of Ballarat different partnerships with educational institutions Amendment (Federation University Australia) Bill throughout the region. On 9 May 2013, the Ballarat 2013. The University of Ballarat was proclaimed as a University council resolved to incorporate within its university in 1994. We welcome Professor David assets the operations and staff of the Gippsland campus Battersby here today from the university. He is the of Monash University. After the University of Ballarat vice-chancellor. I welcome him. This is an interesting absorbs those assets, the staff and operations of that bill. It is very important — — campus will become part of the University of Ballarat. While the proposed acquisition was one of the prompts The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Morris) — Order! for the name change, the two things are not dependent Members should not acknowledge people in the gallery upon each other — the acquisition really has nothing to during debate. do with this bill. These are separate but parallel operations. Mr BURGESS — I will never do it again. This is a very important bill, and it certainly has quite a lot to do I grew up in a small country town called Tocumwal up with my life, my story and my path. on the Murray River. There is no university in that area. There was not a university in that area when I was In 2010 all Victorian university acts were re-enacted, growing up, so there were not a lot of opportunities and that was to bring all universities under the same there. Something that affects our communities is the reporting and governance arrangements and to allow a fact that when you lose your children or your youth to consistent approach to the way universities operate universities in other areas, very often they do not come within the state. On 4 June 2013 the University of back. That is a very significant loss to a community, to Ballarat wrote to the minister, requesting an its workforce and to what the community is going to amendment to its principal act to change its name. As become. If you are continually taking out a the member for Frankston and speakers before him community’s best assets, it will fail to grow to its full pointed out, quite a number of names were put up,
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potential. Not that I am saying I was one of PLANT BIOSECURITY AMENDMENT Tocumwal’s great assets! BILL 2013
I went back to university in my 30s to get my law Second reading degree. I went to a university that also changed its name: the Queensland Institute of Technology. It was a Debate resumed from 21 August; motion of well-respected law degree, but while I was studying Mr WALSH (Minister for Agriculture and Food there the institution changed its name to the Queensland Security). University of Technology. While name changes are subtle things, they are also very important things. I have Mr WYNNE (Richmond) — I rise to make a a great deal of admiration for the University of Ballarat, contribution on behalf of the opposition in relation to or Federation University Australia. This is a very the Plant Biosecurity Amendment Bill 2013. I indicate important change. It will make a big difference to the from the outset that Labor does not oppose the bill but people who work at the university and to the people that I will seek to raise a number of matters and that who experience their education through it. I am very Labor will be moving a reasoned amendment to the keen to see this bill have a safe passage through the second-reading motion. The context for this is that house, and I commend it to the house. when it was in government, Labor was very supportive of the farming sector, particularly in helping it to meet Mr CRISP (Mildura) — I rise just to make a very the large-scale biosecurity threats that are an inevitable brief contribution on this bill. As a former student of the part of agricultural life, including locusts — as we University of Ballarat, I thank all the previous speakers know, there was a very significant locust threat — for their strong support for the institution and also their animal diseases and imported pests. This was done support for regional education. My involvement there through the coordinated statewide biosecurity strategy. was as a student in the 1970s, and I can remember watching it go through a great number of name As the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, who changes. Its names included the Ballarat School of is at the table today, would know very well, the Plant Mines, Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education, Biosecurity Act 2010 is the key legislative framework Ballarat College of Advanced Education and then the which underpins what I say is very much a bipartisan University of Ballarat. It has been through many position across this Parliament in relation to protecting iterations of name change, and the students who have the crucial resources and the competitive edge Victoria studied there are quite used to that. enjoys in agricultural production through the management of pests and diseases and the facilitation The move from the city campus to the Mount Helen of the timely movement of local produce to local, campus was one of the features of my early years there. interstate and international markets. I served as representative on the school council, and I worked as warden of the residences for a number of Labor placed a very strong emphasis on this aspect. In years, which showed me the strength of this regionally some contexts it was billed as an important part of the based educational institution in providing opportunities food bowl, and the initiatives of our government in for country students. As many speakers have said, for relation to the management of waterways and irrigation most of the students — as it was in my case — this was and so forth are generally regarded — putting aside the the first time anyone in their family had studied at a north–south pipeline, which we will not go to — — tertiary level. I have a strong attachment to tertiary Dr Sykes — We plugged the pipe! education in Ballarat, and the University of Ballarat has had a long history of providing regional education and Mr WYNNE — I will not bother responding to the having a strong rural attendance. It has also had to member for Benalla’s interjection, but generally we change, as everything changes. On behalf of the have tried to work in a cooperative fashion with the Parliament, on my own behalf and on behalf of a lot of agricultural sector to ensure not only the long-term ex-students who have had a look at this, I wish the viability of that sector but also that it maintains its university all the best in its future with its new name. competitive advantage, which is about not only biosecurity threats but also the threats from other Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs POWELL markets in terms of the dumping of product into our (Minister for Local Government). market. Debate adjourned until later this day. I will later turn separately to the question of SPC Ardmona and the particular challenges the growers in the communities of Shepparton, Mooroopna and the
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surrounding districts have had to confront. As we had was a meeting, facilitated by the City of Greater know, the act provides for the Department of Shepparton, with fruit growers who had been very Environment and Primary Industries to direct a dramatically affected by, in effect, the scaling back of landowner to take action to address a plant, pest or SPC’s contracts with fruit growers in the region. There disease risk that poses a threat to neighbouring crops. If were two reasons it was a compelling conversation. a landowner does not comply with the direction within When you talk to those fruit growers you perceive a an adequate and specified time, the department can real sense of desperation. Here were people who had carry out the direction, and the cost of actions been not exclusively but very reliant for their ongoing undertaken by the department may be charged back to income on contracts and often on very strong the non-compliant land-holder at the Minister for relationships that had existed between what I will call Agriculture and Food Security’s discretion. these farming or agricultural communities and SPC Ardmona. The bill provides an additional option for the department to recover costs by way of a charge on the Their concern was obviously that with the contraction land if the non-compliant landowner cannot pay the in the market and with the dumping of products from debt incurred by the department. That is quite a other countries into our stores, the capacity for SPC, as reasonable proposition, and that is why we are not it was explained to us, to be competitive in some of opposing this bill in a general sense. There is no doubt these environments was being severely constrained. that many land-holders find themselves in a very One of the really compelling stories that was told to us impecunious position. As I indicated, I will come back by the SPC representatives, as I recall, was about the to the Shepparton experience in a couple of moments. dumping of fruit that had come from South Africa. That Obviously this charge is an additional option for cost fruit was being put on the shelf for sale in Shepparton recovery in the event of the transfer of the land in stores at a price slightly less than the cost of SPC question. The department can then in effect garnish the getting its product to its door — not having the cans ongoing indebtedness relating to the intervention. It transported out of the door of SPC’s manufacturing also prevents the occasional legal proceedings taken base but just having them labelled and brought to its against farmers for, frankly, no end result. door. How can you compete with that sort of strategy of massive dumping of product from overseas? We think this is a sensible measure. The vehicle that would be used by the department would be the charge, There are other complexities in the way SPC is trying which would be ahead of first mortgagees such as to restructure itself to maintain a competitive financial institutions but not ahead of other statutory environment. That was a very compelling example charges, such as land tax or unpaid local government given to us of what that very fine industry is up against rates. It is often the case that people find themselves in in the national and international marketplace and, a situation where ultimately there is a foreclosure on translated to the local level, what that means for those their land; a whole range of debtors line up seeking to farmers — those agriculturalists and orchardists — in have their debts discharged. In that context we the region. The crucial issue they wanted to talk to us recognise that this is a sensible amendment. However, I about was the need of some of those farmers, where move: there is no income coming in, to in effect grow out — I think that is the correct term we use — those That all the words after ‘That’ be omitted with the view of non-productive trees. That is done, again, because there inserting in their place the words ‘this house refuses to read this bill a second time until the government commits funding is no income coming in and to ensure that no for plant industries in the Goulburn Valley that have been biosecurity risk emerges from those trees as they move issued with infested land notices’. into budding.
I do that in the context of meetings we had at The government was asked to support this crucial Shepparton. I was joined at Shepparton by the shadow industry with an investment of $3 million to support the Minister for Regional and Rural Development and the farmers in that area. You would be hard pressed, I Premier. We were Shepparton for the entire day, where think, if you had sat around and listened to those we — — farmers to see why this would not be done. Both from the point of view of supporting this crucial industry in Mr Nardella — The future Premier! the region and from the point of view of its potential Mr WYNNE — Indeed the future Premier. We met biosecurity threat, why would you as a government not with a broad range of groups — local governments and respond in a positive fashion to this frankly pretty so forth. One of the most compelling conversations we modest request?
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At one level the minister may well seek to respond to knows very well he could either take this to cabinet or this by referring to tight budgets and so forth, but there make a submission directly to the Treasurer. I have is a facility available to government. Where you have forgotten the exact figure in the Treasurer’s advance, what I would argue is a security risk — in this context, but it is in the area of $100 million or so. It is something a biosecurity risk — government can call upon a around that figure and maybe a bit more. The minister Treasurer’s advance. The facility of the Treasurer’s could say, ‘Please, I need a little bit. I need $3 million advance is very well known. It is well established to support this crucial industry going forward’; to date across governments that where you have an issue that is the minister has remained silent in that space. critical to a particular region or a response required by a government in exceptional circumstances, the minister However, it is interesting to note the positions of a of the day can call upon and make application to the number of his colleagues, and indeed the federal Treasurer for a Treasurer’s advance. member for Murray, Dr Sharman Stone, has taken up the cudgels here on behalf of her region. I will read a Mr Carbines interjected. small portion of a letter Dr Sharman Stone has penned, which states: Mr WYNNE — My colleague the member for Ivanhoe points out where other investments have It should be like the state response to an anthrax outbreak — occurred in relation to various projects. I think you this is her support for the need for some intervention would be hard pressed to find a better example of and some funds to be provided — where an investment would make a real difference for a farming community and more broadly the capacity to or the fire blight scare many years ago. Instead, the Victorian mitigate the risk of an outbreak affecting biosecurity. agriculture minister, Peter Walsh, persists in repeatedly saying no to the pleadings of the industry, the VFF and I hope that in summing up the minister addresses these anyone else who is dumbfounded by the refusal to assist. This questions. We are obviously continuing to follow up is such a false economy. It is not a personal boon to individual growers; it is an investment in the reputation and future with the community up there, and why the government earnings of a multibillion-dollar industry. has not responded positively to this request to address this is a mystery to the community. Given that we are in I could not have said it any more eloquently or any budding season and that there are blossoms and so more succinctly than that statement by the local federal forth, there may still be time for an intervention by the member, Dr Sharman Stone. I note that the minister government. This issue brings together not only many was on Ballarat radio seeking to defend his position on of the key organisations whose raison d’être is to 29 July, trying to defend himself against allegations that support farming communities more generally, he was walking away from the industry and arguing particularly the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), that he wants to work with the industry. Of course he but also other groups that have been very vocal in wants to work with the industry. We all want to work saying to the government that this is a simple and easy with the industry, because we all want to make sure that ask. This is $3 million which would address a crucial the unique competitive advantages that that region has, need in the community and a matter that has not just in a local context but in national and implications that apply, as the minister knows very international contexts, are protected. I would have well, much more broadly than in the Goulburn Valley thought one of the absolutely fundamental aspects of region. This has very significant implications, and to that is that we maintain our biosecurity record and that date the government has remained silent. richly earnt reputation that this fantastic part of the world which I know so well enjoys, because it is crucial The government was asked for $3 million to support to the economy of this state. the community in the Shepparton-Goulburn Valley region, which is supported by the VFF, by the local I think the challenge before the minister is simply to council, by SPC Ardmona and obviously by the explain not just to the Parliament but to the fruit growers themselves, but the government has remained growers in Shepparton, to Greater Shepparton City silent. Council and to his former colleagues at the VFF why he has sat on his hands and why he has not gone to his Of course the counterpoint is obvious, and the member colleague the Treasurer and said, ‘For goodness sake, in for Ivanhoe has already flagged where I might be the Treasurer’s advance of $100 million-plus that’s going. We can allocate enormous resources — available, if this is not an appropriate use of the $8 billion — to a tunnel, but we cannot find $3 million Treasurer’s advance for the purpose of supporting a to support this most crucial intervention. It is not as if potential security issue in this region — in this context the minister has to take it out of his own budget. He a biosecurity threat that may emerge — then what else
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is a better use of the Treasurer’s advance?’. It would be ‘We stand shoulder to shoulder with you. We, the a very appropriate use of the Treasurer’s advance, and chattering backbenchers, are going to go to the Minister to date, as far as we can work out, the minister either for Agriculture and Food Security and say, “No, we has not gone or has been knocked back, but the bottom have to find a way to support this community. We have line is that he has failed that community. to find $3 million to support this community to address a crucial biosecurity threat in its region”‘. Honourable members interjecting. It is not just a biosecurity threat; it is a threat to the Mr WYNNE — The cheer squad from The reputation of the region. We have seen the situation Nationals has finally cranked up. where unfortunately powdered milk coming out of New Zealand, thought to be clean and green, was allegedly The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Morris) — Order! contaminated going into the Chinese market. That I ask for order from both sides of the chamber. industry was almost destroyed in one fell blow. Do we Mr WYNNE — Am I right? want to be in a circumstance where the magnificent Goulburn Valley and all its extraordinary produce is The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Morris) — Order! placed under threat because of the failure of this If everyone has stopped, the member for Richmond can government to make this small, simple and easy proceed. investment that is going to make a difference to the lives of the community? I would suggest not. Mr WYNNE — Let the record show that the cheer squad from The Nationals over there on their That is why we have moved this reasoned amendment, benches — — which says, ‘Do not continue to debate this bill. Reach out to communities, farmers, agriculturalists, the city of Dr Sykes interjected. Shepparton and the Victorian Farmers Federation and say, “We stand unequivocally with you”‘. The Mr WYNNE — The member for Benalla says, opposition stands with them. We called upon the ‘We’re standing behind our man’, which is the Minister government after our visit to the region, and we call for Agriculture and Food Security, and good on you, upon the government here in the people’s Parliament but you are not standing behind the community of today to stand up. The Nationals members should stand Shepparton. You are not standing behind the up. community of the Goulburn Valley and you have done nothing to support those — — Dr Sykes interjected.
The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Morris) — Order! Mr WYNNE — The member for Benalla may think The member will address his comments through the this is a joke, but we do not. This is about people’s Chair. lives. It is about the livelihood of all people in agriculture, but more than that it is about the threat to Mr WYNNE — Through you, with respect, Acting that regional economy which pumps hundreds of Speaker. The Nationals members who are cheering on millions of dollars into the Victorian economy. I advise the minister here ought to think very carefully about the member for Benalla that it is not a laughing matter. this, because whilst we can have a little bit of to and fro It is a very serious matter and one for which there is a here in the Parliament, this is actually about people’s potential remedy available to those opposite today. The lives. This is about the lives and incomes of really minister could write a cheque today to that community decent folk — people who are working the land, people and say, ‘Here is the $3 million that is going to make a who come to a meeting and look you in the eye and fundamental difference in the lives of growers and say, ‘We are up against it. We are really up against it ensure the long-term integrity of that quite crucial here, through no fault of our own’. Through their hard agricultural economy’. work, their sweat and their labour they have lived off the land, and they are now in a circumstance, through Those opposite have two options. They can continue no fault of theirs, where for a whole range of reasons with all the other commitments they have made — the economic conditions of SPC Ardmona, the major $8 billion for the tunnel and millions of dollars for the source of income for them, are causing that income to frolic down at Flinders Street station — or they can dry up. stand with the community that they say they represent. Here is their opportunity. We will have a division at I would have thought that members of The Nationals 4 o’clock today, and we will be watching very closely would reach a hand out to their community and say, how members of The Nationals vote going forward.
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They should have the guts to stand with the community QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE members doing it hard up there in Shepparton and in the Goulburn Valley more generally and demonstrate, Notice of motion 350 perhaps for the first time, that they have the integrity and the guts to stand up to this government and say, Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — ‘We stand with that community. We need that Speaker, I refer you to standing order 53, and in $3 million because it is absolutely crucial to the people accordance with those provisions I direct my question we represent’. The opportunity will be there for those to the member for Mordialloc. I refer to notice of opposite at 4 o’clock today, and we will be watching. motion 350, which stands in the name of the member for Mordialloc, and I ask: if the member really thinks Mr McCURDY (Murray Valley) — I am delighted that the no. 1 transport priority for the residents of to rise to speak on this bill. Before I get into the detail Mordialloc is a single $8 billion tunnel in Clifton Hill, of it, I advise the member for Richmond that it was when will the member for Mordialloc bring on her evident in his contribution that his memory is failing motion as listed for debate in this house? him. He spoke about the north–south pipeline. I remind him that that pipeline was not a good thing for regional Mr Clark — On a point of order, Speaker, I draw to Victoria. He talked about supporting regional Victoria your attention whether or not this question is in and about the north–south pipeline in the same breath. I accordance with standing order 53(2). It appears that admit that I am not fully across all the issues in the the wording of the relevant standing order applies to member for Richmond’s electorate, but it is clear that motions that are connected with the business of the he does not have an understanding of the industry in my house. It is not clear to me whether a question that goes electorate. I refuse to stand here and be lectured by the to the substance of the motion is a question that relates member for Richmond on issues about which he clearly to the business of the house. I seek your consideration has no idea. We are about supporting an industry — a of that issue as to whether the question is in order. whole industry. He is picking out individuals and wants Ms Hennessy — On the point of order, Speaker, to undermine the government. standing order 53 clearly allows for a question to be This government, this proposal and this legislation are asked of any member that relates to a motion or other all about supporting the industries in the Goulburn matter connected with the business of the house in Valley and Murray Valley, along with the fruit growers which that member is concerned. The Leader of the and all those who are facing difficult times at the Opposition’s question clearly related to a notice of moment for a whole range of reasons. We will be motion by the member for Mordialloc and the way in opposing this amendment. I will go into that in more which this notice of motion is connected with the detail. The fruit growers and the industries in the business of the house. Goulburn Valley and Murray Valley need action now. I also refer you, Speaker, to page 158 of Rulings from They do not need messing around for days, weeks and the Chair. There are two relevant rulings. The first is a months, which is what the Labor government used to ruling by Speaker Christie that allows for questions to do. They need action right now. I will go into that in a be directed to a member which relates to the moment. proceedings or handling of a matter on the notice paper Those in opposition are good at creating policy on the in a member’s name. There is a further ruling, in this run. They have proved that to us over the years. case handed down by Speaker Maddigan, that requires Previous Labor governments have also established that a question to a private member about a matter in policy on the run. This is timely legislation, and it is his or her name should relate only to issues of timing essential that we get it right now. I have lots of growers and procedure. That is the status of what the standing in my region — I do not know how many growers the orders and the precedents relate to. member for Richmond has in his region — and I have When we apply them to the Leader of the Opposition’s been approached by many of them, and they have sent question, you will note that it satisfies those criteria. us the clearest direction. The Leader of the Opposition’s question related to the Sitting suspended 1.00 p.m. until 2.02 p.m. handling of a matter on the notice paper in the name of the member for Mordialloc. It related only to the Business interrupted under standing orders. question of timing and procedure — specifically, when will the member for Mordialloc bring on debate on her motion in the house? It did not seek an opinion from the member on the substance of the motion, which is an
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issue the Attorney-General canvassed in the course of vital, game-changing infrastructure project, which will his contribution on this point of order, and it very be of benefit to Melbourne and Victoria. We are very clearly complies with the standing orders and it ought pleased that Tony Abbott, the federal Leader of the to and must be followed. Opposition, and the federal coalition have committed $1.5 billion to assist with this important project, Furthermore, Speaker, I refer you to House of east–west link stage 1. Representatives Practice. You will note that on page 535 it states that questions may be asked of a At the same time, we have also approached the current private member in connection with a notice of motion. federal Labor government to seek its assistance for The scope is limited to whether the member could funding for the east–west link. We would like the indicate whether or not a motion might be debated. You current Labor government to match the commitment of will also note in House of Representatives Practice that Tony Abbott and the coalition, but what we have had in such questions have been permitted in the House of return — — Representatives; there are a number of examples set out in House of Representatives Practice for you to Honourable members interjecting. consider. The standing orders are clear, the precedents are clear, the question is clear and it is my submission The SPEAKER — Order! The member for to you, Speaker, that you have no choice but to rule this Dandenong! question in order. Dr NAPTHINE — In contrast to the cooperation Ms Asher — On the point of order, Speaker, I too from Tony Abbott, the $1.5 billion contribution — — wish to refer to Rulings from the Chair 1920–2013, the Honourable members interjecting. latest edition, where opposition members are seeking to focus not on the broad subject of the notice of motion The SPEAKER — Order! The Leader of the but on issues relating to timing and procedure. I put it to Opposition! you, Speaker, that the member for Mordialloc is not at liberty to bring on a motion that is listed on the notice Dr NAPTHINE — Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and paper — no member of this house is at liberty to bring the Labor Party have committed $1.8 billion to the on a motion that is listed on the notice paper. No WestConnex project in Sydney. They have committed member of this chamber is at liberty to do this, and to fund a Sydney road project, whereas the coalition therefore the question is out of order. and Tony Abbott have committed to fund a Melbourne road project. The WestConnex project is similar in the The SPEAKER — Order! The question is out of type of project it is to the east–west link stage 1, but order. The question asked of the member was when she with respect to WestConnex there is no business case would bring on for discussion the motion of which she and it is lower on the Infrastructure Australia priority has given notice. It is not up to the member to bring on list. that motion; it is up to the government to bring on that motion. I rule the question out of order. I refer to today’s Herald Sun editorial, which says:
East–west link Tony Abbott is right in thinking Melbourne often puts Sydney to shame. Sydneysiders have got a lot to learn from Melbourne, says the man likely to be Australia’s next prime Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) — My question is to the minister. Premier. Can the Premier provide an update to the house on Victorian government discussions with the Further, it says: federal government and federal opposition regarding the east–west link? Mr Abbott in praising Melbourne seeks to add to its livability by making access easier. Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the member It says: for Gembrook for his question, and a valid question it is too. The member for Gembrook would understand the The opposition leader has promised $1.5 billion towards the enormous benefits to Melbourne and Victoria of the east–west link to ease transport congestion if he wins congestion-busting east–west link, which will improve government. productivity, create 3200 jobs, improve transport The editorial goes on to say: efficiency and improve the quality of life and the livability of Melbourne and Victoria. Over the past few In spite of the massive boost to jobs and investment the months the government has sought assistance on this project will bring to Victoria, the east–west link has become a federal election issue. The Rudd government has not
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committed any funding towards the project, which is opposed Liddle, chief executive officer of VicRoads, which by the Labor opposition in Victoria. says — —
It further says that Mr Rudd ‘does himself no favours’ Mr Merlino interjected. by backing the Victorian Leader of the Opposition in his opposition to the east–west link stage 1. Questions interrupted.
There is no doubt that the east–west link stage 1 is a SUSPENSION OF MEMBER congestion-busting, game-changing and job-creating project. It is a project that will boost productivity, Member for Monbulk improve transport efficiency and improve livability in Melbourne and in our suburbs. It is a great project. We The SPEAKER — Order! The Deputy Leader of are pleased to have the support of the federal coalition the Opposition has been warned enough. He can leave and Tony Abbott, and we wish we had the support of the chamber for an hour. the federal Labor Party as well. Honourable member for Monbulk withdrew from East–west link chamber.
Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — My QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE question is to the Premier. I refer to the allegedly detailed traffic modelling which the Premier relies upon East–west link for the $8 billion east–west tunnel. Given the government will not defend the tunnel in debate, I ask: Questions resumed. can the Premier advise the house how many — — Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I was referring to an Honourable members interjecting. email from Gary Liddle, chief executive officer of VicRoads, to the Minister for Roads. It says: Mr ANDREWS — I am happy to start again, Speaker. I refer to comments made in relation to the traffic modelling for east–west link by a former employee of VicRoads.
The SPEAKER — Order! I do not believe the As with any large organisation, individuals often expressed Leader of the Opposition needs to start again. differing views. Mr ANDREWS — If I ask it five times, I might get The email goes on to say, and I quote directly from it: an answer. I refer to the allegedly detailed traffic modelling which the Premier relies upon for the VicRoads endorses the traffic modelling for east–west link $8 billion east–west tunnel. Given that the government which has undergone extensive and rigorous assessment. will not defend this tunnel in debate, I ask: can the Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, on Premier advise the house how many cars travelling on relevance, the question referred the Premier to traffic the Nepean Highway, such as those from Mordialloc, modelling so that he could answer the question, which will use the Premier’s $8 billion dud tunnel each day? was: how many cars on the Nepean Highway, how many cars in the member for Mordialloc’s Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — The question related electorate — — to the traffic modelling for the east–west link stage 1. The SPEAKER — Order! Honourable members interjecting. Mr Andrews — That is what the Premier should be The SPEAKER — Order! The Deputy Leader of drawn to. the Opposition! The SPEAKER — Order! The answer was relevant Dr NAPTHINE — I refer to the Linking to the question that was asked. I do not know how Melbourne Authority website, which says: many more times I have got to — — Our traffic modelling to date has found that around 80 000 to 100 000 vehicles would use stage 1 of the east–west link each Mr Andrews interjected. day, even before completion of the western section. The SPEAKER — Order! The Leader of the That traffic modelling is also backed up by VicRoads. I Opposition should read his question in Daily Hansard refer to an email to the Minister for Roads from Gary tomorrow.
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Dr NAPTHINE — The question did relate to traffic Mr WALSH (Minister for Agriculture and Food modelling, and I am answering in response to traffic Security) — I thank the member for Rodney for his modelling. The traffic modelling says 80 000 to question and for his keen interest in this particular issue, 100 000 cars per day will use the east–west link stage 1. given the presence of the orchard industry in his The Linking Melbourne Authority says that, and that electorate around Merrigum and Kyabram. The has also been endorsed by VicRoads. The research was Victorian coalition government is providing strong done by Veitch Lister Consulting, which undertook the support to the Goulburn Valley region. The government traffic modelling. is well aware of the challenges facing the Goulburn Valley community following SPC Ardmona’s I refer to an article in the Age of 18 August 2008 which announcement of its recent decision to reduce its says: canning fruit intake by 50 per cent.
Veitch Lister, a Brisbane-based traffic modelling consultancy The government is providing $5 million through the that specialises in predicting traffic flows, worked on Rod Eddington’s Investing in Transport plan. Goulburn Valley Industry Infrastructure Fund. A group chaired by Peter F. Ryan, the former CEO of Goulburn … Ovens Institute of TAFE, is looking at how this fund Veitch Lister was among a group of seven consultants, paid a can be invested to drive jobs and productivity and total of $2.9 million … provide long-term support to that region. There is also the $2 million fruit industry employment program They were paid by the previous government to advise being run by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Sir Rod. Management Authority (CMA), under which orchardists or their permanent employees who find Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, again themselves out of work can retrain and learn new skills on relevance, who a firm has worked for in the political to gain employment in the future. history of this state has nothing to do with the question: how many cars on the Nepean Highway will use this The first CMA work crew is starting in the next couple tunnel? If the Premier does not know, he should stay of weeks. It has been announced just today that seated. Goulburn-Murray Water is going to employ nine staff from that program and will train them in weed control The SPEAKER — Order! The Leader of the and environmental issues. They will start work in weed Opposition should stay seated. I do not uphold his point control with Goulburn-Murray Water in the next couple of order. The answer was relevant to the question that of weeks for a six to nine-month period. was asked. There is also the Goulburn Valley support services Honourable members interjecting. coordination, through which growers are provided with Dr NAPTHINE — The final paragraph of the Age a single point of contact for services that will be article of 18 August says: available to them, with staff from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries going out to A government spokeswoman last night said Veitch Lister was provide growers with one-on-one advice and also a respected transport modelling firm that regularly did referring them to the Rural Financial Counselling government work. Service if they need advice with financial issues into the That is under the previous government. We have the future. Growers will also be given an opportunity to Linking Melbourne Authority endorsing the traffic access the farm debt mediation program to assist them modelling. We have VicRoads endorsing the traffic with their finances into the future. modelling. We have Veitch Lister endorsing the traffic There have also been extra training and resources put modelling. There is a fair degree of confidence on this into this area. The Victorian coalition government has side of the house about the traffic modelling that has directed resources from the industry transition and been endorsed by those three reputable organisations. specialist training initiative into the Hume region to Goulburn Valley fruit industry assist those people who want to retrain to obtain jobs. There is a lot of work going into that area in addition to Mr WELLER (Rodney) — My question is to the things that have already been provided. A number of Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. Can the grants have been made available to businesses in the minister update the house on action the coalition Goulburn Valley to create jobs into the future. government is taking to invest in the long-term future of industry and employment in the Goulburn Valley?
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There is a $200 000 grant for a $900 000 investment by down the Eastern Freeway and across the east–west S. J. Pickworth Orchards, which will create 25 extra tunnel. This is about choices and options; this is about jobs in that region. There is a $100 000 grant for an decongesting the city. That is why the east–west link is $800 000 investment in Modern Specialised Vehicles to strongly supported by the RACV — — create 10 extra jobs in the region. There is a $100 000 grant to go towards a $2.7 million investment Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, the by F. J. Lenne to create an additional 10 jobs. There is question very clearly, briefly and succinctly asked how also a $120 000 grant to go towards a $750 000 Mattina many cars would travel through the tunnel coming from Fresh investment to create 12 jobs and a $200 000 grant the Monash Freeway. That was the question, and I to go towards a $600 000 Tatura Abattoirs investment would be grateful, as would people in the south-east, to create an extra 50 jobs. for an answer. That is what the Premier should answer for: how many on the Monash Freeway will use this The coalition government is putting money into the $8 billion option? Goulburn Valley to help businesses grow jobs and take up positions that have been lost because of the Ms Asher — The Leader of the Opposition then, as decisions taken by SPC Ardmona so as to ensure that he has done on a number of occasions today, simply that community has a long-term future. The coalition repeated his question. A point of order is not an government understands very clearly the challenges opportunity for a member to repeat a question. The faced by the Goulburn Valley because of the decisions Leader of the Opposition is abusing the forms and of SPC Ardmona. We are working with SPC Ardmona, processes of points of order and his points of order the community, industry groups and local government should be ruled out of order. in that area to make sure there are jobs in the future. The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point East–west link of order. Again I suggest that the Leader of the Opposition read Daily Hansard tomorrow and see what Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — My his question was, because all the preamble to the question is to the Premier. Will the Premier advise the question — — house how many cars travelling on the Monash Freeway will use the $8 billion east–west tunnel each Honourable members interjecting. day? The SPEAKER — Order! I ask the house to come Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the Leader of to order. I am not here to argue with the Leader of the the Opposition for his question and for his interest in Opposition. I am ruling his point of order out of order the usage of the east–west link stage 1. This is a very and suggesting that he read Daily Hansard tomorrow. important project for Melbourne and Victoria. It was a Dr NAPTHINE — As I said — — project that was originally outlined by Sir Rod Eddington to make a real difference to the productivity Honourable members interjecting. and efficiency of transport movements around Melbourne and Victoria. Questions interrupted.
The traffic modelling has been undertaken by Veitch SUSPENSION OF MEMBER Lister, a very reputable organisation, and it has been verified by the Linking Melbourne Authority and Member for Mill Park endorsed by VicRoads. They have made it clear that 80 000 to 100 000 vehicles per day will use this tunnel. The SPEAKER — Order! The member for Mill That will provide a choice and options for people. For Park can leave for an hour and a half. example, the other day there was a vehicle accident involving a truck and a car at about 6.30 in the morning Honourable member for Mill Park withdrew from on the Monash Freeway which reduced the number of chamber. lanes available on the Monash Freeway to one. Information was provided to motorists.
If motorists coming in on the Monash Freeway had been aware of the problem — those motorists coming in from Narre Warren, Dandenong and Officer — they would have had the option of going through EastLink,
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Kevin Rudd’s fringe benefits tax (FBT) changes this week, so I congratulate members on those notices. East–west link Kevin Rudd’s fringe benefits tax changes are having a Questions resumed. catastrophic impact on the automotive industry. Today is the third day that Ford workers in Geelong and Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — The traffic modelling Broadmeadows are not going to work. They cannot go has been done by a respected consulting firm and has to work because of Kevin Rudd. Last week the Premier been endorsed by the Linking Melbourne Authority, and I went to Geelong and Broadmeadows and met which is an organisation originally established under with Ford workers at Geelong and Ford workers at the previous Labor government, with the same CEO. Broadmeadows, and they are genuinely concerned and worried about their jobs and about the impact that Honourable members interjecting. Kevin Rudd’s FBT changes are having on the Questions interrupted. automotive industry. Ford, as we know, has scheduled six down days over August and September directly SUSPENSION OF MEMBER attributed to Kevin Rudd’s FBT policy. This announcement was made on the run. It was Member for Lara ill-conceived, it did not involve any consultation with industry and it was launched without warning. The SPEAKER — Order! I can tell the member for Lara how many. It will be an hour for him out of the I implore those opposite to join with us, get on the chamber, now. phone to their political masters in Canberra and call for this ill-conceived, reckless tax to be scrapped. Members The member for Lara should take the quickest way out do not need to take my word for it; they can have a look of the chamber when he is asked to leave it. at what the industry is saying. Mark Kenny, the chief political correspondent for the Age, has referred to Honourable member for Lara withdrew from ‘hastily designed policy, announced without chamber. consultation’. His article states:
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE One novated lease firm … sacked more than 70 people or around half its sales team within days, citing collapsing East–west link orders … Numerous car yards reported sharp drop-offs in orders. Questions resumed. Media reports earlier this week state: Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — Indeed the chief executive of VicRoads has confirmed that VicRoads The Rudd government’s changes to the fringe benefits tax … endorses that traffic modelling. I quote from the email are so flawed it is difficult to know where to start. that he sent at only 11 o’clock this morning. It says very … clearly: It immediately cost jobs, slowed new-car sales, put the brakes VicRoads endorses the traffic modelling for east–west link on a significant number of orders and deliveries, and which has undergone extensive and rigorous assessment. threatened the survival of the already struggling car manufacturing industry. Fringe benefits tax Labor just does not care about this: Mr KATOS (South Barwon) — My question is to The FBT overhaul made in a heartbeat now looks like costing the Minister for Manufacturing. Can the minister the Rudd government … $2.2 billion rather than raising the provide an update to the house of any threats to $1.8 billion it had banked on. Victoria’s automotive industry and its workers? Labor is just not good with figures. Mr HODGETT (Minister for Manufacturing) — I thank the member for South Barwon for the question Every major newspaper today is reporting on Rudd the and for having a great interest in this matter, unlike Dud’s reckless FBT policy. The Australian Financial some members in the house. I note the member for Review states: Mordialloc gave a notice of motion on Prime Minister Almost two-thirds of new car dealers have made staff redundant, or plan to do so because of the tax changes …
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What is the Rudd government saying? It is saying this The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the is having a ‘modest’ impact on industry. The federal member’s point of order. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr, says it is a modest fall. The fact is Dr NAPTHINE — The point I am making with that Toyota has said its total fleet operation is down regard to CityLink is that when you invest in major more than 19 per cent, its large business fleet is down game-changing infrastructure like CityLink and like the nearly 30 per cent and its novated lease business has east–west link, that makes a real difference to dropped 27 per cent. GM Holden is 5 per cent down congestion across the board. Not only will it will make and Toyota is down. We have all these figures. a difference to congestion at the intersection of the Eastern Freeway and Hoddle Street and congestion on My message to the Rudd government is very clear: we the Bolte Bridge, it will also help to decongest the call for this ill-conceived policy to be scrapped. We are whole of Melbourne and the whole of the state because two days out from the federal election. We call on this it will give people choices and options, particularly out-of-touch, arrogant federal Labor government to when there are accidents and incidents and when there scrap this tax, which is having a devastating impact on are closures, because they will have those choices. the automotive industry here in Victoria. Under our model, our plan and our integrated transport East–west link approach CityLink will provide the option of a southern route around Melbourne. Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — My question is to the Premier. How many cars travelling on Ms Hennessy — On a point of order, Speaker, the the Princes Freeway will use the $8 billion east–west Premier is not being relevant to the question. The tunnel each day? purpose of question time is to obtain information for the purpose of holding the executive accountable. The Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — I thank the Leader of question sought information on how many people using the Opposition for his further question on east–west the Princes Freeway will use the $8 billion tunnel. I ask link stage 1. As we know, east–west link stage 1 is a that you fulfil the purpose of question time and request very important project for Melbourne and for Victoria. that the Premier come back to specifically answering It is about reducing congestion; about improving the question. transport, productivity and efficiency; about creating 3200 jobs; and about improving the livability of The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point Melbourne and Victoria. It is about providing choices of order. The Premier was talking about traffic around and options for motorists because we know from the and across Melbourne; therefore I do not uphold the experience of CityLink how much benefit that has member’s point of order because the answer was delivered for Melbourne and Victoria. relevant to the question that was asked.
CityLink was a game-changing project for Melbourne. Dr NAPTHINE — The Linking Melbourne CityLink has made a real difference to Melbourne in Authority, using expert consultants Veitch Lister terms of its livability, its transport efficiency and the Consulting, has estimated that 80 000 to quality of life of ordinary people in Melbourne and in 100 000 vehicles per day will use the east–west link Victoria. I recall when CityLink was proposed that stage 1. That is even before the western section of that while there was enthusiastic support for it by a lot of road is built. Those 80 000 to 100 000 vehicles will groups and organisations there were some people who come from a number of different sources, including the were opposed to it. Who would have been opposed to a M1, the Princes Highway, the Eastern Freeway, the major game-changing, congestion-busting project like Tullamarine Freeway and the Calder Freeway. It will CityLink? It was the Leader of the Opposition and the provide people with choices and options as they travel Labor Party. around Melbourne. They will be able to take the southern route around Melbourne, using CityLink, or Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, the the northern route, using the east–west tunnel. Premier may have misheard the question. It did not relate to any freeway project other than the $8 billion People who are coming from the west of the state, east–west tunnel. That is what it related to, and people whether they are travelling from Geelong or coming driving on the Princes Freeway would like an answer. over the West Gate Bridge from Ballarat, will be able to How many of them are expected to drive through this go over the Bolte Bridge, out through the east–west $8 billion dud? tunnel, along the Eastern Freeway and down EastLink or out into the eastern suburbs. People will have choices
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and options. That is what people need to understand. to their communities. These are all now in jeopardy That is what good traffic management is about. under the current federal Labor government. CityLink made a real difference to this state and to Melbourne. It was opposed by the Labor Party. The Labor’s track record clearly shows that funding to local east–west link will similarly be a game-changing, government has progressively shrunk over the last congestion-busting project for Melbourne and Victoria. 10 years. Total taxation revenue of about 1.2 per cent in 1996–97 was down to about 0.65 per cent in 2011–12. Local government funding Year after year these cuts to local government have continued. At the same time that Labor was cutting Mr THOMPSON (Sandringham) — My question funding to local councils, it managed to find is directed to the Minister for Local Government. Can $55 million to spend on its failed local government the minister inform the house of any changes in referendum campaign. When the referendum was financial support to Victoria’s local government sector? abandoned I wrote to the Australian Local Government Association asking for $1 million back for Victorian Mrs POWELL (Minister for Local Government) — councils, but so far I have not received a response. This I thank the member for Sandringham for his question is another example of how Labor cannot manage and for his very strong support for local government. money. It cannot manage taxpayers money, and Victorian councils and their communities suffer. The Victorian coalition government is the best friend local councils have. Since the state election we have East–west link increased funding to local councils by 54 per cent. We are delivering $160 million through our Country Roads Mr ANDREWS (Leader of the Opposition) — My and Bridges Fund, thanks to the Minister for Roads. We question is to the Premier. Given the Premier’s inability have delivered $100 million through our local to answer basic questions about the $8 billion east–west government infrastructure program, as part of our tunnel, I ask: has the Premier even seen the traffic $1 billion Regional Growth Fund. modelling that he refers to, yes or no?
Federal Labor’s track record is clear: year after year it Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — The traffic modelling continues to rip millions of dollars out of council for the east–west link is reported to the people of budgets. In 2012 federal Labor slashed $24.4 million Victoria on the Linking Melbourne Authority (LMA) from budgeted financial assistance grants to Victorian website, where the traffic modelling can be found. It councils. This year another $14.8 million has been cut shows that 80 000 to 100 000 vehicles would use from council budgets. I wrote to the federal government stage 1 each day even before the completion of the requesting that the $13.4 million in lost funding from its western section. We can believe that because we know May budget be returned to local councils. Its response the research was done by Veitch Lister, a reputable has been to cut a further $1.4 million from firm — — commonwealth grants, which makes it a $14.8 million cut in funding. Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, the question did not relate to what was on websites; it Councils right across the state are losing funding. Some related to whether the Premier had seen the traffic of those are the City of Greater Geelong, which will modelling he continually refers to. Has he even seen the lose almost $559 000; the City of Casey and the Shire modelling, yes or no? of Cardinia in the federal seat of La Trobe will lose $732 000 between them; the City of Greater Bendigo The SPEAKER — Order! The answer was relevant will lose almost $420 000; and the Whitehorse and to the question that was asked, which was in regard to Maroondah city councils in the federal seat of Deakin the east–west tunnel and traffic modelling, and the will lose almost $264 000 between them. Premier was talking about traffic modelling.
Again councils right across Victoria are losing funding. Dr NAPTHINE — The traffic modelling was done These cuts were also made after the start of the by experts and has been reaffirmed by Veitch Lister, a financial year, after funding had been factored into traffic management expert recognised by the former council budgets. This is really bad for council bottom government and other state governments around lines. What it means is that councils will have to either Australia as having expertise in the area. The Linking cut funding and reduce services or increase their rates. Melbourne Authority has endorsed that traffic As members know, councils deliver essential services modelling. VicRoads has endorsed that traffic to their communities — they provide over 100 services modelling. There is a welter of information backing that
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traffic modelling. While there are people providing Opposition that. It relates to the question, which information that is accurate information based on includes the preamble. What the Leader of the proper research, there are some people who are Opposition says from the minute he gets to his feet to peddling — — ask a question until he sits down becomes part of the question. It is not a rule made by me but a rule made by Honourable members interjecting. a former Speaker in this house.
Questions interrupted. Dr NAPTHINE — With respect to the traffic modelling, let me reinforce that the modelling was SUSPENSION OF MEMBER initially done by Veitch Lister as consultants, and they are expert consultants in this area. They are consultants Minister for Manufacturing who were previously used on major projects in this state — — The SPEAKER — Order! The Minster for Manufacturing can leave the chamber for an hour. Mr Pallas interjected.
Minster for Manufacturing withdrew from Questions interrupted. chamber. SUSPENSION OF MEMBER QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Member for Tarneit East–west link The SPEAKER — Order! The member for Tarneit Questions resumed. has pushed it too far. He can leave the chamber for an hour. Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, with the greatest of respect, is the Premier seriously saying Honourable member for Tarneit withdrew from the only modelling he has looked at is that which can be chamber. found on the Linking Melbourne Authority website? This was a simple question. Has he seen the modelling QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE he relies on, yes or no? East–west link The SPEAKER — Order! The answer the Premier was giving to the house was relevant to the question Questions resumed. that was asked. Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — As I said before, a Dr NAPTHINE (Premier) — This government uses Labor government spokeswoman said of Veitch Lister experts to give expert advice. We have expert advice that they were a ‘respected transport modelling firm from Veitch Lister, experts in the field of traffic that regularly did government work’. modelling, experts that have been used by the previous government, and that advice is backed up by the Ms Hennessy — On a point of order, Speaker — Linking Melbourne Authority and by VicRoads. All of and I am bearing in mind your recent commentary the experts are endorsing the traffic modelling that we about our points of order and relevance as I make this are relying on and using. So while we are using — — point of order — the Leader of the Opposition simply asked whether or not the Premier had seen the traffic Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, again modelling upon which this $8 billion tunnel relies respectfully, as the Premier has just noted, he and the entirely. It is not unreasonable for this chamber to be government are relying on this traffic modelling, and it satisfied about whether or not the so-called leader of is not unreasonable to ask whether he has even seen it. this state has seen the model that the tunnel is based Can he answer simply, yes or no? It is a very simple upon. question. Ms Asher — On the point of order, Speaker, the The SPEAKER — Order! It is up to the Premier to acting manager of opposition business has simply just answer the question in any way he feels fit so long as it repeated the question. I draw your attention to Rulings relates to the question that was asked, and the answer from the Chair, June 2013, page 148, which shows related to the question that was asked. I do not know Speaker Andrianopoulos’s ruling: how many times I have to tell the Leader of the
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A point of order on a matter of relevance can be raised Mr O’BRIEN (Treasurer) — I thank the member without necessarily repeating the question. for Kew for his question and for his interest in The member for Altona has simply repeated the Victoria’s fiscal position. At the start of the current question. This is not a point of order in relation to federal election campaign, the federal Treasury and relevance. federal Department of Finance and Deregulation issued the pre-election economic and fiscal outlook, which The SPEAKER — Order! I have ruled on this showed that since the federal budget came down in question before, about half-a-dozen times. I do not May this year, which forecast a federal budget deficit of uphold the point of order. $18 billion, that budget deficit has blown out in just three months from $18 billion to over $30 billion this Dr NAPTHINE — The traffic management financial year. It is just extraordinary that in the short modelling was done by an expert consulting firm that space of three months a government could lose such has the approval of the previous government and other control over its budget that it blows it out by 66 per cent state governments. It has been reinforced by the in just three months. Linking Melbourne Authority, and it has been reinforced again by VicRoads. So you have three major That does not even mean that there have not been tax organisations that have examined the traffic increases, because in that three-month period the management modelling, and indeed VicRoads said that federal Labor government has jacked up taxes, it has undergone extensive and rigorous assessment. including $1.8 billion on its ill-conceived and That is a fairly good tick of approval from three major job-killing fringe benefits tax (FBT) changes and organisations, and I would take their word for it above $733 million on a bank deposit levy. We see that the any commentary from the other side of this chamber. federal government has lost control of its own budget, but it is not the only government that is facing budget Ms Hennessy — On a point of order, Speaker, I pressures. All governments are facing budget pressures, draw your attention to standing order 110, which says: and what matters is how you deal with them.
The Chair may warn a member speaking in the house for The ACT and Northern Territory face deficits for every continued irrelevance or tedious repetition. year over the next four years. The government in I would like you to consider the potential application of Tasmania is facing deficits for the next three years, that standing order to the Premier’s non-answer of a New South Wales and South Australia are facing question as to whether or not he has seen the traffic deficits for the next two years and Queensland is in modelling upon which his big tunnel is based. deficit this year. In the recent WA budget, even with all of WA’s mineral wealth and iron ore royalties, WA The SPEAKER — Order! Also according to the announced that in the next financial year it is going into standing orders, and I do not know the number, I can deficit. overrule points of order and not listen to any more that are raised if they have become irrelevant. Looking around the country, you see that every single government — federal, state and territory — is either in Dr NAPTHINE — On its website the Linking deficit or is going into deficit over the next four years, Melbourne Authority has given a clear indication of the with one exception. I am very pleased to advise the traffic management modelling. It has come from house that Victoria has the only government that is both reputed sources, and it has been endorsed by the LMA, in surplus and is forecast to stay in surplus over the next an organisation established by the previous government four years. That is a testament to the hard work of this and that has the same CEO that was put in place by the government, to the Minister for Police and Emergency previous government, and VicRoads says that it has Services, to the member for Hawthorn, to the Premier undergone extensive and rigorous assessment. They are and to all members of this government, who know how three organisations that endorse the traffic management to responsibly manage money. modelling, and I think that is a good outcome. It is hard to run a budget surplus these days. It is not Government financial management like the mid-2000s, when your biggest question was where to bank the cheque from the federal government Mr McINTOSH (Kew) — My question is to the because we had a good coalition federal government Treasurer. Can the Treasurer provide an update to the delivering economic growth. It is actually hard to run a house on how the Victorian budget position compares surplus these days. If it was easy, everyone would be with other Australian jurisdictions? doing it, but they are not. It takes hard decisions.
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Those sorts of hard decisions are about not being we have peaches, nectarines and apricots all growing in knee-jerk populists; not saying yes to new public this region. Over the years there have been threats from holidays just to try to gather a few votes; not cuddling fruit flies. Fruit flies have caused major concern over up to the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy the years, and this risk has been growing year by year. Union, which is simply going to blow our construction Members may remember that over the years when they costs out of the water; and not opposing vital have crossed from New South Wales to Victoria they job-creating economic infrastructure like the east–west have had to discard their fruit. Those things have fallen link — that is the sort of negative thinking and bad by the wayside, but certainly the Queensland fruit fly public policy that will see Victoria driven down the has become an even greater pest. path of debt and deficit, just like federal Labor has done to the country. The battle we are facing here — and it is a pleasure to have you in the chair today, Acting Speaker — is a war We will not go down that path. We are about surpluses, with Mother Nature. As time goes on local producers economic growth, infrastructure, responsible have less options and less opportunities to fight this management and making sure that Victorians are better battle. Sprays have been removed from the tools they off under the coalition’s good economic management, can use — for good reason, I understand — and they unlike Labor. now have limited choices in how they can fight fruit flies. This government has been proactive in assisting Ms Hutchins — On a point of order, Speaker, in fruit growers in their fight against fruit flies and this house in the adjournment debate on 30 May — certainly the other issues they have come up against. 96 days ago now — I raised a matter for the attention of On the whole the fruit growers have done an extremely the Minister for Finance. good job in terms of managing their land and their orchards. They have done a wonderful job at containing The SPEAKER — Order! Anything to do with the fruit flies. adjournment debate should be raised at the time of that debate, not now. I ask the member to come back at An outbreak has been defined as when one female fly is 4 o’clock with that matter. detected, when one or more larvae is found in locally grown fruit or when five male flies are trapped in PLANT BIOSECURITY AMENDMENT 1 square kilometre over a two-week period. That gives BILL 2013 you the gravity of it; we are talking one or two or five fruit flies — that is what an outbreak is. Certainly there Second reading have been what we believe is a small number of fruit flies trapped, but that number is certainly growing. Debate resumed. Over the years many of the townsfolk — the people Mr McCURDY (Murray Valley) — I am delighted who live in Yarrawonga, Barooga, Cobram, to continue my contribution on the Plant Biosecurity Strathmerton and all those regions — have had fruit Amendment Bill 2013. We heard the member for trees in their backyard. They have an apricot tree or a Richmond so passionately talk about my region, which peach tree, and those trees have been neglected over he knows so little about. This bill is of great time. You can imagine the frustration when a fruit significance to the fruit industry. The member for grower who has 40 or 60 hectares of produce and is Richmond wanted to put things in context. This is doing a great job of keeping their property clean of fruit someone who may live next to a fruit shop in flies all of a sudden finds fruit flies rampant in the Richmond, but I want to put it in context, coming from towns. somebody who actually lives in the region and understands the fruit industry, because I understand my The Minister for Agriculture and Food Security has community. been very supportive. We are running a pilot project now that I have been instrumental in within our Horticulture is extremely important to our community. community, putting one Amulet device in each In Victoria it is worth $2.6 billion. Most of that is backyard in the town of Cobram — over 2200 homes. domestic, but certainly we have exports of around This is another step along the way to help fruit growers, $470 million. Putting that in context, it is a very because we are reducing the risk of fruit flies being in important part of our agricultural sector, and certainly the towns. I am just trying to paint the picture. We have in the Murray Valley electorate and the Goulburn the growers doing a great job, we have outbreaks of Valley district it is a very significant player. Again just fruit flies and then we have the townsfolk. putting things in perspective, in the stone fruit industry
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To make things even worse, the next challenge — you no doubt one of the most effective ways we can help could say the next fly in the ointment — is SPC this industry. Ardmona, a well-known brand in the Goulburn Valley. SPC Ardmona decided to cut back some of its In conclusion — I have a fair bit to go, Acting Speaker, commercial contracts. Those supplying to the cannery but this being your first time in the chair I will not ask got reductions — some were 10 per cent cutbacks, for an extension — this bill will certainly help my some were 40 per cent cutbacks and some were 100 per constituents in the Cobram area in the Murray Valley cent cutbacks — and that has made things very difficult and the constituents of the member for Shepparton in for those growers. This legislation we are bringing in is the Goulburn Valley and the Mooroopna area. It is a trying to assist all the growers in that community, some bill that supports an industry and a whole community, of whom have thrown their hands in the air and said, and I am very proud to be associated with this bill. I ‘Look, we don’t know what to do. We’re out of commend the bill to the house. business. We’re going to be struggling because of the Mr HOWARD (Ballarat East) — I am certainly decision by SPC Ardmona’. pleased to add a few words in regard to this piece of The important thing is that growers came to us. They legislation on plant biosecurity, which is of course a came to me, and then I lobbied the minister to take care very important issue for Victorians. As we have heard of those who threw their hands in the air — those who from previous speakers and as we heard in the very were prepared to risk everybody else’s biodiversity — brief second-reading speech from the Minister for and to make sure that the whole industry is being Agriculture and Food Security — it is a little hard to looked after. That is fundamentally what this bill is speak at length on a bill where the second-reading about. It is about making sure that the whole industry speech is a very brief piece of work — the horticulture can be protected from those few who may not have the industry is worth more than $2.6 billion to the state and resources or who may not want to assist everybody else national economies, and in Victoria export was valued in this process. We have had plenty of advice along the at $479 million in the year 2011–12. We know it is way. Even the federal members in our patch have been important for our overall state’s economy, but the other full of advice for the minister regarding all sorts of issue we cannot get away from is that it is very horticultural issues, but this is responsible action that is important for those who are growers. going to look after the whole industry. Over many years this state has continued to work hard Having said this, the bill allows for a charge to be to support a whole range of biosecurity issues, whether placed on land to recover costs that may occur if the it be in the horticulture area or whether it be in animal Department of Environment and Primary Industries biosecurity. Of course Victoria is somewhat at the decides or needs to go in to assist a grower to clean up forefront in terms of its own government investing in their property so that it does not become a biodiversity research throughout an extensive series of laboratories, risk for the rest of the community. Currently fruit trees where we are able to do our own identification of many need to be sprayed for pests and pruned at this time of pathogens and diseases which may threaten plants and the year. That is why I say that this is a very timely animals. That is a significant part of our security bill — because right as we speak we have trees mechanism, but the other end is seeing that the right budding, and this is the time that fruit flies start to take things happen on the ground on people’s properties. hold. It is very important that this community knows that it has support from the government. The only problem I have with this particular bill — and I will briefly touch also on our concern that the This is a classic example of how a government can government has not invested in helping to remove trees assist growers or help a community by putting no longer required in the Shepparton area — is that the legislation in place that does not make it difficult for the land-holders who do not do the right thing, whether in whole industry when one or two growers just shrug horticulture or weed management, are often not doing their shoulders or decide they do not want to do well; financially they are pretty hard done by. It is anything about the situation. The minister has not sent therefore a difficult issue. The department has always any mixed message throughout this whole process. found this a difficult area. It wants to see that the right There were discussions early on about some individuals thing is done, but to push some land-holders too hard to wanting a tree pull. The minister has made it absolutely address their weed problems or biosecurity issues such clear right from the word go and the industry has as cleaning up fruit trees — whatever it is — might understood — the industry has known right from the push them into desperate financial straits or push them beginning — that a tree pull is not the solution to this, off the land. We know that there have been some pretty but helping growers along the way certainly is. This is serious cases involving farmers in desperate financial
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states associated with depression and all of those sorts them further backwards. I hope the government will see of things. As the minister knows, the department has to that there is a way to provide that $3 million funding to deal with these things in a sensitive manner. ensure that this work is done properly and to show that this government is going to support measures to ensure Overall the thrust of the legislation is sound, but it is the industry stays clean and that the trees are dealt with. sometimes going to be difficult to implement. The way I hope that when this legislation eventually passes it the legislation is framed, if it is determined that works will act as a plank of further support. However, funding need to be done and the land-holder does not do them, from this government to support these kinds of the state will go in and see that the works are done to activities still needs to be provided. address the issue, and the cost will go directly to the land-holder. If the land-holder says they cannot or will Ms McLEISH (Seymour) — I am very pleased to not pay, the cost can be held against the land title. That have this opportunity to speak to the amendments to the is a sound move, but it still puts a great deal of stress on Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 that are being put to the land-holders who may already be under financial stress. house and to congratulate the minister on his response Having said that, I trust this will be followed through to an issue out in country Victoria and on how quickly sensibly and sensitively and in a way that holds to the and effectively he is looking to deal with it. I will spend overall aim of ensuring that our plant biosecurity and most of my time speaking to the bill, but I also want to the fruit and other horticultural products of various make some comments on the contributions of places around Victoria are maintained at the standard opposition members. First of all, the opposition’s lead for which Victoria has managed to gain a very high speaker is a member from downtown Richmond, smack level of respect. in the middle of the city, who moved a reasoned amendment. The second speaker, the member for We have been able to market our Victorian produce to Ballarat East, described the bill as sound, but it was other parts of the world as being clean and green. I had very difficult to understand whether or not he was the pleasure at one stage of going to South Korea to supporting it. That was quite unclear. look at how we had been marketing our Victorian agricultural produce into that country. The people I I will now speak about the bill. The protection of our spoke to there were aware of that message — that agricultural sector is paramount. We have a strong and Victoria is a clean and green environment and that the thriving agricultural sector in Victoria, and we need to quality of our produce is very good. We need to make keep it that way. Further to this, the protection of our sure that we continue to satisfy ourselves that the plant industries from pests and disease is very standards are always high. We are aware of occasions fundamental to that. The Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 is in other parts of the world where such matters have a key piece of legislation which provides the foundation gone wrong and serious biosecurity threats have led for that protection. This key legislative framework, in both to local farmers losing a lot of money, after their addition to providing that protection, also facilitates the markets have been lost, and to whole national timely movement of produce to local, interstate and economies losing out as a result. overseas markets — and the quality of our exports is great. As the last opposition speaker said, we are also concerned at what seems to be a bit of a double In terms of its purposes, the bill before us sets the scene standard with respect to issues associated with fruit for the Department of Environment and Primary trees in the Shepparton area that are no longer going to Industries (DEPI) to give a direction in terms of plant be producing fruit. The farmers have been calling out pest or disease risk. It provides for DEPI to direct a for funding to support them to remove those fruit trees, landowner to address a plant pest or disease risk which but this government seems to have been very slow to poses a threat to a neighbouring crop. That is very make that $3 million available. important. There also is a specified time period for action and, if there is no action, provision for what Mr Walsh — You didn’t do it for the grape DEPI can do to arrange for that work to be done. Any industry. cost can then be recovered from the landowner at the minister’s discretion. Mr HOWARD — The minister is using a previous example of government activity to explain his position I want to set a bit of context here, and I begin by saying at the moment. I do not know whether that holds with that the protection of our agricultural industry is vital. the land-holders, but clearly this is an issue whereby the Produce from Victoria and other parts of Australia has a state needs to support people who are going to remove wonderful reputation. The value to the Victorian trees. To simply put the cost on the farmers will drive economy is outstanding. Our food and fibre exports for
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the financial year 2011–12 were worth $9 billion, only one apple to date. We know that it is very difficult which was up by 11 per cent on the 2010–11 figure — to establish an orchard. For people who have invested an increase of almost $1 billion into the Victorian years and years in having very productive and economy as a result of the strength of our exports. With commercially viable crops or orchards to be told that regard to exports from the agricultural sector, we have the fruit intake is going to be halved is extremely the dairy industry, which is doing really well, and we difficult for them. also have grain and beef. In my electorate we have lots of beef producers, and I am thinking of the areas around If you put yourself in the shoes of the farmers who are Yea, Alexandra, Seymour, Kilmore and Broadford, and involved, you realise that they have unwanted crops but smaller locations such as Glengrove, Mia Mia, Pyalong that to remove trees costs tens of thousands of dollars, and Glenburn. not to mention the cost of replacing those trees with a crop that may be in demand now or for which it is We are also talking about horticulture and risks to hoped there will be something in the future. However, horticulture, and horticulture adds $2.6 million to the people are talking about walking away from their state and national economies. Victorian horticulture orchards. With that comes the question of what will exports were $479 million in 2011–12, the last financial happen to those trees, because at the moment it is year for which we have figures available. Essentially a spring and they are in bud. We will have blossoms and lot of those exports are from the Goulburn Valley, the then the fruit, and if that fruit falls, we know how easy Murray Valley and the Yarra Valley. The background it is for disease and insect infestation to spread. issues regarding the industry have been quite topical, and the member for Murray Valley spent some time This legislation is really about managing the risk posed talking about the work that is being done to protect by trees that are left or for landowners who are finding crops from fruit fly. I commend everybody who has themselves in a tight spot in managing the situation. been involved in that for the way they have gone about Therefore DEPI will be working with affected growers it. to assess the situation. Depending on each situation, it has the power now to either issue a notice or a However, more recently there has been a lot of talk direction, which can either be to treat the trees or about people walking away from their crops following remove any infested plants. If there is no action, DEPI a recent decision by SPC Ardmona, which is owned by can take action itself. It can treat or destroy the trees, Coca-Cola Amatil, to reduce its fruit intake. The but the key issue here is protection. It is about company is looking at halving its fruit intake, and it is addressing the biosecurity risk of unmanaged trees, and estimated that there is almost 1000 hectares — that risk is at its highest in the season we are coming to. approximately 2500 acres — of unwanted fruit trees. It has also been estimated it may cost $3000 per hectare Half of those trees already have been removed by for tree removal. It is all fine if the trees are removed, growers, and we are talking about maybe three-quarters but if they are not removed and DEPI has to take the of a million trees needing to be removed, including a lot next step, then there is provision in the act for it to of pear and peach trees. The decision by SPC Ardmona recover the cost. If the landowner cannot pay, it can be is an enormous slug to those in the Goulburn and registered as a charge against the land for a time until Murray valleys in particular, but I also have a lot of the debt is paid or is recovered when the property is orchardists and fruit growers to the south of my sold. electorate. We have orchards around Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley and in Strathewen, but we also have a This bill is about providing greater certainty in lot of fruit growers and vegetable growers around managing the biosecurity risk and protecting our Toolangi, Kinglake, Glenburn and even Yea. Those industry, which has a wonderful reputation and adds people are looking very closely at what needs to be tremendously to the Victorian economy. That is a done to protect the agricultural industry, particularly the substantial issue. I congratulate the minister on the horticultural industry. stance he has taken on bringing this to Parliament quickly, and I wish it a speedy passage through the For the farmers in the Goulburn and Murray valleys this house. is an enormous hit. They were stunned, and it really was with disbelief that they looked at this decision that Mr SCOTT (Preston) — I rise to speak on the Plant has been made, because it takes a very long time to Biosecurity Amendment Bill 2013 and to provide establish an orchard. We know this because the clarification for government members. I know there member for Prahran is looking at having his own was some querying of the opposition’s position. The orchard of vintage apple trees. He has found that after opposition does not oppose this bill; however, we have six years of investment and hard work, he has produced moved a reasoned amendment that deals with the
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timing of the bill and requests that this house refuses to Mr WELLER (Rodney) — It gives me great read this bill a second time until the government pleasure to rise this afternoon to speak on the Plant commits funding for plant industries in the Goulburn Biosecurity Amendment Bill 2013. The people of the Valley that have been issued with infested land notices. Goulburn Valley are very wary of a wolf in sheep’s That relates to the bill not passing the second-reading clothing, and that is exactly what the member for stage until such time as the Minister for Agriculture and Richmond is. To come in here and say that he cares for Food Security receives an advance for $3 million from the prosperity of the Goulburn Valley is an out-and-out the Treasury. That relates to $3 million — — misleading of the Parliament. In 2007 he was a member of the cabinet that said it would take water from north Honourable members interjecting. of the Divide. There is no greater lifeblood to the Goulburn Valley than water. The member for Mr SCOTT — I am reading from the reasoned Richmond was part of a cabinet that built a pipeline to amendment. take water from the Goulburn Valley, and the people The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Angus) — Order! there will see through his proposal. They will also see Through the Chair. through people who come in here and talk down the area. The member for Richmond spoke about Mr SCOTT — That $3 million relates to the biosecurity risks. He does not need to spook the market, provision of help for the removal of unwanted fruit and I would encourage members on the other side not trees, which has been referred to both in the Weekly to spook the market so that buyers are unable to look at Times and in the Cobram Courier. Therefore I think it the Goulburn Valley with confidence. is important to know what the actual position of the opposition is — that is, not opposition to the bill itself The bill will give the Minister for Agriculture and Food but concern about the timing and the failure of the Security extra power to protect the biosecurity of the government to provide $3 million from the Treasurer’s region. It is very timely. Members of the opposition say advance to assist with the removal of unwanted fruit the government should be funding a tree pool. When trees. they were in power and the wine industry was in dire straits, some of the wine could not be sold, some of the The bill provides an additional mechanism for cost prices were down as low as $80 or $90 a tonne, we had recovery for the Minister for Agriculture and Food winegrowers going to the wall, and what did the Labor Security, who I note is at the table. He will have government do? It did nothing. Government members discretion to issue a notice in respect of land which has sat on their hands and watched the poor winegrowers been the subject of action under the act to treat, manage suffer. The opposition needs to get on board. I am or alleviate a biosecurity risk where there are unpaid pleased it is supporting the bill, but I am not going to debts relating to the action. If the debt remains unpaid support its reasoned amendment, which includes a after the due date for payment specified in the notice, timeline that stretches out the passage of the bill. We the debt will be a first charge on the land to which the need to get on and give the minister power to protect notice relates. My understanding of the bill as it stands our biosecurity. We should not dither; we need to act. is that that would stand before a number of other We do not want to be like the previous government, creditors and will therefore create an alternative which did nothing but reviews, reports and inquiries for mechanism to provide recompense to the state in 11 years. We need to get on — — circumstances where a charge has been made against a farmer in relation to their responsibilities to keep pests Mr Walsh — It built a pipeline. under control and where the Department of Mr WELLER — It built a pipeline! I note the Environment and Primary Industries has made an order interjection of the Minister for Agriculture and Food under the act to do so. Security, who is at the table. I acknowledge that the As there are a number of other speakers who want to previous government built a north–south pipeline, but speak on the bill, and the time is getting towards the what is it good for? It is a wombat fire refuge; that is all 4 o’clock cut-off for debate today, I will not keep the it will ever be used for. house too long. I just reiterate that the Labor Party is The bill will provide the Minister for Agriculture and not opposing the bill but is putting a reasoned Food Security with the discretion for certain debts to be amendment relating to a matter that has arisen out of a charge on land after the Department of Environment the decision of SPC Ardmona to cut fruit quotas and and Primary Industries (DEPI) has taken action to other matters relating to a $3 million provision for the manage a plant pest or disease problem. We are saying removal of unwanted trees. that DEPI can go onto a property and say to the
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land-holder, ‘You have an issue here. You should Goulburn Valley that have been issued with infested land address it’. If they do not address it, the department can notices. have contractors go in and do the work and a charge We would like to get some further clarification from the can be put on the land, because in some cases a minister. In question time today we heard an land-holder may not have the money to do the work. announcement about funding for the agricultural sector, The charge will go against the land and can remain particularly in relation to some of the broader matters until the property is sold, when it will be collected. that have been touched on in this debate. It will be This is a responsible way of managing a problem in the interesting to hear whether the request from landowners in the agricultural sector up in the Goulburn Valley — Goulburn Valley. It is not responsible for us to dither. Today is 5 September; we are five days into spring. We who are doing it tough and who have made some specific representations to the Labor Party, and I am cannot dither on this; we need to get on and move this sure they have also been making those representations bill through. For the opposition to come in and say the government should dither as it did is wrong. I commend to the government — can be addressed. We look forward to hearing from the minister in relation to the the bill to the house and wish it a very speedy passage for the good of the Goulburn Valley. specifics of whether those representations can be picked up in the consideration of the bill, which the Labor Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe) — I am pleased to make Party does not oppose. a very brief contribution on the Plant Biosecurity However, we want to put on record our concerns about Amendment Bill 2013, and I note the Labor Party is not opposing the bill. I will confine my remarks to the the representations that have been made for some financial assistance, and we have touched on the fact reasoned amendment moved by the member for that Treasurer’s advance funding is one mechanism Richmond, which hopefully we will be considering very shortly. The key point here is around biosecurity available to the government to pick up on those matters. While there have been some announcements and a and ensuring that we provide protection for places where our food is grown. In his second-reading speech flurry of activity from the government today in question time in relation to some broader support that it would the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security said: like to offer to the agriculture sector, it will be The act makes provision for the Department of Environment interesting to get some specifics about whether the and Primary Industries to direct a landowner to take action to concerns that have been raised by an industry that has address a plant pest or disease risk that poses a threat to been hit pretty hard can be picked up by the neighbouring crops. government. That is the basis for our reasoned If a landowner does not comply with the directions in a amendment, and we look forward to supporting the bill specified time, the department can carry out the and seeking the government’s support — not perhaps to direction to address the biosecurity threats to the reasoned amendment — by it addressing the neighbouring plant crops. The cost of any action taken representations that have been made by some of our by the department may be charged back to the Victorians in the Goulburn Valley. non-compliant landowner at the minister’s discretion. With those comments, I commend the bill to the house. One of the things that prompted us to pursue a reasoned I certainly commend for consideration the reasoned amendment was a delegation from the Goulburn Valley amendment put by the Labor Party, and I urge the who met with the Leader of the Opposition and other government to back the calls for assistance that the shadow ministers. In part their concerns are about the agricultural producers in the Goulburn Valley have crops they have to manage in the face of cuts to fruit raised not only with the Labor Party but also with the quotas by SPC Ardmona and how they are going to government. manage what could potentially be a biosecurity threat and their financial difficulties around how they are Dr SYKES (Benalla) — I rise to make a brief going to deal with an oversupply of fruit crops. They contribution to the Plant Biosecurity Amendment Bill have sought up to $3 million from the government, and 2013. As other speakers, particularly the Minister for they have put a case to the Labor Party seeking Agriculture and Food Security, have indicated, we are assistance to deal with a potential biosecurity threat, in difficult times in the fruit industry. Difficult times which is one of the issues we are dealing with here. require decisive responses. The minister and the coalition government is delivering a decisive response Our reasoned amendment states: in the form of a package of measures, as outlined by the minister today in question time. … this house refuses to read this bill a second time until the government commits funding for plant industries in the
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By comparison, the reasoned amendment put forward On Father’s Day — Sunday, 1 September — the by the member for Richmond on behalf of the Labor shadow minister sought a change to the meeting time. Party is piecemeal in that it suggests just one measure, The minister’s staff and departmental staff interrupted without comprehension of the wide range of issues that their Father’s Day activities and accommodated the relate to why we are in the circumstances we are in in shadow minister’s request for a rescheduling of the the Goulburn Valley. In relation to the quantum of time. I think it would be fair to say that the minister’s money, the member for Richmond suggested that office and the departmental staff made every effort to $3 million could be obtained from the Treasurer’s accommodate the shadow minister’s request for a advance and that it is not very much. I would agree; it is briefing. The minister chipped in and said they went not very much in comparison with the $850 million above and beyond the call of duty. spent on the north–south pipeline to pipe the water and drain the lifeblood out of the northern irrigation area to In relation to the technical aspect of this bill, it is simple meet the needs of Melbourne. As I work it out, in that it further enhances our ability to reduce the $3 million is less than 0.3 per cent of $850 million. biosecurity risk presented to orchards and fruit growers in the Goulburn Valley and the Murray Valley Imagine if that $850 million had not been spent on that electorate as a result of some land-holders and fruit north–south pipeline that is basically sitting there, as the growers not being prepared or able to implement the member for Rodney said, providing a fire refuge for normal risk management strategies, be they spraying, wombats. We would have had much more money pruning or other activities, to minimise the risk of available. As came up during the member for spread of disease from their orchards to other orchards. Richmond’s presentation, $3 million is less than two days of payment for the desalination plant, which also This amendment addresses a potential impediment to stands idle. That money for the desalination plant, prompt action dealing with the biosecurity risk in the $1.8 million a day, is going to be paid out day in, day event that a land-holder is not able to afford to take the out for the next 30 years, regardless of whether one necessary preventive or disease control measures. The drop of water is taken. current legislation enables the government to act. This amendment enables the government to act knowing it In responding to my interjections the member for can recoup the costs of doing so by placing a debt Richmond sought to convey that I lack empathy with against the title of the land if, given the financial the growers in this situation. I make it very clear that I circumstances of some people, that is the only means live in northern Victoria. I have lived in the northern available. Victorian area since 1972. It is home for me. Along with my Nationals colleagues I have experienced many With this amendment in place and with the existing of the downs and ups in our area over the last decade or strength of the legislation, the outcome we can so. Without dwelling on how tough it has been, let me reasonably expect is a professional assessment of the make it very clear that we get it. We understand how risk, exploration of the options for managing that tough it is and how tough it has been. We also risk — including spraying, pruning and in some cases understand that there are opportunities. There is a bright tree removal — and action taken, preferably with the future for those people who can think clearly and get on agreement of land-holders. As I know from three with finding a new future in response to the changes decades of working in biosecurity, there are times when that are occurring. all efforts to achieve cooperation are exhausted and in some of these situations there comes a time when action Another issue I wish to touch on is the commentary needs to be taken against a small number of people for made by the member for Richmond when debating the a variety of reasons to protect the interests of the government business program in relation to the lead industry. time for the briefing for the shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. I followed this issue up As I said earlier, this bill is part of a coordinated with the minister’s office, and it was made quite clear to package of response measures and part of the measures me — and I have it in writing and am prepared to have announced today by the minister. That package the document tabled if the opposition so desires — that includes $5 million for the Goulburn Valley Industry a request was made to the minister’s office for a and Infrastructure Fund and $2 million for a fruit briefing. There was a delay of a couple of days to industry employment program being run by the Wednesday, 28 August, owing to an email not being Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. picked up, but the minister’s office subsequently The $2 million will provide funding for land-holders followed up on that request and by Friday of last week and affected fruit growers to gain employment through an arrangement had been made. working for the catchment management authority,
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which will be for the greater good; it is a win-win on farms and to provide produce in rural areas. Our situation. From experience I know that when people on produce not only feeds our population but also people the land are under the pump they can shut out outside around the world. I do not accept the proposition put experiences, and those can be very difficult forward by some members who have challenged the circumstances. However, if those people can do other contributions to the debate by members who represent work for which they can see reward for their effort and Melbourne metropolitan electorates. City MPs know engage with other people, then not only will that put the issues very well. They know that at the end of the bread on their tables but also help them in terms of their day if things go wrong in agriculture due to problems mental wellbeing. with disease and pests, people in city areas will have to pay to remedy those problems and will bear the brunt of Similarly there is a need to look at other options, and increased prices in supermarkets. Make no mistake that is why a lot of work is going into investigating about it! city MPs are very cognisant of those what other options are available for the use of fertile challenges! land in northern Victoria. This area is well serviced by the water supply that is available. The reasons for the I commend the federal government on its important existence of that water supply are, firstly, action taken contribution towards biosecurity matters. In 2011–12 it by our government to plug the north–south pipeline, contributed $445 million. I also note the state and secondly, the very effective negotiations government’s contribution of $20 million in the last undertaken by the Minister for Water in relation to the budget for the purpose of dealing with biosecurity Murray-Darling Basin plan. The legislation provides for matters. However, as we know, fruit growing is an a further strengthening of the government’s ability to important industry in Victoria, particularly when act, and I hope we will all work together so that we can compared to other states, and proportionally it makes a deliver an outcome that will be for the good of the fruit significant contribution to our state’s economy. industry, for the good of the people of northern Victoria and for the good of affected individuals. I support the I also note that the Minister for Water, who is at the bill in its current form and reject the reasoned table, said at a hearing of the Public Accounts and amendment. Estimates Committee (PAEC):
Mr LANGUILLER (Derrimut) — I rise to speak The ongoing success of Victoria’s livestock industries is highly dependent upon adequate defences against livestock on the Plant Biosecurity Amendment Bill 2013, and pests and disease. The Victorian government recognises the note that the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 was introduced importance of biosecurity and is investing in programs and by a Labor government. The Labor opposition is not research to counter threats posed by pests and disease to opposing the bill, but it asks the government to do all it livestock producers. can to assist this important Victorian industry and So the government, and the minister at the PAEC sector through very difficult times. hearings, confirmed that this government will allocate I note that we have come a long way from the Nairn $2.3 million to increase the livestock industry’s ability review of 1995, an important chapter in terms of to respond to disease and outbreaks. We think that is starting to deal with biosecurity issues. I also found an fine and we commend it, but additional contributions interesting paper, One Biosecurity — A Working need to be made to this important sector. Partnership, which was an independent review of I am cognisant of the limited amount of time available Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, to us today, but we on this side have said — and we are also known as the Beale review. consistent in saying it — that it is fair enough to support Australia has undertaken important steps over many the workers of Ford in Geelong and in Broadmeadows, decades to deal with important challenges in this sector. so why not support this industry and these growers who As we know, in some ways ours is a lucky country happen to have the support of the Victorian Farmers because it is an island continent, but nevertheless, as all Federation and other important sections of industry and members would be aware, we need to deal with issues the community? Opposition members put to the onshore and at our borders before they become minister that we also support that industry and the biosecurity challenges with which we have to deal. sector and do consider very seriously — and we put that respectfully — the requests advanced by people in I take this the opportunity to say that, whilst I represent that sector to the minister and the government to get the metropolitan suburb of Sunshine, I take pride in the that industry through difficult times and to deal with fact that members on both sides of the house are very unwanted pests and other biosecurity issues in rural cognisant of how difficult and challenging it is to work
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communities and farmlands. Having made those few risk, and the cost of those actions will stand against the remarks, I wish this legislation a speedy passage. title of the land. That is a process whereby debt is charged to the land. It is only a last measure. There are Mr CRISP (Mildura) — I rise to make a a number of steps that have to be followed, and they contribution to the debate on the Plant Biosecurity can be appealed, so the full options under the law are Amendment Bill 2013. The Nationals support this bill available. However, if it comes to this final step where and do not support the reasoned amendment. the debt is charged against the land, people need to remember that the charge does not incur interest. This is The bill provides for the option of charges to be placed a fair way of dealing with a difficult problem. on land as additional means to recovery costs incurred by the Department of Environment and Primary Mildura has been somewhat lucky in that during the Industries for the management of plant biosecurity risks drought many of our troublesome fruit fly spots — in Victoria. The bill specifies the circumstances in abandoned orchards or whatever — dried up, but there which a charge can be applied in relation to the work are still some there. If they represent a risk and we have done following an infested land notice under section 25 to go through this process, we will do so to protect our of the act and by direction of the inspector under markets and the huge investment that organisations section 35 of the act provides for the registration of the have made over the years. The citrus industry and the charge and provides for a certificate of the secretary of table grape industry have made an enormous the department showing the amounts due in relation to investment in biosecurity. That investment has been the land charge. shared between growers who have co-contributed — particularly through organisations like the Murray Why has this come about? I will quote the words of the Valley Citrus Board, the Australian Table Grape opening paragraph of the minister’s second-reading Association and the Sunraysia Table Grape Growers — speech: in partnership with state and federal money to deal with The Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 is the key legislative these biosecurity risks. framework supporting the government’s role in protecting Victorian plant industries from pests and diseases, and in This issue is incredibly important in my area, and the facilitating the timely movement of produce to local, bill takes one last step towards providing the solution interstate and overseas markets. we need. I commend the Minister for Agriculture and This is extremely important for Mildura, where we Food Security for bringing this to the house, and I have faced the threat of fruit fly infestation for many commend the bill to the house. years. Queensland fruit fly is a pest that is not native to Mr MADDEN (Essendon) — I take this Mildura, but a huge threat to Mildura’s economy. We opportunity to speak on the Plant Biosecurity in Mildura are highly geared towards the export of Amendment Bill 2013 and seek to make a very concise horticultural produce, be it table grapes, citrus or even contribution. We have obviously seen significant some small stone fruit. The industry could be put in changes to this sector and the nature of people’s dining danger if we have outbreaks of fruit fly. Our fruit fly and eating habits over a period of time. The ability of arrangements with our trading partners overseas are the logistics industry to improve refrigeration such that the Sunraysia area is deemed to be pest free technology and the choice of offerings in supermarkets with the occasional outbreak of fruit fly which can be and when dining out have allowed people to change the treated by cold disinfestation in transit. If we become way they eat fruit. The traditional option of taking your susceptible to fruit fly occurring regularly in the daily fruit requirement only through tinned fruit has Mildura area, then we will have to rewrite those trade changed over the last few decades. That means there protocols with our trading partners. That would take a has been a significant readjustment in the industry, long time for us to recover from and should be avoided. which we have seen come to fruition in recent times.
Biosecurity is absolutely important to Mildura’s I have only a couple of concerns about the bill. There economy. When a tree or other plant of some sort may be some farmers — and traditionally they are the represents a threat to that biosecurity, it must be dealt old-timers who are reluctant to make those changes — with. If the land-holder will not do it, we need another who dig in a bit. My wife’s family has been involved in means, and that is what this bill provides. agriculture over many years. I have met many farmers If there is shown to be a biosecurity risk — and there and seen that from time to time. You cannot extract are a number of ways to assess this — and the owner these diehards from their land, no matter what is likely refuses to act or cannot act, then this government will to happen. They are likely to be the ones who find this make sure that those actions are taken to address the more difficult than anybody. My concerns for those
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sorts of personalities — the old-time farmers who may Agriculture and Food Security has done on food not be able to see the writing on the wall — is that they security generally. As I said, that is important to not may find themselves in the predicament where as a only the state as a whole but also metropolitan result of this enforcement measure they have basically Melbourne. With that, I wish the bill a speedy passage no equity in their business at all, and they may suffer through the house. accordingly. I would have liked to have seen a broader structural readjustment package or program to promote The SPEAKER — Order! The time set down for this and engage some of those old-time farmers to think consideration of items on the government business carefully about how they retire and move off their land, program has expired and I am required to interrupt rather than using this as a last resort. business. The minister has moved that the bill be now read a second time. The member for Richmond has I hope the government thinks more broadly about some moved a reasoned amendment to this motion proposing of these issues in relation to other industries that might to omit all the words after ‘That’ with the view of seek to adjust themselves. I also encourage the Minister inserting in their place the words which appear on the for Agriculture and Food Security and those very good reasoned amendment that was circulated in the chamber officers in the Department of Environment and Primary earlier today and is now in the hands of honourable Industries to think more broadly about some of these members. The question is: issues. I acknowledge that this is one of those pieces of legislation that needs to be introduced. Hopefully it will That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question. do what it seeks to do. House divided on omission (members in favour vote Mr GIDLEY (Mount Waverley) — I take great no): pleasure in rising this afternoon to make a contribution on the Plant Biosecurity Amendment Bill 2013. It has Ayes, 42 been a wide-ranging debate, primarily in relation to the Angus, Mr Morris, Mr steps the government is taking to ensure food security. I Asher, Ms Mulder, Mr note the previous comments of some members of the Baillieu, Mr Napthine, Dr house which take into account the value of food Battin, Mr Newton-Brown, Mr Bauer, Mrs Northe, Mr security. Food security is important in terms of not only Blackwood, Mr O’Brien, Mr regional Victoria but also metropolitan Melbourne and Bull, Mr Powell, Mrs the electorate I represent. Food security is one of the Burgess, Mr Ryall, Ms fundamentals of any modern society. Clark, Mr Shaw, Mr Crisp, Mr Smith, Mr R. The bill adds to this government’s program of Delahunty, Mr Southwick, Mr Dixon, Mr Sykes, Dr improving food security. It does so by ensuring that, Fyffe, Mrs Thompson, Mr where appropriate, action can be taken to reduce the Gidley, Mr Tilley, Mr risk to other land-holders where it is deemed necessary. Hodgett, Mr Victoria, Ms That is important because of the nature of agriculture; it Katos, Mr Wakeling, Mr Kotsiras, Mr Walsh, Mr is boundary less in many ways and in some McCurdy, Mr Watt, Mr circumstances. If this bill and the actions sought with McIntosh, Mr Weller, Mr the bill are not introduced, it will create a greater risk McLeish, Ms Wooldridge, Ms for not only individual land-holders but also Miller, Ms Wreford, Ms communities as a whole. That will have an effect on not Noes, 41 only one regional community but our whole state. It has Andrews, Mr Hutchins, Ms consequences for country Victoria, metropolitan Barker, Ms Kairouz, Ms Melbourne and indeed Australia. Beattie, Ms Kanis, Ms Brooks, Mr Knight, Ms I note that there has been consultation with a number of Campbell, Ms Languiller, Mr land-holders and the sector, and there has been broad Carbines, Mr Lim, Mr Carroll, Mr McGuire, Mr consultation, if I could put it like that. That is important D’Ambrosio, Ms Madden, Mr because, when a government is making decisions and Donnellan, Mr Merlino, Mr looking to implement a program like this, consultation, Duncan, Ms Nardella, Mr general feedback and advice assist in ensuring that what Edwards, Ms Neville, Ms comes before the house — the bill — will not only Eren, Mr Noonan, Mr Foley, Mr Pakula, Mr achieve the principles it seeks to but also ensure that the Garrett, Ms Pallas, Mr outcomes are achieved. I note the work the Minister for Graley, Ms Pandazopoulos, Mr
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Green, Ms Perera, Mr intervention order, a family violence safety Halfpenny, Ms Scott, Mr notice, a corresponding interstate order or a Helper, Mr Thomson, Ms corresponding New Zealand order; and Hennessy, Ms Trezise, Mr Herbert, Mr Wynne, Mr (ii) the complainant or alleged victim is a person Howard, Mr who is protected by the order or notice referred to in subparagraph (i); and Amendment defeated. (iii) the conduct comprising the alleged offence, if Motion agreed to. established, includes conduct by the accused which is a contravention of the order or notice Read second time. referred to in subparagraph (i); or
Third reading (b) an offence where the conduct comprising the alleged offence, if established, constitutes family violence within the meaning of the Family Motion agreed to. Violence Protection Act 2008 by the accused against the complainant or alleged victim and the Read third time. conduct could reasonably have justified the making of a family violence intervention order or a family OPEN COURTS BILL 2013 violence safety notice applying to the accused and protecting the complainant or alleged victim;
Second reading family violence safety notice has the same meaning as it has in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008;”. Debate resumed from 4 September; motion of Mr CLARK (Attorney-General). 4. Clause 3, page 3, line 10, omit “18” and insert “20”.
Motion agreed to. 5. Clause 3, page 3, line 31, omit “15” and insert “17”. 6. Clause 3, page 4, line 18, omit “23 or 24” and insert “25 Read second time. or 26”.
Circulated amendments 7. Clause 10, line 12, omit “18” and insert “20”.
Circulated government amendments as follows 8. Clause 11, line 17, omit “24” and insert “26”. agreed to: 9. Clause 15, line 5, omit “16” and insert “18”. 1. Clause 3, after line 24, insert the following definition — 10. Clause 16, line 16, after “prevent” insert “a real and “business day means a day other than a Saturday, a substantial risk of”. Sunday or a public holiday within the meaning of the Public Holidays Act 1993;”. 11. Clause 16, line 17, after “justice” insert “that cannot be prevented by other reasonably available means”. 2. Clause 3, after line 27 insert the following definitions — 12. Clause 16, after line 17 insert —
“corresponding interstate order has the same meaning “Example as it has in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008; Another reasonably available means may be directions to the jury.”. corresponding New Zealand order has the same 13. Clause 16, line 25, omit “party to,” and insert meaning as it has in the Family Violence “complainant”. Protection Act 2008;”. 14. Clause 16, line 26, omit “in,” and insert “in”. 3. Clause 3, page 3, lines 4 and 5, omit the definition of family violence and insert — 15. Clause 16, lines 27 and 28, omit “family violence” and insert “a family violence offence”. “family violence intervention order has the same meaning as it has in the Family Violence 16. Clause 17, page 14, line 13, after “subsection (2)” insert Protection Act 2008; “(a), (c), (d), (e) or (f)”. family violence offence means — 17. Clause 18, lines 26 to 32 and page 15, lines 1 to 14, omit all words and expressions on these lines. (a) an offence where — 18. Clause 18, page 15, line 17, omit “16” and insert “18”. (i) the accused is a person who, at the time of the alleged offence, is subject to a family violence
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19. Clause 25, line 23, omit “24” and insert “26”. (4) This section does not apply to the making of a proceeding suppression order by a court or tribunal 20. Clause 25, line 26, omit “24” and insert “26”. on its own motion.
21. Clause 27, line 16, omit “26” and insert “28”. BB Notifications to relevant news media organisations 22. Clause 28, page 22, line 4, after “prevent” insert “a real and substantial risk of”. (1) On receiving a notice under section 10(1), the court or tribunal must take reasonable steps to ensure that 23. Clause 28, page 22, line 5, after “justice” insert “that any relevant news media organisation is notified of cannot be prevented by other reasonably available the application for a suppression order. means”. (2) Notification under this section may be by 24. Clause 28, page 22, after line 5 insert — electronic communication or any other means that the court or tribunal considers appropriate. “Example (3) In this section, relevant news media organisation Other reasonably available means may include means a news media organisation which the court directions to the jury, making a proceeding or tribunal would ordinarily ensure was sent notice suppression order, or orders excluding only certain of the making of a suppression order.”. persons or a more limited class of persons from the court or tribunal.”. Third reading 25. Clause 28, page 22, line 13, omit “party to” and insert “complainant”. Motion agreed to.
26. Clause 28, page 22, line 15, omit “family violence” and Read third time. insert “a family violence offence”. CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES 27. Clause 32, line 7, omit “15” and insert “17”. AMENDMENT BILL 2013 28. Clause 32, line 11, omit “15” and insert “17”. Second reading 29. Clause 33, line 16, omit “32” and insert “34”. Debate resumed from 4 September; motion of NEW CLAUSES Mr CLARK (Attorney-General).
30. After clause 9 insert the following new clauses — Motion agreed to. “AA Notice of applications for suppression orders Read second time. (1) Subject to subsection (3), an applicant for a suppression order must give 3 business days’ Third reading notice of the making of the application to — Motion agreed to. (a) the court or tribunal in which the application is to be made; and Read third time. (b) the parties to the proceeding to which the application relates. CATCHMENT AND LAND PROTECTION AMENDMENT BILL 2013 (2) Notice under subsection (1) must be in accordance with rules of court (if any) applying in the court or Second reading tribunal in which the application is made.
(3) The court or tribunal may hear an application for a Debate resumed from 3 September; motion of suppression order despite the failure of the Mr WALSH (Minister for Water). applicant to give notice in accordance with subsection (1) if the court or tribunal is satisfied Motion agreed to. that — Read second time. (a) there was a good reason for the notice not being given or not being given within the Third reading required time period; or
(b) it is in the interests of justice that the court or Motion agreed to. tribunal hear the application without notice being given. Read third time.
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SUCCESSION TO THE CROWN The SPEAKER — Order! A letter will be sent to (REQUEST) BILL 2013 the responsible minister requesting an answer for the member. Second reading VicRoads engineering staff Debate resumed from 3 September; motion of Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and Mr DONNELLAN (Narre Warren North) — The Small Business). matter I wish to raise today is for the Minister for Roads. The action I seek is for the minister to stop the Motion agreed to. sacking of highly skilled and much-needed engineers from VicRoads. This morning I drew to the house’s Read second time. attention a petition with the signatures of over 800 people calling for the minister to stop the sackings. Third reading The majority of the people who signed the petition were Motion agreed to. engineers from VicRoads. Two hundred engineers have been sacked to date — — Read third time. The SPEAKER — Order! Someone is taking a UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT photograph from the gallery. I ask one of the attendants AMENDMENT (FEDERATION to take the camera and remove the film. I remind people UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA) BILL 2013 in the gallery that photographs are not allowed to be taken. Second reading Mr DONNELLAN — The 200 engineers who have Debate resumed from earlier this day; motion of been sacked had at least 15 years of experience each. Mr DIXON (Minister for Education). These are highly skilled, highly capable engineers, and at least 3000 years worth of experience has gone out the Motion agreed to. door. How do you scope projects, how do you design them and how do you look at the estimated cost if you Read second time. do not have the technical expertise in the government? To rely on others to do that work is to rely on the Third reading potential for cost blow-outs — for projects to be well and truly over budget. Motion agreed to. I congratulate the Association of Professional Read third time. Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia for Business interrupted under sessional orders. putting together this petition and bringing to the attention of the Victorian public the dangerous course ADJOURNMENT the government is taking. Currently the government is putting $8 billion into a road based on dodgy figures. If The SPEAKER — Order! The question is: you are going to spend $8 billion, you need the technical capacity in house to make the estimations, That the house now adjourns. whether those relate to the design or to the traffic. At Ms Hutchins — I wish to raise a point of order. On this stage the government does not have that capacity 30 May I raised a matter in the adjournment debate anymore because it has decided to start removing the for the attention of the Minister for Finance. That internal engineering capacity from VicRoads. Worst of was 96 days ago. The matter was in regard to an all we have a Premier who will not even answer action I sought from the minister to meet with questions in relation to this modelling and tell us corporate and technical staff employed by the whether he understands or has even seen the modelling. Metropolitan Fire Brigade across Victoria to explain It is very much a recipe for major projects in this state why his department had been interfering in the in the future to have major cost blow-outs. enterprise bargaining agreement process. To date, At the end of four years we will have a government that 96 days later, I do not have a response from the has actually not delivered one major project, full stop. minister. We will have a government that tells us at the end of four years what a marvellous job it has done by signing
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a contract. That is not a major project; that has not opportunity to a large number of young people who stimulated the economy. After four years all these guys may otherwise not be able to do so to obtain their have done is have a contract. They have failed in their probationary licence, and with it their independence. I duty to actually stimulate the economy. believe that if the minister were to support this important program, it would equip many young people Government ministers have sat there and done in my community with the ability to drive safely and nothing — and worst of all, by deskilling they are responsibly on our roads and would assist in keeping reducing the capacity of the government to get the them and other road users safe. Accordingly I call on projects done properly and well. To put $8 billion into the Minister for Roads to provide an update on the one project and suggest that somehow or other this will application by the City of Knox and the possibility of solve congestion across the universe, which is what the implementing this important and successful program in Premier is suggesting, is ridiculous. I urge the minister the municipality. not to sack any more engineers. Clayton electorate school sites City of Knox learner driver program Mr LIM (Clayton) — I raise a matter for the Mr WAKELING (Ferntree Gully) — I also raise a Minister for Education. The action I seek is that the matter with the Minister for Roads. The action I seek is minister support the retention of former school sites in that the minister provide an update on the potential the Clayton electorate for community use. There are delivery by the Knox City Council of the L2P program. currently three sites in the electorate that the L2P is a learner driver mentoring program which Department of Education and Early Childhood provides the opportunity for young people between the Development is looking to sell to the highest bidder. ages of 16 and 21 to accrue the 120 hours of driving practice that is required to obtain a probationary drivers The first is the former Oakleigh South Primary School licence. The program is offered to those who face site, which is located on the corner of Golf Road and significant barriers to otherwise obtaining the required Beryl Avenue in Oakleigh South. In the 1990s, when 120 hours of driving practice, and importantly it is run the South Oakleigh Secondary College needed a larger by community volunteers. facility, it was rebuilt and moved from its first home to Bakers Road. Oakleigh South Primary School then Many municipalities in Victoria already provide this moved to the existing secondary school site located in important program to their local youth with positive Farm Road. At the time local residents mounted a results and feedback. Over the past year in particular strong campaign to transform the old primary school my office has received correspondence from many site into a passive recreation park, with Federation Park local young people asking why the L2P program is not being the preferred name. Discussions about funding available in the city of Knox. I understand that many were held but unfortunately the 2009 bushfires young people who have asked for the program to be intervened and money from the relevant government made available to them in Knox have not been able to departments was rightly diverted to support rebuilding access the program through councils in neighbouring efforts in fire-affected areas and the discussions were areas due to the requirement of being a resident in the postponed. particular local government area concerned. Many young people who reside in the city of Knox have been The second site is the former Clayton West Primary missing out on this vital service. School in Alvina Street, Oakleigh South. This site is surrounded by homes. In recent years VicUrban One of the key messages from Victoria Police is that expressed an interest in purchasing the site, which local we need to better educate our young people on the residents strongly opposed. My understanding is that dangers of driving so that they are well equipped to deal the sale fell through as the land was not considered with the responsibility of driving on the roads and to large enough to accommodate a housing development keep themselves and other road users safe. That is why with a proportion of land being retained for passive the 120 hours of driving practice is required to obtain a recreation. probationary licence. However, many young people have difficulty in meeting that requirement as they do The third site is the former Clayton Primary School in not have immediate access to a licensed driver and Browns Road, Clayton, which closed in 2010 due to vehicle. falling enrolments. From memory, the school closed with less than 70 students ranging from prep to year 6. I understand that the City of Knox has recently applied The school buildings are still in place at the site. to run the L2P program, which would provide a great
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A proposal was put to the department by the principal The Victorian coalition government is committed to the of Clayton North Primary School to take over this site education of our youngest children and is working with as a second campus and expand into an English educators to assist them in their goal of providing the language school, a proposal which had great merit. As highest quality care and education. the Clayton electorate is the most multicultural electorate in Victoria, this would be the ideal site for Kids Time Moorabbin received $300 000 for such a project, which would focus on catering for the renovations as part of the Victorian coalition English language needs of the increasing numbers of government’s $40 million children’s facilities capital newly arrived students with language backgrounds program grants. With this grant Kids Time was able to other than English. increase its capacity, which will be much appreciated by the growing number of families in my electorate. I would like the minister to note that there is a Bentleigh electorate families will benefit from the diminishing amount of public open space in the Clayton diverse range of programs offered, including cooking, electorate and that we need to save it at all costs. I gardening and art and craft, amongst other initiatives. In request the minister’s intervention and support to retain keeping with the Bentleigh electorate’s multicultural this land and investigate the English language school community, Kids Time offers a variety of culturally proposal for the Clayton Primary School site. based activities, such as creating a map reflecting the children’s individual heritage. Kids Time Early Learning Centre Moorabbin Kids Time operates within the national quality Ms MILLER (Bentleigh) — I direct my request to framework, which ensures that local families have the dedicated Minister for Children and Early access to high-quality education and care for their Childhood Development. The action I seek is for the children. I invite the minister to visit the Bentleigh minister to visit the Bentleigh electorate to meet Anna electorate and view the newly renovated Kids Time Lahmy, centre director for the Kids Time Early Early Learning Centre in Moorabbin. Learning Centre Moorabbin. The Bentleigh electorate has many young families, and I am pleased that they are Heatherhill Primary School enjoying the new state-of-the-art facilities at Kids Time Moorabbin. I very much enjoyed my tour of the newly Mr PAKULA (Lyndhurst) — The matter I wish to renovated centre on Thursday, 8 August, with Anna raise is for the Minister for Education, and it concerns Lahmy, and I would be pleased to extend an invitation Heatherhill Primary School. I have received to Minister Lovell to visit. correspondence from Ms Rebecca Woodley, treasurer of Heatherhill Primary School council. In her letter Kids Time Moorabbin is a dynamic and engaging Ms Woodley explained that the school is urgently learning centre, and the renovations enhance the seeking assistance in obtaining funds to install air learning space for children and parents. The centre aims conditioners in two junior school buildings. to provide an environment that is comforting and kind, and the renovations achieve this goal. I was particularly Ms Woodley explained in her correspondence that the impressed by the new yoga program implemented by buildings currently house children between the ages of the staff, which teaches the children relaxation five and eight and that those children had to endure last techniques to assist them in calming themselves. This is summer without air conditioning. The school council, a very useful skill in such a vibrant and busy on behalf of the school, has been engaged in environment. I really enjoyed the crayon artwork that fundraising activity to try to rectify that situation, but was a feature piece in front of the toddler rooms. the $1666 it has raised so far means that there remains a shortfall of $23 300, not including electrical work or Centre director Anna Lahmy runs a wonderful early extra cages. learning centre that allows children to explore and resource their own learning through play. Ms Lahmy Ms Woodley has indicated that last summer students believes it is important that the children have a variety had to endure temperatures greater than 39 degrees, and of areas to play and learn in and believes that the new she has made reference to the Victorian Institute of outdoor spaces provide a wonderful environment for Teaching paper entitled The Effect of the Physical the children to explore. I am delighted to have this Learning Environment on Teaching and Learning, brand-new state-of-the-art facility officially open for which found that ‘temperature, heating and air quality Bentleigh electorate families. are the most important individual elements for student achievement’.
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This has become an extremely serious issue for the April next year. If we do not continue with this children at Heatherhill Primary School in Springvale, program, we will still have major fruit fly outbreaks. so I ask that the Minister for Education examine all This does not affect just commercial growers; it can options to release sufficient funding to enable these also affect somebody with just a veggie patch in town. important works at Heatherhill to be completed. The fruit industry is worth $2.6 billion to the Victorian Fruit fly control economy. The minister has supported us very well, and I now request that he come to our patch and support us Mr McCURDY (Murray Valley) — I am delighted with the next stage of this project. to raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. The action I seek is that West Swanson Dock workplace safety the minister visit the Murray Valley electorate to help him to understand the rollout of a pilot program he has Ms CAMPBELL (Pascoe Vale) — I raise a matter very ably assisted so that we can implement it in our for the attention of the Assistant Treasurer, and the community. action I seek is that WorkSafe Victoria undertake a detailed and prompt investigation into unsafe work As we heard during debate on the Plant Biosecurity practices at West Swanson Dock and provide me with a Amendment Bill 2013, the Queensland fruit fly is a full report so that workers know their concerns have major issue in our region, and it is an issue that is been fully investigated and there is transparency. If growing as weeks go by. Once upon a time an outbreak members or ministers of this house or journalists on was 2 to 5 flies; now we are seeing outbreaks of 200 to state rounds had one 40-foot shipping container fall 300 flies in our communities. Things have changed over on their worksite, they would not be expected to massively. continue working, let alone wait for the many occasions when this occurs. At the Melbourne docks this is a The minister has supported us, particularly in the regular event, and the risks increase when it is windy. Cobram region in this instance, and as a community project we have facilitated a team of people. They are August was Melbourne’s windiest month on record, primarily volunteers from the Lions, Apex and Rotary hence high winds with gales were prevalent and were clubs, soccer clubs, football-netball clubs and others forecast by the weather bureau. No dock worker was who are doorknocking every home in the region, killed during August, more due to luck than to good hoping to put a product called Amulet, a fruit fly bait management, to WorkCover inspections of the working about the size of a credit card, on a tree in the backyard order of equipment or to an examination of wharf of every property in Cobram. This is only stage 1 in the procedures. However, workers fear for their safety after whole process. some recent serious incidents. The handover from one shift to the next has little coverage of adverse events Amulet baits have been funded by the Department of which occur. Information on procedures is hard to find, Environment and Primary Industries, but it is which places the onus on the individual worker to community assistance that has allowed us to roll out gather information from his or her supervisor, often in this project. I have described stage 1 in the whole front of higher ranking management who are on process, but the most important parts of the project are significant bonuses for continuous work. stages 2 and 3. That is when we will be encouraging individuals to purchase their own Amulet baits, which I draw the attention of the house to the horrendous will need to be done in December-January to ensure example in this photograph of 40-foot shipping follow-up. It is a bit like changing the battery in your containers being blown around a worksite. If that were smoke alarm when daylight saving commences; it is happening in the parliamentary precinct, we would not about making people understand that they now need to be at work, yet it is happening on the docks. take the next steps. Stages 2 and 3 are about educating the community. The government is helping the fruit On 12 August 2013 portainer crane sirens at West industry, but now everybody needs to take Swanson Dock were continuously warning of winds responsibility for this problem themselves. above 72 kilometres per hour, and those winds were howling for hours. According to company procedures, That is why I ask the minister to come to Cobram and the workers operating the portainer cranes ceased see the way the project has been rolled out. He will be working and workers operating the straddle cranes able to help me sell the message to the community working under the portainer cranes also ceased about how we need to follow this project up and working. The procedure for this situation states that, if continue through January, February and into March and the siren is activated in short intervals greater than
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2 minutes, work may continue until a continuous siren peak of 964 in 1989 to less than half that today. This is is heard. If the siren sounds every 2 minutes or more in no small measure due to the work of the asthma frequently, work should not resume until the weather foundation in each state and the National Asthma improves. Council reminding us that we must continue to take asthma seriously and advocate on behalf of asthma However, straddle cranes on the roads continued to sufferers. operate in these conditions. When stacked containers were blown over like sheets of paper, a panic warning The Asthma Foundation of Victoria CEO, Robin Ould, went out to straddle cranes on the roads to evacuate the says there is still complacency in the community about rows and park safely. The procedure for road straddle asthma. He says less than 20 per cent of asthma cranes states that when wind speeds reach sufferers have a written asthma management plan and 90 kilometres per hour, as measured by an anemometer only 25 per cent of doctors prescriptions for asthma in the container park and displayed in a control room, a treatments are filled at a pharmacy. The foundation is a supervisor makes an all-points radio announcement to not-for-profit organisation that has been providing all straddles to make their way to designated park areas. information, training and support to asthma sufferers, However, in this situation 15 minutes later a return to their carers and health professionals in Victoria for work order was given. This time portainer cranes did 50 years. We must all help promote the importance of not resume work and only the road straddle cranes did. having a personal management plan and not become complacent about what can potentially be a fatal National Asthma Week condition. As I said, I request that the Minister for Health, in conjunction with the Asthma Foundation of Mr McINTOSH (Kew) — I wish to raise a matter Victoria, help promote National Asthma Week. for the attention of the Minister for Health. The action I seek is that the minister help to promote National Metropolitan planning authority Asthma Week in conjunction with the Asthma Foundation of Victoria. This week is National Asthma Mr PANDAZOPOULOS (Dandenong) — The Week, and it is no coincidence that it takes place at the adjournment matter I raise tonight is for the Minister for start of spring, when the air is full of potential allergens. Planning. I call on him to set up the new metropolitan The asthma foundation knows that in spring in planning authority in Dandenong, and I ask him to do particular asthma attacks may be triggered by pollen so to show some leadership and to show support for allergens. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that decentralisation, the south-east and Dandenong by inflames and narrows the airways. The condition may relocating this new authority outside the centre of be triggered by pollen, air pollution, animal dander, Melbourne and into Melbourne’s second city. The state dust mites, viral infections, heavy exercise and stress, has invested a lot of resources into revitalising central among other things. Dandenong. The Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee in a report to this house Many famous people have suffered from asthma. Five highlighted how important that project is in showing presidents of the United States suffered from asthma, leadership in that role, but it also found that a lot more including Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Bill work needs to be done. Clinton. Other prominent leaders who suffered from asthma range from Tsar Peter the Great of Russia to A lot of government investment has gone into Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara, British Prime revitalising central Dandenong, but direction and Minister Benjamin Disraeli, American civil rights leadership are also needed to encourage private sector activist Reverend Jesse Jackson, actor Bob Hope, investment in the redeveloped city. A large government author Charles Dickens, composer Ludwig office was there — a Places Victoria office — which van Beethoven, soccer player David Beckham and pop had over 20 staff. They were all made redundant, singer Bono. except for one person who relocated to Docklands. That was very disappointing, but the government and the Research by the Australian Institute of Health and minister can correct that by locating this new planning Welfare demonstrates that asthma affects one in six authority for Melbourne outside the centre of the city. children and one in nine adults in Australia. While asthma can be controlled with clinical care and The focus of the authority is to look for redevelopment medication, it can also be fatal. In 2011 asthma caused opportunities in Melbourne, including where you can the deaths of 378 Australians. While each of these build high-density developments and where you can deaths is a tragedy, we need to remember that deal with growth areas, and Dandenong is perfectly asthma-related deaths in Australia have dropped from a located for such a facility. If the minister were to site
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the authority back in central Melbourne in a CBD recently visited the Torquay P–6 College, where I office, he would not be demonstrating leadership in discussed the positive future of primary education in relation to the things he says, and all of his comments Torquay with principal Pam Kinsman. I would like the around planning and strategic planning would be just minister to speak to the school community firsthand. rhetoric. Armstrong Creek is Geelong’s and one of Victoria’s This is an opportunity for the minister to show his biggest growth areas. This growth area will see around support for Dandenong and an opportunity for him to 22 000 house lots and 55 000 people move in over the show that he is prepared to invest state resources in the next 25 to 30 years. The coalition government is encouragement of private sector offices and presently acquiring the first P–12 site in Armstrong commercial and retail investment in Dandenong. The Creek East so that land is secured early to ensure that government owns vacant sites in Dandenong. I am we do not have the debacle in Torquay that we pleased with the restructure of Places Victoria, and I am inherited from the Labor government. pleased that the minister has chosen not to do a fire sale of those sites as he has done with other sites. That However, until Armstrong Creek East P–12 is built, indicates some form of decision or view by the minister which is a matter for future budget considerations, the that Dandenong has opportunities for meeting the needs existing schools in the surrounding suburbs will come of the south-eastern suburbs. under enrolment pressure from the growth in Armstrong Creek. In particular Mount Duneed Dandenong’s industrial area is pretty full, and I know Regional Primary School, Grovedale West Primary the Speaker would understand this. There are not many School and Grovedale College will all see future development opportunities in that area. The growth in enrolment pressure from Armstrong Creek. new employment in the south-east is in white-collar opportunities. Those white-collar opportunities for the I have recently toured all of these schools, where I region will predominantly be in the Dandenong area, spoke with the respective principals, Julie Makin, and this is a great opportunity for the minister to show Gretta Lynch and Janet Matthews. They are all very leadership by locating the metropolitan planning passionate advocates for their respective school authority in Dandenong. The City of Greater communities. The potential growth pressures are there Dandenong supports this proposal, and it encourages for all to see, and there are some fantastic future the minister to visit the area. opportunities for these schools. I would very much like to see the minister visit the four schools that I have South Barwon electorate schools mentioned and speak to the principals and school communities about their future education needs. Mr KATOS (South Barwon) — My adjournment matter this afternoon is addressed to the Minister for Ms Asher — On a point of order, Speaker, Education. The action I seek is that the minister visit obviously I have waited until the end of the schools in the South Barwon electorate. In particular I adjournment debate, as is the practice, to raise my point would like him to visit schools that are in or adjacent to of order. The member for Keilor raised the point that growth areas within the electorate. Members of the she had not received a response from the minister to an Labor government had their heads in the sand when it adjournment matter she raised within the due time came to schools under growth pressure in South frame. I refer to Rulings from the Chair of June 2013, Barwon. Since its election in 2010 the coalition where you, Speaker, provided a ruling, which states: government has been very active in securing new Where sessional orders specify that a response must be school sites to cater for growth areas. provided within a certain time frame, the member can advise the Speaker through a point of order and the Speaker will Two sites have been acquired in Torquay. We are write to the relevant minister — presently honouring our commitment to build the new Surf Coast Secondary College. This is a $37.5 million et cetera. My point of order is that whilst the member investment to bring full secondary education to for Keilor has every right to raise a point about the lack Torquay. When the site was acquired for the new of response to a matter and has on this occasion raised it secondary college the coalition government also at the correct time, as opposed to when she raised it at invested $7.4 million in acquiring land for a new the end of question time, I contend that the member can primary school in Torquay North. The Surf Coast broadly refer to the adjournment issue she raised, but Secondary College is presently on the same site as the she took the opportunity in her point of order to restate Torquay P–6 College on Grossmans Road. The the issue. I understand that this issue of a response time secondary college will move to its new site next year. I is new to this chamber, that members take a while to
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get used to things and that there are insufficient Range, and obviously Heatherhill Primary School is not Speakers’ rulings on the issue because it is new. in that category. We do not normally provide air conditioners for schools. Schools raise their own funds Speaker, you have made a ruling in relation to the and contribute to that. Some schools within BER were timing of responses. However, I invite you to examine lucky enough to have received funding for air Hansard, because I do not believe it is the correct form conditioning within the money that was allocated, but to simply raise the issue again in a point of order. The in most cases BER buildings were all overbudget. In member for Keilor should have simply raised the matter fact we actually ended up having to carry and clean up of the lack of a response and provided information to $70 million worth of overbudget work, so obviously air identify the matter. She should not have proceeded to conditioners were one of the first things to go in many articulate the issue again and further pursue it. I invite of those projects. In fact in a lot of the projects they you, Speaker, to look at Hansard and see if your were not even meant to be there. We will clarify that for guidance is needed. the member and get back to him.
The SPEAKER — Order! I will look at Hansard, The member for Clayton raised an issue for me but naturally we need some indication about what the regarding three empty blocks of land. The schools adjournment matter was when it was first raised. I formerly on those blocks were closed down under the thank the minister for that guidance. I appreciate it very previous government, and the member said that his much. community would like them to be kept for community use. The normal procedure for the disposal of land — Responses and this is a government-wide process and the policy of the previous government, so it is not new — is that if Mr DIXON (Minister for Education) — The land is declared excess to educational purposes, which member for South Barwon has asked me to visit his in these three cases it was, it is offered to other electorate to address a number of education issues. As government departments. If it is not taken up then, it is he pointed out, this government has certainly been offered to local government. If it is still not taken up, it meeting the needs of the growing communities, is then rezoned and put out to market. The blocks the especially around the Torquay area and the future member has referred to have reached that last stage. growth areas of Armstrong Creek. It is great to see that the new $37 million Surf Coast Secondary College is Monash City Council has been sitting on a lot of blocks well under way, which is something we were told of land and has not wanted to rezone them, so in some should not be done. It is great to see that it has just cases those blocks have just been sitting there for years. about been completed for that growing community. The We are trialling a quicker version of that process, so if member is a great advocate for his electorate and his local government does not want it and if another community, and I am more than happy to make some government department does not want it, we go into a time to visit South Barwon. community consultation phase where we work with the local council and community and call for submissions The member for Lyndhurst raised with me an issue as to the possible uses for that land and how it should regarding air conditioning at Heatherhill Primary be rezoned. Following that, the minister appoints an School. I am not sure whether the buildings the member independent panel, and a decision is made within six referred to are our older classrooms or if they are months. Instead of it dragging on for years as it has, we Building the Education Revolution (BER) buildings, are actually going to get some certainty for everybody. because we have had an issue with the template building that was rolled out as part of BER. The I am sure the council is aware that that process has been one-size-fits-all approach does not work in a lot of going on. If the council is in touch with its community, circumstances, depending on the siting of the block and the community should be aware too, because the a whole range of other factors. Unfortunately a number council has been part of that process. The community of schools have had issues with the heat and the fact consultation for the Department of Education and Early that the passive cooling does not work. It is good in Childhood Development Surplus Land Rezoning theory, but it actually does not work when the Project Standing Advisory Committee closes temperature hits a certain level. That is an issue that tomorrow, and those representations have to be made to probably needs to be clarified, but I will certainly that committee. As I said, that closes tomorrow. I am follow that up with the school. sure the council has finished. However, if it finds that it is too hard for it to do that by tomorrow, we will be We provide air conditioning for schools above a certain happy to give it another week or so. That is the new line, which is roughly north of the Great Dividing process, and it brings certainty to everybody.
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Also part of the process is that for any of the land that is capabilities. We are doing everything we possibly can. disposed there will be an open-space component. That VicRoads is working with its employees to make sure was part of the considerations, depending on the that it can match them to the roles that are available. As rezoning, that the independent panel advised to I say, 568 engineering positions are available through recommend to ministers. We are well down the track VicRoads. on that land, and I am sure the council has been talking to the community and has been part of that In considering why we need so many engineers in consultation. I am more than happy for the member to VicRoads, I would have to compliment the make a submission as well, and I will give him an extra organisation. VicRoads does a great job as an week or so to do that. organisation. It is pretty well renowned in terms of project managers, in terms of reference designs, in Mr MULDER (Minister for Roads) — The member terms of its expression-of-interest process and also in for Narre Warren North raised an issue in relation to terms of its tendering arrangements. Let us look at the supposed sackings of VicRoads engineers. I am not pathway we are going down in respect of projects such sure where the member gets his information, but as as the commitment of $6 billion to $8 billion for the usual he is pretty wrong when he comes into this house. east–west link stage 1 and $1 billion for the Safer I advise the member for Narre Warren North that there Roads Infrastructure program. I rolled out 43 of these is somewhere in the order of 568 engineering positions programs around the state today. There is $418 million in VicRoads. It is my understanding that a very small for the level crossing blitz and $466 million for road number of people, engineers in particular, have taken maintenance that goes on. There is the Dingley bypass, voluntary redundancy packages since 2011. In fact the M80 upgrade, the Western Highway duplication, across my departments there are somewhere in the the Western Highway duplication to the South order of 800 engineering positions to deal with rail and Australian border, the Western Highway realignment at road issues through the Linking Melbourne Authority, Bacchus Marsh, the Surf Coast Highway connection, through VicTrack and through V/Line. They are very Princes Highway west from Waurn Ponds to well catered for right throughout that process. Winchelsea and from Winchelsea to Colac, Princes Highway east from Traralgon to Sale, the Koo Wee When we took over after coming to office we Rup bypass, the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road discovered that the then Department of Transport was duplication and the Sneydes Road interchange. In fact an absolute mess under the jurisdiction of the former VicRoads does such a good job that Public Transport Minister for Public Transport and the former Minister Victoria has given it the role of managing the for Roads and Ports. We went through a restructuring Ringwood railway station upgrade, which is a process and formed the Department of Transport, $66 million project, using VicRoads engineers to carry Planning and Local Infrastructure. We separated out out that work. Public Transport Victoria into a new statutory authority, and you can see the results we have achieved by doing As members will realise, I have only touched on the list that. of projects. There is a massive range of projects that require engineering expertise and strong project Mr Pakula interjected. management. VicRoads has continually demonstrated the capability to do that, but there is a restructure taking The SPEAKER — Order! The member for place within the organisation. We want to improve it. Lyndhurst! This is not the upper house. We have been down that pathway with the former Mr MULDER — We are also going down the Department of Transport, and the former minister, who pathway of restructuring VicRoads to better streamline is at the table, would understand what a hopeless mess its processes to get far better outcomes and to do away he left that department in before I took over. Over with any unnecessary duplication. Through that entire 11 years, three transport ministers walked out the door process VicRoads will be working closely with staff and left an absolute, stinking mess behind them. In the and representatives to implement the new structure, and last two and a half years we have gone down our own every effort is being made to match people to roles by pathway, and just look at what a difference we have the end of 2013. As members would be aware, the made. Victorian government has implemented a freeze on Mr Pakula interjected. external advertisement of vacancies, with only very limited exemptions available for specialist roles where Mr MULDER — Absolutely hopeless! If you are all existing employees have been considered and the Crouching Tiger, I would hate to see who is behind assessed as being unable to meet the required you.
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The member for Ferntree Gully raised an issue with me invited me to go up and be part of that program. in relation to the L2P program in Knox. As we know, Probably early in October I will make a time to go up to young drivers aged 18 to 21 are grossly overrepresented Cobram with the member to meet the great service club in fatal and serious injury crashes. The tragedy of these people and those in the community who are actually crashes has an enormous impact on not only those doing the work on this program to show the involved but also their families and friends. The government’s appreciation for the effort they are graduated licence system aims to get those drivers their making. 120 hours experience, and as we know, some people due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances are Ms ASHER (Minister for Innovation, Services and not able to get their 120 hours up. They do not have Small Business) — The member for Bentleigh raised parental or guardian support, and that is what this whole an issue for the Minister for Children and Early project is about. Childhood Development regarding Kids Time Early Learning Centre in Moorabbin. I will pass that matter We have been rolling out these projects across the state. on to the minister. They are extremely popular. A lot of great friendships are formed by young drivers and the older people who The member for Pascoe Vale raised a matter for the mentor them through their 120 hours. It has been Assistant Treasurer regarding West Swanson Dock and extremely successful. I am very pleased to announce work practices there. I will pass that matter on to the that the City of Knox has just agreed to sign on as a minister. participant. That is a fantastic outcome for the young people in that municipality, and as everyone would The member for Kew raised a matter for the Minister know, there is no greater advocate for young people for Health requesting assistance to help promote and no member of Parliament who has a better National Asthma Week. I will pass that matter on to the Minister for Health. connection with young people than the member for Ferntree Gully. He is an absolute champion. A lot of The member for Dandenong raised a matter for the people could learn a lot from watching the way he Minister for Planning requesting the establishment of engages with young people, and I congratulate him on the proposed metropolitan planning authority in that. Dandenong. I will pass that matter on to the minister.
We will contract UnitingCare Harrison to deliver the The SPEAKER — Order! That brings to an end program. Of the 5000 people aged 16 to 17 in Knox, this week’s sitting. I thank everybody for their 250 will qualify for the program. The first sessions will attendance. I thank the ministers who came and dealt begin in December, with 20 young people in the first with the adjournment matters. I declare the house group. VicRoads manages the program. It is funded by adjourned. the Transport Accident Commission, and I look forward to going out there with the member for House adjourned at 4.52 p.m. until Tuesday, Ferntree Gully, who has a fantastic connection with 17 September. young people in his electorate, to launch that program. It is great to have the opportunity to stand here today and make these great announcements — and what a hopeless job the member for Lyndhurst did as a minister for transport!
Mr WALSH (Minister for Agriculture and Food Security) — I rise to respond to the member for Murray Valley, who raised the issue of the fruit fly program he has been organising with his community. It is really good to see a community that has been proactive on this issue. Obviously the farmers in the area use pest control measures on their properties, but in Cobram and Barooga fruit flies in back gardens have become a real issue. The community has come together to introduce a baiting program in backyards, and the member for Murray Valley has helped organise that. The department has made available $18 000 for a pilot program to be run by the community, and the member