WIT.005.001.2383

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Victo ThePlace. ToBe .

76 Transcript

Date: Friday, 6 February, 20092009

Summary: Premier JohnJohn Brumby and Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky discussdiscuss the upcoming high temperatures and bushfire threats, a contractcontract with Alstom toto deliverdeliver 20 newnew trainstrains forfor , andand thethe statestate ofof thethe publicpublic transport system.

JOHN BRUMBY: Look, a couple of things if I can, just generally, and

beforeI go back tothe detail of this announcement, butbut justjust if ifI could begin the day day really with obviously obviously a warning warning about about tomorrow. tomorrow. Obviously I've been briefed on the the latest latest weatherweather forecast forfor tomorrow, andand it'sit's just just gonna gonna be, be, probably by a long way, the worst day ever ever in in the the history of the state, state, in in terms terms of of the the temperaturestemperatures and the winds.

And I know know a couple couple of weeks weeks ago ago when when we we had had that big big wind wind event, event,I heard one of the the radio radio commentators, Ithink, say the the day day was was almost almost apocalyptic -- the wind was - and and tomorrowtomorrow we'rewe're going to have have unbelievably unbelievably high temperatures and we're also also going going to have have unbelievablyunbelievably highhigh winds. winds.

And we've gone gone through now a couple couple of of months months across the state where there's basically basically been been no no rain since mid-December. We'veWe've got a state state which which is just tinder-dry;tinder-dry; youyou saw last week some of the the wooden power poles just literally literally self-igniting self-igniting and and I I can't stress this enough... I I mean, mean, I know the Chief Fire Officer's been out and he said it will be as bad bad as you can get and he's not not exaggerating. exaggerating.

Last night, late last last night, night, the the latest latest forecast... forecast. .. Melbourne's at 43, 44, but places places like like Bendigo Bendigo are are 44, 45, Echuca, 45, Mildura 46,46, Horsham 45.45. The The latest information isis thatthat if anything anything it might might be be hotter than that, not cooler, so it's it's just, just, you you know, know, it's just as bad a day as you can imagine. And And on on top of of that, that, the the state state is is just tinder-dry. tinder-dry.

So, people people need need to exercise exercise real real common common sense sense tomorrow. If you don't need need to go go out, out, you you know, know, don't go out; out; you you know know this, this,it is a seriously seriously bad bad day. If you don't need need to travel, don't travel. Don't get on on the the roads,.roads,if you you don't don't need need to to use use the the

(*) indicates phonetic phonetic spelling spelling 1 WIT.005.001.2384 . . " Vido The Place ToBe transport system, don't use use it. it. If you can can stay stay at at home, stay at home. If you've got relatives who are elderly, if you've gotfriends, if you've got neighbours, as I I said last week -- every every day day last last week - through through that that heatwave, heatwave, please please check check up up on on them, you know, know, ring themthem or visit them, it'sit's going going to be be a a terrible terrible day day for for anybody anybody who is is ill,or anybody whowho is old. And they they need need support support and and they need need help. help.

But we're not exaggerating when we're saying this is going going to be be a a shocking shocking day. day. It is. So, So, people people should be prepared: prepared: they shouldn'tshouldn't travel unless unless they need need to; to; they they should should obviously obviously keep keep homes homes cool as much as they can, pull the drapes, allall of those things. In terms of the the power power supply, supply, the the latest advice fromfrom NEMMCO isis thatthat we've we've got got significant reserves, reserves of... in excess excess of 1500 megawatts. But But I I repeat repeat last last week, week, we had had every day last week, wewe had more power than was required -- that wasn't wasn't thethe issue. issue. InIn the extreme extreme temperatures, wewe hadhad a couple couple of of catastrophic catastrophic events, so you you can can never never guarantee, guarantee,in these these extreme conditions,that youwon't have catastrophic events. events.

So there's adequate supply, supply, there should be 1600 1600 megs more thanthan wewe need,need, that'sthat's plentyplenty -:-- becausebecause industry'sindustry's notnot working,working, soso it shouldn't be an an issue, issue, but people people should should be be prepared. prepared. There may may be be equipment that fails, fails, it may may be be a a transformertransformer thatthat literally melts, as it did last week, so so people people should should take precautions atat home.home. We We expect expect to get get the the cool change change through through tomorrowtomorrow night,night, so this this shouldn't be something that runs on into into the the night, night, but if if people people are are concerned concerned about about power, power, they they should take take precautions, precautions, if that that means means having aa torch at at home, home, well, well, have have a a torch torch at at home. home.

They are unprecedented unprecedented conditions,conditions, thethe likes of which we have have never seen before, in the history of the state. state. Be Be prepared prepared and keep safe and keep keep a a

check on older older Victorians, Victorians, and finally, can can I say, just to repeat repeat the the message message that Russell Russell Rees Rees and and Ewan Waller have been repeating all week on the firesituation, there'll be some some thunderstormthunderstorm activity, some some lighting lighting activity, some some shocking shocking conditions, we'vewe've alsoalso had some cases of arson, arson, as you you know, know, across. across. thethe state, and anybodyanybody whowho sees suspicious suspicious behaviour inin any way should should not not

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Victo ThePlace ToBe hesitate toto contact the authorities. Because it's the sort of day day when a fire fire that that gets gets away away won't won't just damage property, it may cost lives as well as Black Friday and Ash Ash WednesdayWednesday havehave done done before. before.

So, you you know, know, I don't exaggerate whenwhen I say we we need to be on alert.

Now in terms of this this announcement, announcement, you've you've heard heard

what I saidbefore, thisis afantastic announcement forfor United Group and UGL. UGL. It's going to mean fifty extra jobsjobs.. TheThe timing timing couldn't couldn't be better, better, it it shows, shows, I think what can can be be achieved achieved when the government government and industry industry and and unions unions work to achieve achieve higher higher local local content; content; so so we've we've done that with this this contract. contract. I think that when you look through through the global global uncertainty uncertainty that that is is around around at the moment, moment, you know know the biggest biggest thing... thing ... the the biggest thing here is for people people to to have have confidence confidence that they're they're going toto keep keep theirtheir jobs. And And for for everybody who's working here, they've got confidence now going going forward. forward. The 120 120 people people who work here, here, plus the 50 extra that will come on later next next year; year; they've they've got got confidence confidence about about the the company,confidence aboutthe workflow, confidence about the employment levels.

For the public public transport system, system, for our our $38 $38 billion billion ttransportransport plan,this means . moremore trains for Melbourne, and we know about about the the huge huge demand demand on the system, we're all acutely aware of that, the the unprecedented demand,demand, we'vewe've gotgot thethe first of thethe new trains that are coming coming through later later this this year, year, then they'll keep coming throughthrough eacheach month, right up until 2012, 2013. 2013. .

So this is an announcement which is about jobs, it is aboutlocal content, and it is a great announcement forfor Ballarat. AndAnd I might just add... get Lynne to add to that.

LYNNE KOSKY: Thisis an incredibly incredibly important important announcementannouncement because it comes in conjunction with the infrastructure works works we're we're doing. doing. SoSo as the new new trains are being rolled out to the system, system, we'll we'll seesee the infrastructure infrastructure works being complete, complete, so we'll we'll have the capacity capacity to provide provide more more services services and and we'll have have the the trains trains to to provide provide more more services services as as well.

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...' Victo The Place ToBe And during during the peak peak period, period, these... these .. . thesethese extra extra trains will will carry carry more more than than 30,000 30,000 passengerpassenger trips,trips, so it itwill provide provide aa lot of of extra extra capacity capacity in our our system, and really helps with the public public transport transport network.

REPORTER: Minister, werewere youyou surprised byby the report report that that came out out in Parliament yesterday: were you you surprised by the extent of the the maintenancemaintenance that is is actually needed on the, on the network?

KOSKY: Well, no, no, I wasn't surprised, surprised, we we get get maintenance maintenance reports, andand inin fact, it was quite quite dishonestdishonest of the Opposition yesterdayyesterday toto saysay that was was a a leaked leaked report. The report was provided by my officials with my approval to the Public Public Accounts and Estimates Estimates Committee late late last year, so so they they are are public public documents provided, and of course course the the opposition opposition is on on PAEC PAEC so so they they were were well well aware aware that's that's where where those documents came from,from, provided by us.

And what those documents do is at a point point of of time time indicate what's needed in response to maintenance. ButBut onon every one of of those those issues, issues, we have responded and are meeting the conditions of the contract. So I indicated indicated yesterday yesterday in relation relation to sleepers sleepers wewe are... there there was was some some delay as as the the new new interspersible interspersible [sic] concrete sleepers were being developed, they're now going to... they're they're being being put put in in place place and and under under the the franchise agreement, all that was committed committed to to will will be delivered. delivered. And then we're going going to to increase increase capacity going forward with almost almost double double what what we've been been providing. providing.

With the ballast ballast works, you do the ballast ballast works works at at a time when when you you have have very very wet wet conditions, conditions, and... and... because it..it.... becausebecause the clay clay underneath underneath soaking soaking up thethe waterwater disturbsdisturbs thethe ballast.ballast. When you've got got dry conditions, itit makes sense toto move some of that money money for that maintenance maintenance toto other.other... .. other other maintenance works, works, butbut thethe ballast ballast works works are are being done'asdoneas well.well.

InIn relation tothe points,there is both a replacement program and there's a a refurbishment refurbishment program. WhatWhat we have have done done is whilst the replacement programprogram might might havehave beenbeen a few few under what thethe target target was, was, the the refurbishment refurbishment

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· " Victo The Place ToBe program is more than three times what the target target waswas., SoSo that that means means that that they they use, use, where where you you can can use some of the the existing existing elements elements of of the the points, points, you do that, rather than toss it out out and and completely completely replace it. it.

So, we have been meeting all of of the the maintenance maintenance requirements butbut the Opposition Opposition was was dishonestdishonest yesterday in saying it was a a leaked leaked documentdocument andand dishonest inin trying toindicate thatthat we we hadn't hadn't responded toto thosethose maintenance issues because it was made made clear clear at at the the Public Public Accounts Accounts and and Estimates Committee thatthat we were responding responding to to those and the detailed work that was occurring.

REPORTER: What about the V/Line radio?

KOSKY: Sorry. And the V/Line V/Line radio, radio, we have have a a business business case underway atat the moment, moment, in relation relation to the the radio system. There waswas a report report that that was was done done which indicates indicates that the current radio radio system system has has a a further life of five years. We're doing the work work on

METROL- - asas I mentioned yesterdayyesterday - the agreement was to do METROL firstfirst,, then to do do the the Country, the V/Line radio system and we're we're doing doing that in in condition condition with ARTC so that we we can can have have an interstate radio network andand soso thatthat it works for freight trains as as well as for the passenger trains.trains.

So we're doing all of that work; the business plan's plan's underway. But remember remember wewe have a a safety regulator thatthat ensures thatthat the system is safe, safe, and and so, I was... I Iwas was very very concerned. concerned. InIn fact, fact, II thought thought that some some of the the comments comments by the the National National Party Party leaderleader were outrageous outrageous inin suggesting suggesting that we we weren't concerned about safety. EverybodyEverybody knowsknows that we've we've been been absolutely absolutely committed committed toto safety safety and we have have an an independent independent safety safety regulator regulator who who always ticks off off if he he agrees agrees on on all allof these these projects.

REPORTER: How can itit have aa life of... aa furtherfurther lifelife of of five five years if it's it's lost lost the the confidence confidence of the users users and and providers? And doesn't have the maintenance?

KOSKYKOSKY:: Well, there was a.a..... therethere was was a a report report that that was was done that indicates indicates that it... it. .. it will..: will.. ~ it will will work, work, and will workwork properlyproperly forfor thethe nextnext fivefive years.years. But it does need need to be be replaced, replaced, but but it makes makes sense sense because the V/Line service uses the the Metropolitan Metropolitan

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...' Victo The Place To Be network as well, well, that we we have have complete complete the the METROL works worksfirst. That's occurring occurringat the the moment; thethe tendertender is being let and the works are occurring at the moment.

That system has to be fixed first, then we do the... the .... the V/Line. But we need need to do do that that in in conjunction conjunction with ARTC, because they use the tracks tracks as as well. well. And that's what's what's occurring, occurring, the business business plan's plan's being developed atat the moment and so we'll we'll be be moving forward with that very quickly.

REPORTER: On these trains here todaytoday,, cancan you give us a bit bit more detail about the rollout rollout of the the capacity capacity and and how that's that's gonna gonna work? work? YouYou're're going to have have these trains sitting in the yard for some months, or years before they're actually out there?

KOSKY: Oh, no, these trains, asas soon asas theythey...... we receive receive them, will be put put intoservice. And as as I've indicated, thethe infrastructure worksworksthat are occurring at the moment will allow for that.

So the Clifton Clifton Hill works that were complete -- areare complete -- and and they'll they'll be be able able to to take take extra extra trains trains when we've got those trains in service, as well, as as when the works at Laverton are complete. complete .

So what we've done done is is very very much much coordinated coordinated the the purchase of the trains with the infrastructure works being complete. SoSo they they go go hand-in-hand hand-in-hand and and people, byby the end of this year, year, will... will. .. commuters commuters will start to see see these these trains being being rolled out, and more importantly, start to see extra services being being provided.

REPORTER: What's the schedule for their delivery? Is it going going to be over a number number of years? OrOr isis it going toto be . sort of groups? groups? How's How's the delivery delivery going to work work out?

KOSKY: The schedule is one per month. That'sThat's...... that's on average, so if they can can be be brought brought forward forward earlier. earlier. If they can can be be brought brought forward forward earlier, earlier, they they will will be be brought forward forwardearlier. earlier. But they they start startat the the beginningbeginning...... at the end of this year, and then it will be around one per month until around 2013, 2014. 2014. Of course we've got also in the , the commitment commitment for new new generation generation trains, trains,

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..' Victo The PlaceToBe and so that's around around 2013, 2014, when wewe...... we we commence that.

So we'll we'll have have further further trains trains coming coming online online after after these trains are are in in the system. system.

REPORTER: Does that mean you'll be able to retire some of the trains that have have problems problems with the air air conditioners conditioners and all that kind kind of of stuff stuff during during the the past past month month or so?

KOSKY: Well, let's... thethe air air conditioners conditioners are are obviously obviously beingbeing...... the parts are being replaced, soso thatthat you you don't retireretire a whole whole train train because because there there might might be be an issue with some air conditioners.conditioners. But But we won't won't be retiring retiring any of the the fleet fleet at at this this stage, stage, because because the patronage patronage hashas been growing soso much. much. It's It's running at around 77 to 8 per per cent cent again again this year year on top of the 36 36 per per cent cent over over the the last last three three years. years. But we will obviouslyobviously monitor monitor patronage patronage and and look look at also also where where the the trains trains are are provided, provided, at at what what times of of day. day. Peak Peak is is obviously obviously the the most most important. important. We need the maximum number during peakpeak,, but at other timestimes,, obviouslyobviously,, wewe'll...'II... we'll make make sure sure that the trains trains that that best best suit suit the the needs needs are are provided provided during those other times times asas well.

REPORTER: PPremier,remier, are you happy with 's share share of of thethe stimulus package?

BRUMBY: We had had a a fantastic fantastic meeting meeting yesterday, yesterday, and and I couldn't havehave been been happier happier about about the the meeting meeting we we had. So I've said said to to the the Prime Prime MinisterMinister inin the the education area, forfor example, we've got... we'vewe've got projects projects ready ready to to announce announce next next week, week, which which are combined stateand federalfunding in education in excess ofof $200$200 million.million. So projects... name the school, name the project, straight out out to to tender, shovel shovel in in the ground, within 2 to 3 3 months. months.

So, needless to say the PM is pretty excited about that as as well. well. So I I think think the the package package that's that's been been announced will hit the ground running running in in education. education. As I've said, we've got the proposals ready to go, itit builds on what what is isalready the biggest biggest school school rebuilding program in our state's history. It's social social housing: we've got 532 social housing units ready to be be built built straight straight away. away. Again, Again, all we've got to do do is go go to to the the market, market, get get the the tender, tender, get get the the bid, bid, they can can literally literally start start within within a a couple couple of of months. months.

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So all of that will provide a fantastic stimulus to our economyeconomy;; it's going to provide jobs here in Victoria. Victoria . I think our state is is betterbetter positionedpositioned than most, most, let let me put it that way, in terms ofof getting getting the the projects projects and getting the jobs. jobs. So, So, I think it was was a a greatgreat outcome.

You've got.got... .. if if you you thinkthink aboutabout thethe moneymoney whichwhich will flowflow toto VictoriaVictoria fromfrom this this package, package, in in round round terms it's a a $42 $42 billion billion package, package, in in really really round round terms, if if you look look at the infrastructureinfrastructure side of it, it, the schools side and the social housing, therethere's's about $4 billion, it's a bit over over $4 billion... billion ... betweenbetween four and five will come to Victoria through that program.program.

And then if you look look at the the otherother things,things, which which the the PM is doing through the support for small businessbusiness and the supportsupport for families and so on, on, there'sthere's about $6 billion in that which which will flowflow throughthrough to the state state through the the next next threethree years.years.

So youyou're're gogoinging to see about $10 billion of stimulus into Victoria, generating jobs,jobs, youyou addadd that to the the stimulus we'rewe're putting into thethe system, as I've said, if you you add add up up budget budget sectorsector capitalcapital spend, spend, plus plus what we're doing · inin water,plus channel deepening, thosethose things,things, you'veyou've gotgot about $27$27 billion of capital works over the next four years,years, it's it's just aa huge huge program. program . So, what we're doing,doing, plus plus what the federal government isis doing is going to add somethingsomething likelike 1 percentage pointpoint plus of GSP.

And the PM yesterday took us through, as I I said said in in my speech before, thethe...... what's happeninghappening in the rest of the world. The world economy this year will grow by 0.5 per cent. You might hear that, and you you might think, think, oh, it's growing. For the the world world economy toto be actually growinggrowing itit needsneeds toto be at three perper cent. cent. The The world world economyeconomy hashas nevernever grown by less than one per per cent cent since since the the Great Great Depression. That's howhow unprecedentedunprecedented thesethese circumstances are.are..They're the worstworst in my lifetime.

So everything thatthat wewe can do do to to generategenerate jobs,jobs, jobs, jobsjobs...... lastlast night night in in Melbourne,Melbourne, whenwhen I I got back, I held a meeting in the MelbourneMelbourne room with about 60 differentdifferent agenciesagencies acrossacross thethe state, state,

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Victo ThePlace To Be BRUMBY: Well, I I think, think, we'rewe're inin the the commonsense commonsense business. business. We're not... not... I'veI've never never been been in in the the protectionist protectionist business, but I am in in the commonsensecommonsense business,business, and I'm I'm in in the the business business of of maximising maximising jobs. And And I I think this is is a a great great example example of of how how working working within within industryindustry andand government government andand the the union, and and everyone's got...got... there'sthere's gotgot toto be a bit bit of of give- give­ and-take in in all of of this, this, we we can can get get more more jobs jobs generated herehere in Victoria and in in Australia, Australia, and and that's what we're going to see. see.

I,I, by the way, had a great discussion discussion with the PM last week when I was was there, there, about this issue issue of rolling stock. And I think as everybody knows, a lot lot of the rolling stock that's been been used used in in Australia Australia in in recent years has has been been produced produced overseas. overseas. And And the discussion discussion I had had with the PM PM was was about about trying trying to getthis national approach; if you'rea manufacturer, thethe most important part is having having a long pipeline ofof activity. If youyou getget a job,job, and then it stops and then it stops and then it starts again, you can't get your cost cost base base down, down, you you can't can't provide provide the security security to the the employees, employees, either.either. So the the trick trick herehere,, it's a bit bit like like defence defence work and and other other things, things, it's about about getting a long long pipeline pipeline of work. work. So, So, the the PM has has started started some some work at at his level, in partnership withwith us,us, toto look across Australia - are are there areas where wewe can get a a better better pipeline pipeline of of activity across Australia? Are there areas of more more common .designdesign across thesystems in Queensland and New South Wales, Wales, Victoria Victoria and and

South Australia, andand ifif you do that, that, thenthenI think bidders who want to manufacture in Australia, it's a much more level playing field,field, they'vethey've got a better opportunity to do do that. that.

So I'm I'm not not getting getting into into the the protection protection business... business... you know, we've got dairy farmers at the moment, moment, who've been put out of work work because because the EU EU is is subsidising dairydairy farmersfarmers inin France, in Italy Italy and and elsewhere around the world huge amounts. That's not going going to solve solve the the world's world's problems. problems. But a a commonsense approach, working together,together, pipelines of work, maximising local content, getting getting everybody to do a bit of give and take will give our manufacturers thethe best opportunities opportunities to secure secure jobs. And And I Ithink, think that's that's the the message message that that comes comes from today.

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...- . Yicto The Place To Be REPORTER: [Inaudible] coroners in Melbourne Melbourne being being inundated inundated with deaths related toto the heatwave, do you know how well-placed that [inaudible][inaudible]

BRUMBY: They've got.got..... they've they've got got contingencycontingency plans,plans, as I understand it,they've used used them them before, before, and and

obviously they'vethey've gotgot thethe plans in in place place and and I understand they're implementing those plans. plans. And And I thinkthink it just highlights whatwhat I said at the beginning beginning of lastweek, week, that itwas going going to be an an extraordinarily difficult weekweek for Victorians with the hottest temperatures we'd ever had. And you know I started today's press conference conference with a a warning warning about tomorrow and I'll repeat it: tomorrow's going to be be a a shocker, shocker, the the worst worst in in our our history, history, just a a terrible, terrible dayday.. And the most most important important thing thing for families, families, the relatives, relatives, the the neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods, is check up on older older people people in in your your community, community, and and give them a call, go and visit visit them; them; if if they they need need help,if they they need need support, support, if they they need need cooling cooling during the day, take whateverwhatever stepssteps necessary necessary to help them.

REPORTER: Some companies companies are are reducing their workingworking rosters 'fromfrom say fivefive days toto four to cope with the economic slowdown but TradesTrades Hall here says thatthat does nothing to help help the the finances finances of of employees. employees. Do you you agree agree with with reducing reducing rosters rosters or or in in some some cases should workers be made redundant redundant so they can find new jobs?

BRUMBY: Ah, well, they're going to be be matters matters for individual individual firms. But But you you know, know, I said yesterdayyesterday after the the COAG meeting, meeting,the Victorianand Australian economy hashas -- to date date - done done very very well. well. Our Our job job numbers in December stayed very, very good. good. You You know we're at a a 4.6 4.6 per per cent cent unemploymentunemployment rate.rate. But this wave is going to break break over us. We We are are already starting, I think yesterday, we had a couple of companies, companies, GE,GE, BlueScopeBlueScope...... it'sit's nono fault of what's happening happening in Australia, it's just thethe global global environmentenvironment,, there's going to be fewer jobs.

You've seen the corporate profit results just in the last few few days, days, whetherwhether it'sit's BHP, BHP, whetherwhether it'sit's QANTAS, their profits are down 60 per cent. We're already seeing contracts thatthat are cancelled, cancelled , so,so, you know it's going to be be a a tough tough year. year. I can't.can't... .. I've just got to keep keep repeating that,that, it's going to be a tough tough year. There will be jobs lost lost during during the

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· ." Victo ThePlace To Be course of this year. Our job as a governmentgovernment is to do what we can can to to generategenerate newnew jobsjobs andand that'sthat's exactly what we're doing.

REPORTER: Mr. Premier, the family of the poor girl who died died at at the WestWest GateGate Bridge Bridge is iscritical of the the justicejustice system, sayingsaying itit let them down: any reaction reaction to that?

BRUMBY: Well, my my understandingunderstanding is late yesterdayyesterday -I was was travelling back from Canberra... Canberra ... my my understandingunderstanding isis late yesterdayyesterday thethe Federal Federal GovernmentGovernment diddid announce a review of the handling handling of this case case in in the Family Family Law court, court, and I...I... I think that's aa positive thing. I thinkthink...... you you know know anybodyanybody who'swho's got family or friends friends who's dealt with the the familyfamily court, you know, know, the system system isn't perfect. perfect. And I I think it's very timely to review review this case to see see the the way in which it was managed managed and to see see in in which which the Family Law Law court court dealt dealt with with it. it.

It's a a federal federal responsibilityresponsibility andandI think thatthat the the sooner that review review is undertaken, undertaken, the better. better. And And as I said, more generally, obviously, and in relation to Darcey Darcey Freeman, Freeman, we have have Children'sChildren's WeekWeek inin the first week week of of October, October, and that's a greatgreat weekweek for the the state state when when we we celebratecelebrate everythingeverything that'sthat's best about children, and life and vitality vitality of of children, children, and if we can build something in, in that Children's Week, you know, itit might bebe a great way of, of making something positive from this terrible tragedy.

REPORTER: Mr. Premier, Peter Costello waswas onon the radio this morningmorning......

BRUMBY: Who was?

REPORTER: Peter Costello waswas on the the radio radio this this morning morning criticising thethe stimulus stimulus package saying that, the the bulk of it goes... goes ... will will be be gone gone in in a a couple couple of months months and you won't see one road, road, one bridge, bridge, one one dam dam built out of it. Do Do you accept that criticism?

BRUMBY: No. [Laughter].[Laughter]. I mean, mean, it just showsshows how out of of touch the the formerformer treasurertreasurer is.is. I mean this is a bloke who starved starved the states states for for a a decade. decade. People... People ... people talktalk...... all all the the heavy heavy living living in infrastructure in the last last decade decade has has been been done done by by the the states. states. People talkabout whether we've got an

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. " Victo ThePlace To Be infrastructure backlogbacklog inAustralia, wellwell to the the extent we have, it's not because the states haven't haven't been investing, it'sit's because wewe never got a zack zack out of of the the Federal Federal Government. Government. We never never got got a a centfor infrastructure out ofthe Federal Government. SoSo at long long last last now, now, hallelujah, hallelujah, you you know, we've got a a Federal Federal Government, Government, a Labor Labor Government, aa Rudd Rudd GovernmentGovernment that'sthat's putting putting some money into into infrastructure. infrastructure.

And for the former treasurer to say that this will be gone in ina couple couple of of months, months, that'sthat's completecomplete boloney. Like what,what, youyou know... he ought ought to to take take the time to to read read about about the the statement, statement, the the schools schools programs we're talking about - it is is true, true, some some of them will start within a couple of months, but this is is a three-year program. The social housing program program is a a two-and-a-half-yeartwo-and-a-half-year program.program. The AssistanceAssistance toSmall Business... is Peter Costello Costello really saying... small businesses areare facingfacing upup to the the worst global environment since the Great Depression -- is is he he really really saying, saying, which I think think he he is, that the the Federal Federal GovernmentGovernment shouldn'tshouldn't bebe helpingthem withthings like rebates and accelerated depreciation?

I mean, thethe one thing we need need now, now, we we need need public investment - - that's government -- but but we we also need the private private sector sector to be be investing investing and and these are tough times. So, Kevin Rudd is helping helping small business invest and create jobs. Gee, Gee, you you know for a former former failed failed Liberal Liberal Party Party treasurer to be attacking attacking small business like that, like like what's what's happened to the Liberal Liberal Party? Party?

REPORTER: Can I justjust askask Minister Minister Kosky, Kosky, sorry, sorry, about about some some figures [inaudible] onon personal injuries on public public transport. ShowsShows itit was.was..... anan eleven-fold eleven-fold increase increase in personal personal injury reports onon trains in in eight eight years. years. Do you know know why these have have spiked spiked so so much much in in the past decade?

KOSKY: Well, we've actually seen a reduction reduction in in personal personal injuries on our public public transport system. So, So, both both on on trains and and trams, trams, they've they've been been very very focused focused on on reducing injuries on the trains and trams, so we've we've seen a reduction. reduction.

There's beenbeen a a reduction reductionin crime on on public public transport. AlthoughAlthough lastlast yearyear there was a a spike, spike,

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..." Victo ThePlace To Be which was to do with with not not to to do do with with assaults assaults on on public transport it was to do with the the car car parks parks and and thefts from from motor motor vehicles, vehicles, mainly mainly of of GPS GPS systems systems from cars cars in in car car parks. parks. So, So, we've we've actually actually seen seen a a reduction in terms of crime in our our public public transporttransport systemsystem..

We work very closely withwith our police, but, we know that the the Opposition Opposition are prepared prepared to make make up up figures,they certainly made up information yesterday in terms of leaked reports, and I assume they'll continue toto dodo soso in order to try and and get get a a grab.

REPORTER: These are are the the government government figures figures that that they're they're counting on.

KOSKY: Well, let's see see the figures, and and I'm I'm happy happy to to have have a a debate about it, but certainly, all of the figures I've seen have shown aa reduction reduction inin crime on our our public transport network, over the last ten years. years.

REPORTER: This is is personal personal injury, injury, not so so much much crime, crime, but but personal ----

KOSKY: -- Well Well it it depends depends on on the the definition definition of of personal personal

injury, but but I know on the the tram tram network, network, we've we've actually seen an incredible incredible reduction. reduction. And in in fact, fact, Yarra Trams havehave takentaken aa lotlot of effort to look look at at how the trams slow slow and and how how they they accelerateaccelerate inin order that people people don't fall over. over. They They focus focus on on thosethose...... on on those those personal personal injuries. injuries. And so, I I know know Connex have done... have have looked. looked . atat that very very closely as well. We've We've made made major major investmentsinvestments inin terms of disability disability access and we'll continue continue to do do so. So, I'm I'm happy happy to have a debate around proper figures, ratherrather thanthan figuresfigures thatthat are...are... that are are made up or limited figures that are provided by the Opposition.

REPORTER: [Inaudible] thethe eleven-fold, I mean, that's the figure figure supplied by the the Government, Government, to the the Opposition Opposition [inaudible]

KOSKY:KOSKY: According to the Opposition, so I'm happy to have have a look look at those those figures figures and and provide provide a clear clear response, but we we have have seen seen a a reduction reduction in assaults and and injuries onon our our public public transporttransport network over the last last ten ten years. years.

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..' Victo ThePlace To Be BRUMBY: Thank you very much. much.

- [End] -

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