27/04/2021 Parliament of

Question: 14341 QUESTION ON NOTICE — Mr Bull ( East) to ask the Minister for Resources — With reference to the dispute between Hercules Mining Contractors Pty Ltd and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) concerning mining licence 5335 for a mine at Cassilis:

Why has DEDJTR proceeded with the proposal for EL006726 rather than to process a variation to EL5518, in accordance with the Mining Warden's recommendation that the land covered by EL5518 and the land covered by the former mining licence 5335 should be consolidated into the same mining licence.

Answer: The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) has not granted Exploration Licence 006726. On 7 March 2018, DEDJTR received two exploration licence applications (for EL006726 and for EL006728) for a licence over the land formerly within mining licence 5335. Hercules Mining Contractors Pty Ltd separately lodged an application on 7 March 2018 to vary EL5518 to cover the same area of land. The two exploration licence applications will be ranked in accordance with the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (MRSDA) to determine the highest-ranking application. Once the highest-ranking application has been determined, a decision will be made as to whether a licence should be granted over the land or, whether EL5518 should be varied to incorporate the land. This decision will be made with consideration given to the purposes and objectives of the MRSDA.

TIM PALLAS MP Minister for Resources Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 05/06/2018

Question: 14342 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Hodgett to ask the Minister for Public Transport for the Minister for Small Business — The pressure is on, Speaker. My constituency question is to the Minister for Small Business. My constituents wish to know why this government chose to cease the Grow Your Business program in August 2017, what programs are in place to support the growth of small business in regional areas and specifically how much funding has been allocated to support these programs in Victoria.

Answer: We continue to ensure that small businesses have the resources they need to grow and prosper. Grants under the Grow your Business program were fully allocated in late 2017.

Our Boost Your Business Vouchers provides tangible support for small businesses to become more productive, employ more people, improve market access and in general, increase their scale, diversity and profitability. Round 2 of Boost Your Business will open Monday 4 June 2018.

Regional small businesses are invaluable resources to their communities, and our government continues to invest to support them to reach their next milestone. Across the 2017-18 financial year, the Small Business Bus has made over 190 visits to regional areas, providing information and mentoring sessions to prospective, new and existing business owners. In addition, forty per cent of the Small Business Workshops led by the Small Business Commission were held in regional communities.

Our government will continue to invest and support the future of Victorian small businesses. With our most recent investment of $13.5 million to support small businesses over two years as part of our State Budget, and the lowering of the regional payroll tax rate to 2.245 per cent, we are doing just that

Hon Philip Dalidakis MP Minister for Small Business Attachments: No Attachments

Answer Published Date: 19/06/2018

Question: 14343 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Ms Kilkenny to ask the Minister for Roads and Road Safety — My constituency question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Families in the Skye area are welcoming the announcement that safety pedestrian lights will finally be installed at the school crossing outside Skye Primary School on Ballarto Road in Skye. Now that the funding for

qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 1/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria the new lights is available, my constituents would like to know when the project to install the pedestrian lights will start.

Answer: VicRoads advises me that it has commenced planning activities for the project and expects work to begin on-site in October 2018 and switched on before school commences in 2019.

Hon Luke Donnellan MP Minister for Roads and Road Safety Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 21/05/2018

Question: 14344 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Walsh to ask the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change — My constituency question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. It is on behalf of Ian Boys and it concerns the matter of securing boat mooring sites on the Victorian side of the Murray River in Swan Hill. I wrote a detailed letter to the minister on 5 December 2016 seeking a resolution. In the minister's response of June 2017 she advised that new mooring zones for the Swan Hill area were being investigated by Roads and Maritime Services New South Wales and the Murray Shire Council in consultation with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) as part of the process. The minister referred me to Peter Shadwick, senior statutory planner at DELWP, as the contact person. I have contacted Mr Shadwick on a number of occasions and have not had a response. Boat owners in my electorate are angry and out of patience. I ask: will the minister personally intervene to bring the matter of securing boat mooring sites on the Victorian side of the Murray River at Swan Hill to a satisfactory resolution?

Answer: I understand that Mr Peter Shadwick from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has recently spoken to you and your constituent, Mr Ian Boys, about Swan Hill boat mooring sites and the process for establishing mooring zones in the Swan Hill area.

Suitable mooring zones for the Swan Hill area are currently being identified by Parks Victoria and it is anticipated that selected sites will be open to public consultation by the end of September 2018. Following this, Mr Boys' application for a mooring site will be assessed in the context of the approved zones.

Hon Lily D'Ambrosio MP Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister for Suburban Development Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 19/06/2018

Question: 14345 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Ms Williams to ask the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing for the Minister for Youth Affairs — My constituency question is to the Minister for Youth Affairs in the other place. I ask: what additional funding is there in the 2018–19 Victorian budget to assist local organisations to deliver culturally appropriate support programs to empower young people and families from culturally diverse backgrounds in my community of Dandenong? I ask this because Dandenong is the most culturally diverse electorate in , with residents from over 157 different nationalities. There would be few, if any, places that provide a better example of a thriving and harmonious multicultural city.

In Dandenong our diversity is our greatest strength, but it can also create some challenges in how we communicate with and engage local young people and families, some of whom have made the journey to Australia after experiencing significant trauma in their home countries. Much of the ongoing success of our multiculturalism is due to targeted government initiatives which encourage social cohesion by engaging our young people and families in the community - long may this continue.

Answer: The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the delivery of a number of innovative programs that are tailored to better meet the needs of young people and families from diverse cultural backgrounds and strengthen social, community and economic opportunities in these communities.

Komak, which has been operating in Dandenong since 2017, is a great example of one of these programs. Komak is a Community Support Group program that was co-designed with the Afghan community, state government departments and community organisations to increase the Afghan community's access to services, strengthen community inclusion and participation and provide support to young Afghan people. qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 2/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria The program has been highly successful in engaging with the Afghan community and community leaders and in organising activities and events that increase social inclusion and community participation. Activities include youth leadership, women's programs, parenting programs for mothers and fathers, and community events. Komak also provides assistance to community members so they can connect with the services they need, such as enrolling in education and training and finding employment.

As part of the $15 million in the 2018-19 state budget to support a whole of government package of initiatives to tackle youth offending there is $5.6 million for youth affairs activities that support young people with high needs to strengthen their connection to family and community and their engagement in education, employment and training.

This includes funding further Community Support Groups that will work with diverse communities and bring together community leaders, government agencies, police and community agencies in Brimbank/Melton, Wyndham and Greater Dandenong.

A further $8.6 million will respond to Victoria's first African Communities Action Plan, helping to build leadership and social cohesion within these communities, including those in Dandenong.

I thank the Member for Dandenong for her ongoing commitment to the diverse communities within her electorate.

Jenny Mikakos MP Minister for Families and Children Minister for Early Childhood Education Minister for Youth Affairs Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 18/06/2018

Question: 14346 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Wells to ask the Minister for Public Transport — The question I wish to raise is for the Minister for Public Transport. Minister, after the welcome intervention by the Turnbull coalition government to invest $470 million in a new train line from Huntingdale station to Monash University's Clayton campus, can you confirm whether the Andrews government will go ahead with the planning phase for a tram from Rowville to Caulfield and waste the $3 million in planning money allocated in the Victorian budget? The Andrews government needs to reconsider its plan to run a tram through the alignment on Wellington Road, which would destroy any prospect of building a train line from Rowville to the city, and put the money instead into backing rail all the way to Rowville, as people in my community have asked for. Minister, people in Rowville want a train. The top transport priority from 142 projects in the RACV's 2018 Growing Pains study was a heavy rail line from Huntingdale to Rowville.

Answer: The 2018-19 Federal Budget included capped Commonwealth funding of $475 million for a link into the Monash Precinct through a "heavy or light rail connection" (Commonwealth Budget Paper No. 2). The funding is conditional on Victoria contributing 50 per cent of the project cost. The Andrews Labor Government welcomes the Commonwealth's investment in this important corridor.

It should be noted that only $23 million of funding is actually provided in the Forward Estimates of the Commonwealth, so no construction of any line would likely commence prior to 2023.

The State is getting on with preparing the business case for a Caulfield to Rowville link. The planning and design work to inform this business case will examine potential alignments and stop locations, costs and benefits, issues and constraints, and will include stakeholder and community consultation.

The planning and design work will include information from previous studies that investigated heavy rail and bus options.

Hon Jacinta Allan MP Member for East Minister for Public Transport

Attachments: No Attachments

Answer Published Date: 08/06/2018

Question: 14347 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Edbrooke to ask the Minister for Education for the Minister for Training and Skills — My constituency question is to the Minister for Training and Skills. The question I ask is in regard to the announcement this week regarding the federal budget cutting $60 million from the Victorian TAFE system. My question is: how will this affect Victoria's TAFEs, like the one in Frankston, and what is the Andrews Labor government doing to ensure that opportunity is still qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 3/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria provided to people in my community to ensure they get the skills they need for the jobs they want?

Answer: Malcolm Turnbull has slashed funding to TAFE in Victoria by delivering an $80 billion tax cut to big business in a move that will hurt students and Victorian jobs.

The Federal Budget confirms Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals have taken an axe to TAFE, slashing over $200 million from TAFE, skills and training across the country - which is at least a $60 million cut to Victorian students.

Here in Victoria, we know what happens when the Liberals cut funding for TAFE. Campuses close, teachers lose their jobs and students miss out on the opportunity to get a good, secure job.

While Malcolm Turnbull cuts, we're making the investments needed to rebuild TAFE - repairing the damage inflicted by four years of cuts and neglect under the former state Liberal Government.

To make sure Victorians can get the skills they need for good, secure jobs building our state and caring for our community, the Victorian Budget 2018-19 gives Victorians every tool they need to undertake a quality, accredited TAFE qualification.

To help remove cost as a barrier to training, the Andrews Labor Government is delivering $172 million to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses free, with no tuition fees.

We're supporting more Victorians to access the training they need, with $303.8 million to create more than 30,000 new training places.

We're also modernising apprenticeships, with $43.8 million to revamp learning materials, ensure consistent industry standards with new independent assessments, and bring back trade papers to recognise these qualifications.

The contrast couldn't be clearer - while Labor invests in TAFE and our kids' future, all the Liberals do is cut.

The Hon Gayle Tierney MP Minister for Training and Skills Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 04/06/2018

Question: 14348 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Nardella to ask the Minister for Public Transport — My constituency question is to the Minister for Public Transport. When will new bus services be established and implemented to service existing and new estates within the electorate of Melton for the Eynesbury, Waterford, Atherstone, Melton South and Brookfield estates? Mr Matt Osbourne, an Eynesbury resident, had a talk to me, amongst others, about the need for a bus service. There is a need to establish these new routes to service families and students, to link into, firstly, the Melton railway station and, secondly, the town centre and Woodgrove Shopping Centre. The Melton bus routes were last reviewed and extended under the Brumby Labor government, and the growth has continued since then. These estates need to have the provision of buses to link into schools for job opportunities as well as recreation and leisure activities. Parents have to do the car shuffle to drop off and pick up their kids from Melton railway station and the schools. The provision of new bus services is very important, and I am happy to work with the minister along with Melton City Council on these matters.

Answer: The Andrews Labor Government recognises the important role that public transport plays in meeting the needs of people living in Melbourne's outer suburbs, and regularly reviews the public transport network to identify where improvements can be made.

When reviewing existing bus routes or planning for new ones, the Government, through Transport for Victoria (TfV), considers a range of issues including the likely number of users and their transport needs, suitability of the road network for bus operations, development of a direct and easily understood network, and connectivity with other public transport services.

I have requested TfV consider this as part of future planning activities for buses in the Melton area.

Hon Jacinta Allan MP Member for Bendigo East Minister for Public Transport

Attachments: No Attachments qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 4/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria Answer Published Date: 25/05/2018

Question: 14349 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Bull (Sunbury) to ask the Minister for Roads and Road Safety — My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. What are the design time lines for the duplication of Sunbury Road announced in last week's state budget? Whilst those opposite could only talk about fixing this road, it is the Andrews Labor government who are getting on and delivering this important duplication, which was announced last week. Twenty four thousand vehicles travel on this road each and every day. It is one of the two major connecting points for the Sunbury community and also the Macedon Ranges community to the north. It is a terrific project and something that I am very pleased to be able to deliver for my community. I ask the minister for the design time lines for this very important project.

Answer: The Sunbury Road Upgrade will be delivered as part of the $2.2 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade program.

The upgrade will reduce travel times for the Sunbury community and provide more reliable travel between Sunbury and Melbourne Airport.

Before work can start, we need to carry out environmental investigations and seek the appropriate planning approvals. We will also ask the community for feedback on the preliminary designs later this year.

The first step towards construction is already underway, with Expressions of Interest currently being advertised. The successful consortium will deliver the design, construction and maintenance of the road upgrades.

Hon Luke Donnellan MP Minister for Roads and Road Safety Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 26/07/2018

Question: 14350 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Angus to ask the Minister for Education — My constituency question is to the Minister for Education. Minister, my question is: when will the government provide funding to address the many infrastructure needs at schools within my electorate of Forest Hill? I have raised the infrastructure needs at numerous Forest Hill schools in this place during the last three and a half years, and they have all been ignored - for example, infrastructure needs at Vermont Primary School, Orchard Grove Primary School, Livingstone Primary School, Vermont Secondary College and Highvale Primary School in the electorate of Forest Hill, just to mention a few.

This neglect of schools in the Forest Hill electorate stands in very stark contrast to the pork- barrelling that has been going on in the minister's own electorate of Monbulk. In the four budgets since he has been the minister he has allocated over $40 million to 11 of his own or adjoining schools. In addition to this he has allocated over $30 million to 13 schools in the Premier's electorate of Mulgrave. Between them the Premier and the Deputy Premier have allocated a largesse of over $70 million to their own electorates at the expense of my very needy schools in the Forest Hill electorate. When will this disgraceful pork-barrelling stop and funds be allocated on the basis of genuine need?

Answer: The Andrews Labor Government has a strong and ambitious agenda to grow educational opportunities for all Victorians. With an allocation of more than $3.8 billion to school infrastructure over the past four State Budgets, this investment delivers the largest overall education package on record to Victoria's schools. However, fulfilling our objectives to make Victoria the Education State will take some time. Our ongoing challenge is to responsibly balance and prioritise the needs of over 1,500 government schools, all in varying condition.

If only you were this vocal about school funding when the Liberal Party was in Government. Labor was left with a huge backlog of school investment following record low funding from the Coalition.

Across the State Electorate of Forest Hill Labor has now invested more than $18 million into local school infrastructure. This compares to a mere $7.8 under the former Liberal and National government.

I find it encouraging that you are now taking an ‘interest' in local schools given you neglected them and ignored their needs when you had the chance.

I am sure local families will also be aware of the Andrew Labor Government's $603,000 investment to upgrade Highvale Primary School in the 2017-18 State Budget and the $4.873 million to upgrade Vermonth Secondary College in the 2018-19 State Budget. qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 5/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria

I can assure you that the needs of all schools, including those in electorate of Forest Hill, will be considered when determining future priorities for the capital works program. We will continue to use all available data, including condition assessments and pre-existing project plans, when allocating funding in future State Budgets.

______The Hon James Merlino MP Deputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Emergency Services Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 14/06/2018

Question: 14351 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Ms Ward to ask the Minister for Roads and Road Safety — My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Peak hour traffic congestion is an ongoing challenge for residents in my electorate. It is fantastic that the Andrews government is looking to the future by investing $110 million to fast track work on the north-east link, a much needed project for my community.

It is also looking at how to help locals now through the Fitzsimons Lane upgrade announced in last week's budget. Minister, what improvements to traffic conditions are expected as a result of both the north-east link and the Fitzsimons Lane upgrade for commuters in Eltham?

Answer: No answer available Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date:

Question: 14352 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr Bull (Gippsland East) to ask the Minister for Health — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health, and the action I seek is for her, or her office, to contact the Pendergast family of Bairnsdale in relation to explaining how they go about accessing the medicinal cannabis trials for their son, Connor. Connor suffers from drug-resistant epilepsy and has very severe seizures. His parents, Shane and Linda, have been advised that, due to the increasing severity of these seizures, there is a chance that one may prove fatal. This is obviously extremely upsetting and daunting for these parents.

Shane advises that they have been told by their doctor at the Royal Children's Hospital, Dr Simon Harvey, that he believes Connor would meet the criteria for the cannabis trials. However, the family is having trouble accessing details on the trials, who to contact and how to go about having their son, Connor, considered for the trial. I therefore ask the minister if she can make contact with the Pendergast family to discuss the situation with Connor and provide them with the advice that they require.

Answer: I am informed that:

The government has established a compassionate access scheme that is providing an imported cannabidiol product to some of Victoria's sickest children with intractable epilepsy.

I thank the member for bringing this matter to my attention and can advise that the Office of Medicinal Cannabis, within the Department of Health and Human Services, has contacted the Pendergast family and explained the Victorian compassionate access scheme and processes for access.

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Hon Jill Hennessy MP Minister for Health

Attachments: No Attachments

Answer Published Date: 05/06/2018

Question: 14353 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Ms Graley to ask the Minister for Women — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Women, and the action I seek is that she visit Kambrya College and meet with the female students and their teacher, who are studying women's history and the feminist movement. I am sure the girls would love to meet her and I know that they would enjoy hearing about her journey in the Labor movement and beyond to undertaking her present role as Minister for Women. I know all at Kambrya secondary college will make her feel very welcome.

qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 6/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria Answer: I would like to thank Ms Graley for the invitation to visit Kambrya College. I would be very pleased to meet with those students studying women's history. As the Victorian Minister for Women, this is an area I am particularly passionate about. As the students of Kambrya College would be learning, historically, women's contributions to public life have not received the public recognition they merit. Ensuring that Victorian students learn about the particular challenges faced by women and their significant achievements despite social, cultural and economic obstacles will directly contribute to improving their understanding of the important ways in which women have shaped our state and nation. The Andrews Labor Government launched Safe and Strong: A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy in December 2016. Safe and Strong sets out the Government's blueprint for gender equality across the state. The Strategy sets out key priority action areas such as education, sports and recreation, media and the arts, and workplaces, in which we can act to improve women's economic security and increase leadership opportunities. Under Safe and Strong, the Government has launched a number of programs that celebrate women's achievements and provide increased opportunities for leadership. In 2017, the Government acknowledged and celebrated the achievements of Victorian women by expanding the reach and visibility of the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, launching the Women's Board Leadership Program to help women advance their board careers, as well as launching the Joan Kirner Emerging Women Leaders Program, enabling a pipeline of new leaders through development, networking and mentoring. These programs are ongoing in 2018. In 2018-19, I am very proud to say that the Government continues to build on its earlier commitment to achieving gender equality by providing $9.6 million over four years towards initiatives carefully designed to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours and deliver gender equality.

Hon Natalie Hutchins MP Minister for Women Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 11/07/2018

Question: 14354 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr Paynter to ask the Minister for Education — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action that I seek is for the minister to intervene in a matter that is currently with the Department of Education and Training in relation to Koo Wee Rup Primary School. Minister, the primary school was burgled on 19 February this year, and six new high tech multimedia television screens, still in their boxes, were stolen. These had just been delivered to the school and were waiting to be installed. We believe there was forced entry and have photos which clearly illustrate this claim. Unfortunately the police report did not reflect this view; however, the report does clearly state that a burglary has taken place.

The department of education, however, claims that this type of burglary is not covered under their current insurance policy and will not submit a claim. We believe that this is absolute nonsense and that quite simply the department is reluctant to pay out the full amount for the screens or pay the excess for the claim. This stalemate puts the school in a situation where they cannot move ahead with the significant upgrades to their digital technology resources that had been budgeted for and planned for in advance. The entire school community works hard to set aside and plan for this type of investment, and the burglary was very bad news indeed. The news has been considerably worsened by the subsequent refusal by the department of education to reimburse the school or even submit an insurance claim. This attitude from the department is an absolute disgrace.

The hardworking school community should be supported, not treated with disrespect by a government department. I urge the minister to intervene and force the department to reimburse the school in full without further delay. Koo Wee Rup Primary School deserves to be treated better than this.

Answer: Under the School Equipment Coverage Scheme, the Department's self-coverage program, a primary condition of cover is that reasonable care is taken to safeguard equipment. This is to ensure that risk to property will continue to be a shared responsibility between schools and the Department. As such, the initiative does not cover equipment that is stolen without signs of forced entry.

I have been advised that the Department worked with the school to collect information to support the claim, including photographs, security reports, and communicating with Victoria Police directly. This information, including a police report, confirmed that there were no signs of forced entry to the school. Accordingly, the school did not qualify for the School Equipment Coverage Scheme.

While the claim was adequately assessed in line with the School Equipment Coverage Scheme program's policy and guidelines, I understand that this has been a difficult situation for the school and the school community. Having modern and up-to-date classrooms, school facilities and school equipment is a fundamental part of ensuring that every child has the best possible education. Therefore, I have instructed the Department to allocate $15,000 to Koo Wee Rup Primary School to replace the stolen televisions. I have since communicated this to the school principal, Mr Nathan Jagoe. qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 7/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria I trust this information is of assistance.

______The Hon James Merlino MP Deputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Emergency Services Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 08/06/2018

Question: 14355 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr Pearson to ask the Minister for Mental Health — I direct my adjournment matter to the Minister for Mental Health, and the action I seek is that the minister convene a meeting between me, his department, Professor Janet McCalman from the University of Melbourne and local African-Australian communities to discuss opportunities to improve the mental health and wellbeing of members of this community.

Answer: The mental health and wellbeing of African-Victorians is an important issue and one that the Victorian Government has been working hard to address. This includes the recently released Victorian African Communities Action Plan, which was developed by African-Victorians for African-Victorians. This Action Plan was facilitated by a high level Ministerial Roundtable which brought together senior officials from across the government, reflecting the comprehensive commitment this government has to African-Victorians. The Plan has a strong focus on health and wellbeing, and the government is currently considering its implementation The government is also working with specialist mental health services to increase competencies to improve access to services for African-Victorian communities. In 2017, I established a dedicated grants program to raise mental health literacy in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This funding is now active and providing direct financial support to African communities who are working for, and within, their communities. The government has also funded the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, to build on existing programs that reach out to African communities, with a strong presence in Melbourne's west. This funding will have a specific focus on young people, including members of the South Sudanese community. These programs are built on improving the mental health and wellbeing of Victoria's African communities, and take a family-centred approach. My office will be in contact with you to arrange the meeting you have requested.

Martin Foley MP Minister for Mental Health Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 19/07/2018

Question: 14356 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr Riordan to ask the Minister for Public Transport — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport. The action I seek from the minister is an immediate meeting with Public Transport Victoria (PTV) to discuss the anomalies, disruption and heartache the current school bus system is causing across regional Victoria and across the electorate of Polwarth. A new system and method based on the needs of families and students is needed. The public transport system should be used to enhance the opportunity for students to get to school, not to implement the bus coordinator's extensive knowledge of Google Maps.

Schools are also suffering and being forced to prop up the public transport system. Small isolated schools in my electorate with fewer than eight bus runs are not compensated for the time and effort required to manage the cumbersome school bus system. It is the small school principals who, instead of teaching students and planning for their needs, must harass parents for payments, reroute buses when inclement weather affects roads and find parents when children take wrong buses home.

Currently in Polwarth I have a school bus program that is forcing parents to split their children up and send them to different towns - miles apart - for their education. One family in particular, who have refused to comply with the nonsensical rulings from PTV, have found themselves being called by the school principal and told that their year 7 daughter needed to be picked up from the police station rather than her being able to join her siblings on a safe bus trip home. Frustratingly I have been trying to organise a meeting with PTV officials since November last year, with no success. I raised this issue in an adjournment debate in June last year, and yet nothing has changed. In fact the situation continues to get worse.

Answer: Extract from Hansard: qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 8/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria

The member for Polwarth raised a matter for me that is not in my area of portfolio responsibility. It needs to be raised with the Minister for Education, and I will forward that matter to the Minister for Education for his action and response. Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 10/05/2018

Question: 14357 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr McGuire to ask the Minister for Public Transport for the Minister for Small Business — My adjournment request is for the Minister for Small Business. The action I seek is that the minister's office meet with the representatives from Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus's organisation Grameen to discuss the benefits of the microfinance model in Broadmeadows as the beginning of a social business initiative for Australia. The proposal offers increased training, mentoring and self-employment where it is needed most. The Grameen Bank model of microfinancing has helped transform the lives of more than 300 million people in more than 50 countries, including developed economies like the United States of America. Grameen Australia is offering the chance to create local jobs for local people, increase participation and empower high potential women and youth to work and thrive.

Grameen America's microfinance program was successfully established in 2008 when the global financial crisis led to the downfall of financial giants like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns. A decade later Grameen has identified a parallel in what they describe as, and I quote, 'the disturbing and unconscionable conduct' revealed in the 2018 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. I quote from them:

QUOTES AWAITING VERIFICATION.

These findings have the potential to create even greater risk aversion across the financial services industry, which means it won't be the big end of town that loses out, rather banks will further shy away from small business lending and from financially empowering people whom are migrants or lack the credit history, due to perceived risk. The impact on those in our society who are most disadvantaged will be hazardous.

The chief executive officer of Grameen Australia, Katrina Dunn, said in her proposal to me:

Not only will it be harder to connect people to the economic value chain, it will create even more social and economic hardship for those already struggling to make ends meet. The future social consequences of this are indeed concerning.

Social enterprises allow people to use their creativity, skills and knowledge to alleviate poverty. They establish a new kind of capitalism featuring altruism and generosity. I have twice had the honour of meeting Muhammad Yunus and discussing how his strategy could be implemented in Australia with Victoria as the leader. He is challenging young people, businesses, political leaders and citizens to embrace this new style of capitalism to improve opportunity and the essential Australian value, a fair go for all. Social enterprises help people change their mindsets as well as giving them better opportunities so they can move from a welfare or charity mindset to economic empowerment. That can be initiated through the help of mentors and microfinancing, helping people to be job creators, and hopefully over time they can become employers themselves. This is how it can form a virtuous circle, alleviating poverty, providing jobs, building businesses and, most importantly, building better futures.

Answer: The Andrews Labor Government values the opportunities that microenterprise models may present for those who experience limited employment pathways due to a variety of economic and social barriers.

Our government was pleased to fund a three-year microfinance pilot program to support microenterprise development for disadvantaged jobseekers in community revitalisation project sites. Broadmeadows is one of the four community revitalisation project locations being considered for the pilot program. The program is due to commence in July 2018.

The program will focus on creating economic opportunities for vulnerable communities by delivering microfinance and business support services to assist in the development of microenterprises. It will also support participants to increase their skills and networks with a specific focus on building financial skills and financial literacy, confidence and business capability.

I have instructed my department to work with my office to arrange an opportunity to meet with representatives of Grameen Australia to discuss its microfinance model.

Hon Philip Dalidakis MP Minister for Small Business

Attachments: No Attachments qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 9/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria Answer Published Date: 14/06/2018

Question: 14358 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr Hibbins to ask the Minister for Roads and Road Safety — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action I seek is that the minister invest more in infrastructure. When it comes to bikes, last week's budget was the same old news: stuff all for cyclists yet again. Less than 1 per cent of new transport infrastructure spending was for bikes, and what was in there came about because the Greens pushed for more bike funding in negotiations with the government.

We all know good cycling infrastructure is absolutely essential to a livable city, and as a commuter cyclist who regularly rides into Parliament I know how difficult it can be to find a safe route, whether it be down Chapel Street or down St Kilda Road. I also know how good it is to ride for health, for our environment and just how affordable and convenient it is. Yet we have been let down by a seemingly anti bike Premier who offhand dismisses cycling projects because they might not be good for cars.

Honourable members interjecting.

Mr HIBBINS - Members might want to familiarise themselves with comments regarding the St Kilda Road bike lane over the years.

This government voted down our mandatory 1 metre minimum passing distance proposal, putting it out of step with all other states in Australia. They released their very underwhelming cycling strategy with very little fanfare in the new year, with no commitments to any new routes apart from trying to greenwash one of their mega toll roads. This comes on top of years of neglect from the previous Liberal government, who of course cut the bike budget to zero.

The Greens have a strong record of delivering better bike infrastructure, particularly at the local government level through our local government councillors. It was something I was particularly passionate about when I was on Stonnington City Council. In fact it is local councils that are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to bikes, investing more than the state governments. It is time for the state government to step up and start investing in better bike infrastructure. It can start with separated bike lanes along our most dangerous routes: St Kilda Road in the Prahran electorate, where those separated bike lanes have seemingly been stuck in development hell for years; Sydney Road in Brunswick; Flemington Road in North Melbourne; and no doubt many other projects that are ready to go.

I have got no doubt that dollar for dollar on almost every measure bike infrastructure stacks up better than any other transport infrastructure investment. If we are going to make cycling safe and get more people cycling, especially women, who are under represented, and if we are going to get the benefits of reduced congestion and better health to as many people as possible, then it is going to take some serious commitment for some better bike infrastructure. I urge the government to act.

Answer: The Andrews Government is committed to increasing the role of cycling in Victoria's transport needs. It has delivered against its election commitments by establishing Active Transport Victoria (ATV), funding the $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund, and delivering the Grampians Peak and Wandong to Bendigo Rail trails.

This Government's investment in active transport with the $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrian Fund is now fully committed, with 45 active transport projects in the planning stage, underway or completed.

There are over 250-kilometres of new or upgraded cycling infrastructure being built through dedicated cycling projects, the Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund, or as a component of road upgrades.

Beyond the $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrian Fund, this Government continues to strongly support active transport through many significant transport projects including:

Completion of the long awaited $18 million final section of the Darebin-Yarra Trail and a further $3.2 million investment for the Farm Road Link to provide Alphington residents access to the Yarra Trail. The official opening of the main trail took place at the end of March 2018 at Sparks Reserve, Ivanhoe.

The $14.8 million investment in a 10-kilometre shared-use path from Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path will link the vibrant Box Hill precinct to Ringwood's centre, allowing users to connect with public transport, community services and recreation facilities. This is due for completion in late 2018.

qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 10/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria The construction of 12 kilometres of shared path to create a continuous 17-kilometre path from Caulfield to the East Link trail through the Caulfield to Dandenong level crossing removal project.

The inclusion of significant cycling improvements in the development of the $16.5 billion North East Link which will see the completion of the long awaited North-East Bicycle Corridor - a new transport cycling route to the city along the Eastern Freeway between Chandler Highway and Merri Creek.

The completion of the , including the Shepherds Bridge project, as part of the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel project.

Continued support for cycling with the recently launched Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-28 guiding investment over the coming decade, with a view to increase the number, frequency and diversity of Victorians cycling for transport by investing in a safer, lower-stress, better connected network, prioritising strategic cycling corridors and making cycling a more inclusive experience.

Hon Luke Donnellan MP Minister for Roads and Road Safety Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 21/06/2018

Question: 14359 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Mr Dimopoulos to ask the Minister for Education — I wish to raise a matter for the Minister for Education. The action I seek is that the minister again visit Glen Eira College to open the major upgrade to the school, which was promised, funded and delivered by this Labor government. When I say funded, I mean $10.1 million. Do you know how much capital funding this great school received from the Liberals? I will give you a guess. It starts with a zero and ends in a zero. That is right: nothing.

I was out there recently with a member for Southern Metropolitan Region, Minister Dalidakis, and Labor's fantastic candidate for Caulfield, Sorina Grasso. The upgrade looks amazing. Glen Eira College is not in the electorate of Oakleigh; it is actually in the electorate of Caulfield. Imagine my surprise when I read that the member for Caulfield said last week in this chamber that in four years there had not been one dollar for any school in his electorate. He did it again yesterday. He said, and I quote:

There is no love for any of my schools ... there is certainly nothing when it comes to the electorate of Caulfield.

I wonder if the member for Caulfield needs a GPS or maybe a compass. The Minister for Education knows where Glen Eira College is. He was at the sod turn. I know where it is, and Labor's candidate knows where it is. But it is not just Glen Eira College. We have provided $290,000 to Glen Huntly Primary School, which is in both the Caulfield and Oakleigh electorates because it goes over Grange Road. Then we have provided $5.46 million for St Kilda Primary School in this very budget, a school that is also in his electorate. We have also just funded variable speed signs outside Glen Eira College at a cost of $135,000, again in his electorate.

It was not just on schools that the member seemed confused. In reference to Glen Eira he said, and I quote:

There is no money for local sport ...

...

The Caulfield Bears at Koornang Park do not even have proper change rooms and women's facilities. We talk a lot about encouraging more women in sport ... and there is nothing - zero - in terms of funding for them as well.

In Glen Eira we have just announced $2 million for Murrumbeena Park and there have been upgrades at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve, but my biggest surprise was his comment about Koornang Park. I wondered if I had dreamt it, but I could swear that I was at the Caulfield Bears six weeks ago to announce that this government will upgrade the very facilities he spoke about - a $400,000 project in partnership with Glen Eira which is 25 per cent funded by this government. I checked my Facebook, and there it is - announced on 20 March. It was also in Glen Eira's local news and on the Caulfield Bears Facebook page. It was pretty much everywhere. I was not dreaming it. qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 11/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria

I am a little concerned that the member for Caulfield might not be very connected with his community. It is either that or he is reading into Hansard the lines given to him by the opposition leader's office without bothering to fact check them. Either way it is a bit sloppy. You are not entitled to make up your own facts. This government has funded schools in the Caulfield electorate. I look forward to the minister's visit to Glen Eira to see the upgrade Labor has delivered. In the meantime, I will try to dig up a compass for the member for Caulfield.

Answer: I am informed as follows:

The Andrews Labor Government is committed to investing in education and school infrastructure. This has been demonstrated through the allocation of more than $3.8 billion to school facilities in the last four State Budgets. This investment delivers the largest overall education package on record to Victoria's schools.

Having modern and up-to-date classrooms and school facilities is a fundamental part of ensuring that every child has the best possible education. We cannot build the Education State without investing in our schools' bricks and mortar.

As you are aware, the latest State Budget continues the Education State reforms with record investment in our schools and early-childhood services. The 2018-19 State Budget is investing $1.25 billion to expand and modernise Victoria's schools. This will ensure every Victorian family, wherever they live, has access to a great government school.

I would be delighted to visit Glen Eira College to open the major upgrade to the school when my schedule permits.

______The Hon James Merlino MP Deputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Emergency Services Attachments: No Attachments

Answer Published Date: 08/06/2018

Question: 14360 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Ms Britnell to ask the Minister for Education — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for Heywood & District Secondary College to be able to use some of the unexpected government funding to fund their Standing Tall program. Heywood & District Secondary College was given $600,000 in the state budget, presumably for building maintenance and repairs. Shortly after the announcement I rang the school and was told that, while the money was welcome, it was a complete surprise and they had no idea it was coming and had no detail on what it was to be used for.

The principal, Glenn Kane, then raised with me the possibility of spending some of that money to fund the Standing Tall program, which has been a huge success at the school, helping to re- engage students who are at risk of abandoning their education. He said to me that there is no point having a building if the students are unable to be engaged in functional education. Standing Tall is working and making sure students are re-engaged. Being able to allocate this money would of course require the department's approval. The results of this program speak for themselves, and I would be happy to provide the minister with the data the school has given me to show just how worthwhile Standing Tall is.

Standing Tall matches carefully selected and trained community volunteers with at risk junior school students. The volunteers have a one-on-one hour long session every week, which can involve talking, playing cards, cooking, undertaking activities or whatever the mentee chooses, as well as regular group sessions that focus on issues pertinent to the students involved. This program is working, and one example I will share is of a female student who, in the 12 months prior to entering the program, recorded 72 misbehaviours. Since entering the program at the beginning of this year, she has recorded no misbehaviours.

Students involved in the program have also taken on leadership roles in the school and in the community, and rather than walking away from education and slipping through the cracks they are now engaged and planning for future careers in various fields. Some of these students are facing some heavy situations at home, but this program has given them a reason to come to school. It has provided them with someone who believes in them and, most importantly, someone to talk to.

Teachers say that this program has turned their work from dealing with crises and just getting these kids through the day to actually educating engaged young people. I note that the government has flagged a rollout of the Compass program across the state, but I hope it would not replace the well established Standing Tall program, which is getting real results in Heywood, Warrnambool and, in the member for Lowan's electorate, Hamilton. The program relies on qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 12/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria community fundraising to continue, but rather than risk it going by the wayside Heywood & District Secondary College want to put some of the money they received from the budget into this program to ensure it continues. They know its value, they know it works and they have seen the results. Minister, please consider this and give these kids in Heywood the opportunity they deserve to succeed.

Answer: I am informed as follows:

I imagine the principal at Heywood and District Secondary College was surprised to receive funding because under the previous Liberal Government the college received no capital funding, so this would have been a new experience for her.

I am pleased to confirm that $600,000 was allocated to Heywood and District Secondary College by the Andrews Labor Government as part of the capital works program. This funding, however, has to be used to upgrade and modernise the facilities at the college, which had deteriorated significantly under the neglect of the Baillieu/Napthine Liberal Government.

The Department of Education and Training has commenced planning for all schools in receipt of budget funding, including Heywood and District Secondary College. I am advised that members of the school leadership team attended a training session on 9 May 2018 and are working with the Department to complete the college's Asset Management Plan.

The Government is committed to breaking the link between a young person's social and economic background and their educational outcomes. The Education State is about making sure that every Victorian child and young person is supported to remain engaged in education, so that they reach their potential, regardless of background or circumstance. This is why the Government has committed to halving the proportion of students who leave education between Year 9 and 12 by 2025.

The Navigator, not Compass, program is part of a suite of reforms intended to achieve this vision, and recognises a commitment to provide more intensive support for disengaged young people. It works to support schools to keep young people connected to school, and is part of the broader approach to ensuring student safety, wellbeing and engagement to promote a positive learning environment and to deliver positive outcomes. Following a successful pilot program in eight areas across the state, the 2018-19 State Budget provided an additional $43.8 million to 2021-22 (and $14.9 million ongoing) to continue and expand the program statewide.

I encourage the college to pursue the possibilities of developing local partnerships to continue the work of the Standing Tall Program.

I trust this information is of assistance.

______The Hon James Merlino MP Deputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Emergency Services

Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 22/06/2018

Question: 14361 ADJOURNMENT MATTER — Ms Green to ask the Minister for Local Government — My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Local Government. The action I seek is that Local Government Victoria meet with Nillumbik Shire Council to seek information on each of the projects that have been funded through the Growing Suburbs Fund and to look at the council's capacity to deliver on these projects.

The member for Eltham and I were extremely pleased to welcome the Minister for Local Government to the netball at Diamond Creek, the usual Saturday morning hangout for the member for Eltham and me, where the minister announced funding of $7.7 million for Nillumbik shire out of this fabulous fund. There was $2.8 million to build a new netball pavilion, $1.2 million for pedestrian crossings at the rear of Diamond Valley College to connect into a future Diamond Valley trail, and $800,000 for the pavilion at Eltham Central Park, the home of the Eltham Panthers, where I know the member for Eltham loves hanging out. There was $416,000 for female friendly facilities at Marngrook Oval and $2.5 million for the Diamond Valley Netball Club for a stadium there.

Since then we have seen very little activity at all from the council. The member for Eltham and I were concerned in the lead up to the applications. We had numerous meetings with the council to try to get these things into shape. Their number one priority was not shovel ready and indeed is only shovel ready now, so that could not be funded. We have then seen the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre redevelopment, which the member for Eltham and I recently attended qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 13/14 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria a meeting with council on to seek information on progress. We called the meeting because we were concerned that we had heard council officers were saying that in fact there were no new courts to be built as part of stage 1, only offices. We have since convinced them that they need to build courts, but I will hold up a copy of the plan that Nillumbik shire has. They have not even drawn up a proper plan some six months after getting this funding. It is a bit of crayon and a ruler. It is just a disgrace.

Since then we have discovered that the pavilion that is supposed to be built for netball on the banks of the Diamond Creek cannot be built because of flood issues. As if any local government authority in this area would apply for funds and not be aware of potential flooding! It is just a sick joke. Another one of their applications was for the Hurstbridge Basketball Stadium. They claimed there were 19,000 users per week at that stadium. Of course that one did not get up. What this council is doing is an absolute joke, and we are not sure that they can deliver anything on these projects.

Answer: The Growing Suburbs Fund is a significant investment from the Victorian Government towards meeting the critical infrastructure needs of communities in Melbourne's diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs. The 2018-19 budget provided a further $50 million towards the Growing Suburbs Fund, bringing the total Victorian Government investment to $200 million.

This fund has brought forward vital community infrastructure across Melbourne's ten interface councils comprising Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges, delivering projects that improve the amenity, liveability and resilience of local communities.

Overall the program has performed strongly with 92 per cent of projects on track and achieving fantastic community outcomes in Melbourne's outer suburbs. Of the 116 projects supported to date, 44 have been completed, with a further 42 due to be completed before the end of 2018.

I can confirm that Nillumbik Shire Council has received a total of $16.195 million through the Growing Suburbs Fund over the last four years, with this figure representing the fourth largest contribution out of the ten councils. I also note that, in the latest round of funding, Nillumbik received the second largest contribution of the ten councils ($7.74 million).

I have asked my department to work closely with Nillumbik Shire Council to reiterate the parameters of the fund and I am advised that assistance is being provided to the council to help deliver these projects.

I can assure you that my department will continue to support Nillumbik Shire Council in delivering these important projects in a timely manner, and will continue its work of liaising with other government agencies to ensure the success of these projects.

Hon Marlene Kairouz MP Minister for Local Government Attachments: No Attachments

Answer Published Date: 04/06/2018

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