FINN IN THE HOUSE Speeches February to June 2013 Published by Bernie Finn MP Member for Western Metropolitan Region Acting President of the Legislative Council Chairman, Joint Parliamentary Electoral Matters Committee 277 Hampshire Road, Sunshine Victoria 3020 Telephone (03) 9312 1212 • Fax (03) 9312 4598 Email [email protected] Web www.berniefinn.com FINN IN THE HOUSE Speeches February to June 2013 CONTENTS Liquor Control Reform Amendment Bill 2012 ..... 3 Baroness Thatcher ........................................................22 Retirement Villages Amendment Planning And Environment Amendment (Information Disclosure) Bill 2012 ............................ 3 (Growth Areas Authority And Planning: urban renewal.............................................. 4 Miscellaneous) Bill 2013 .............................................22 Rail: St Albans level crossing ...................................... 4 Health sciences: academic research centres ......23 East Meets West Lunar New Year Festival .............. 5 Melbourne Planning Scheme: Amendment .......24 Planning And Environment Amendment Planning: City of Maribyrnong ................................26 (General) Bill 2012 .......................................................... 5 Autism: western suburbs school .............................26 Australian Labor Party: federal performance ....... 6 Gambling Regulation Amendment Bill 2013 .....27 Crimes Amendment (Gross Violence Planning: coastal management ..............................28 Offences) Bill 2012 ......................................................... 6 Essendon: traffic management plan .....................29 Kraft Foods: Ringwood ................................................. 7 Australian Labor Party: union affiliation ..............29 Alpha Autism: funding ................................................. 7 Merrifield employment precinct: Road Safety Amendment (Car Doors) Bill development .................................................................29 2012 ..................................................................................... 8 East-West Link: Community Impact .......................30 Auditor-General: Allocation of Electronic Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Gaming Machine Entitlements .................................. 8 Development Committee: livability options in Australian Workers Union: leadership ..................... 8 outer suburban Melbourne ......................................31 Health Services Amendment (Health Budget Papers 2013-14 ..............................................32 Purchasing Victoria) Bill 2012 ..................................... 9 Rail: St Albans level crossing ....................................33 Jury Directions Bill 2012 .............................................10 Housing: Northern Metropolitan Region.............34 Planning: Maribyrnong development ..................11 Accident Compensation Legislation (Fair Western suburbs: federal government Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011 ......................34 support.............................................................................12 Production Of Documents ........................................35 Corrections Amendment Bill 2012 .........................12 Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Port Phillip Bay: ferry service ....................................14 Development Committee: livability options in Essendon: traffic management plan .....................14 outer suburban Melbourne ......................................37 Health: western suburbs ............................................15 City of Wyndham: federal election .........................38 Rail: St Albans level crossing ....................................15 Energy Legislation Amendment (Feed-In Production Of Documents ........................................15 Tariffs And Other Matters) Bill 2013 .......................38 Media: federal government legislation ................17 Buses: Sanctuary Lakes ...............................................39 Major Sporting Events Amendment Bill 2013....17 Mental health: women’s facilities ...........................39 Bruce Albert Edward Skeggs, OAM ........................17 Mrs Donna Petrovich ...................................................40 Technology sector: government initiatives ........18 Public Accounts and Estimates Committee: Mental health: women’s facilities ...........................18 Effective decision making for successful Health services: western suburbs ...........................19 delivery of significant infrastructure projects ....40 Production Of Documents ........................................19 Paramedics: enterprise bargaining ........................41 Municipal Association of Victoria: Volunteer West: funding ............................................42 Report 2011-12 .............................................................21 277 Hampshire Road, Sunshine Victoria 3020 • Telephone (03) 9312 1212 • Fax (03) 9312 4598 Email [email protected] • Web www.berniefinn.com IN 2 FEBRUARY 2013 - JUNE 2013 FINN THE HOUSE COUNCIL | Second Reading Mrs Peulich interjected. not in a position to properly defend 5 February 2013 Mr FINN — I do not know whether themselves exploited and used by they are Victorians but they are those who perhaps do not have the certainly drunks. I have to agree with same degree of ethical standards the 3AW broadcaster Ross Stevenson, that many of us have. It has to be said Liquor Control who says on a regular basis that no that I have no personal experience of good ever comes after 2 o’clock in the procuring a retirement home for my Reform morning. parents as they passed away when I think that is true, and this bill they were quite young. I have no Amendment Bill today will go some way towards experience in that regard, but that ensuring that we have some degree does not stop me from being aware 2012 of the very real challenges involved Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) — of law and order and control on the streets after 2 in the morning and in growing old. I am very hopeful that I must begin my contribution to the one day I might be in that situation, debate on the Liquor Control Reform hopefully before then as well. This bill not only gives the police and although it cannot be said that that is Amendment Bill 2012 by declaring a unanimous wish. It is something I an interest — that is, on a warm day I protective services officers the powers to tip alcohol out in front of the — am hoping I might be able to get to at have been known to enjoy a cold beer. some stage. Some days I have had two. In fact last generally — lads who are drinking There are real challenges for those Sunday I was seen down at the Black it but also instils in those people a who are growing old and challenges Horse Hotel in Bulla having an ale degree of respect that has perhaps for those whose parents are growing with an old mate who was visiting not been there for the last decade old, but we should not under any from overseas. It was very enjoyable, or so. Respect for authority and, in circumstances allow the challenges and a great deal of responsible activity particular, respect for the police has to move to being a burden, because was going on down at that particular been sadly lacking among many those who may have problems locale. young people over recent times. The legislation before us today gives police associated with old age deserve In my experience, it is safe to the power to remove alcohol from our support. We owe them. In most say that over the last 25 or 30 years young people and tip it out in front of instances they have built for us the Melbourne has gone from one them and will certainly make those life we have today. We owe them, and extreme to the other. I remember back individuals aware that the police we have a great opportunity in their in the late 70s and early 80s leaving do have the authority to exert some twilight years to repay them in a way meetings at 10.30 p.m. and having to control over the way they carry on. that we ourselves will hopefully one hold further discussions on the street day be repaid. because there was nowhere to go. I This is a very important and very Aged people should not have to recall friends and colleagues flying good bill. I commend the government worry about things like money. They in from interstate for such meetings, for its introduction, and I wish it a should not have to worry about and when those meetings finished at speedy passage through this house. pensions or unexpected expenses 10.30 p.m. they would say, ‘Let’s go — things like the carbon tax, for for a drink’. I would say, ‘Well, you’ll COUNCIL | Second Reading example. These things affect people have to get back on the plane and 5 February 2013 and they should concern us all. To fly back to wherever you came from, quote the motto of a school out my because there is no drinking here’. way in Gladstone Park, ‘Knowledge That is what Melbourne was like. I is power’. The knowledge that is cannot go back to the 6 o’clock swill, Retirement provided by this legislation today but I can certainly go back to the days gives retirees and their families a when there was very little drinking Villages degree of warning and a degree of beyond 10.00 p.m. I well recall the power that is much needed and, I am great excitement when a venue in Amendment sure, much appreciated. Exhibition Street opened a supper club. Unfortunately it is no longer (Information Unfortunately, as I alluded to there, but it was just down the road