16 April 1986 ASSEMBLY 1173
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VICTORIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIFTIETH PARLIAMENT AUTUMN SESSION 1986 Legislative Assembly VOL. CCCLXXXII [Prom April 10, 1986, to May 8, 1986J MELBOURNE: F. D. ATKINSON, GOVERNMENT PRINTER 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 The Governor His Excellency the Reverend DR JOHN DA VIS MCCAUGHEY The Lieutenant-Governor The Honourable SIR JOHN McINTOSH YOUNG, KCMG The Ministry (From 8 April 1986) Premier The Hon. John Cain, MP Deputy Premier, and Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources The Hon. R. C. Fordham, MP Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs The Hon. E. H. Walker, MLC Minister for Health The Hon. D. R. White, MLC Minister for Education The Hon. I. R. Cathie, MP Minister for Labour The Hon. S. M. Crabb, MP Minister for Community Services The Hon. C. J. Hogg, MLC Treasurer The Hon. R. A. Jolly, MP Attorney-General, and Minister for Planning and Environment .. The Hon. J. H. Kennan, MLC Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands The Hon. J. E. Kirner, MLC Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Police and Emergency Services The Hon. C. R. T. Mathews, MP Minister for Water Resources, and Minister for Property and Services The Hon. Andrew McCutcheon, MP Minister for Transport The Hon. T. W. Roper, MP Minister for Local Government .. The Hon. J. L. Simmonds, MP Minister for Consumer Affairs, and Minister for Ethnic Affairs The Hon. P. C. Spyker, MP Minister for Sport and Recreation The Hon. N. B. Trezise, MP Minister for Public Works, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Labour The Hon. R. W. Walsh, MP Minister for Housing The Hon. F. N. Wilkes, MP Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Dr K. A. Coghill, MP j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j Members of the Legislative Assembly FIFTIETH PARLIAMENT-FIRST SESSION MEMBER DISTRICT MEMBER DISTRICT I. Andrianopoulos. Alex St Albans 45. McGrath, W. D. Lowan 1. Austin. T. L. Ripon 46. McNamara P. J. Benalla 3. Brown. A. J. Gippsland West 47. Maclellan, R. R. C. Berwick 4. Cain. John Bundoora 48. Mathews, C. R. T. Oakleigh 5. Callister. Miss V. J. Morwell 49. Micallef, E. J. Springvale 6. Cathie. I. R. Carrum 50. Norris, T. R. Dandenong 7. CoghilJ. Dr K. A. Werribee 51. Perrin, D. J. Bulleen 8. Coleman. C. G. Syndal 52. Pescott. Roger Bennettswood 9. Cooper. R. F. Mornington 53. Plowman, S. J. Evelyn 10. Crabb. S. M. Knox 54. Pope, N. A. Monbulk 11. Crozier. D. G. Portland 55. Ramsay, J. H. Balwyn 12. Culpin. J. A. Broadmeadows 56. Ray, Mrs M. E. Box Hill 13. Cunningham, D. J. Derrimut 57. Remington, K. H. Melbourne 14. Delzoppo. J. E. Narracan 58. Reynolds, T. C. Gisborne 15. Dickinson. H. R. South Barwon 59. Richardson, J. I. Forest Hill 16. Edmunds. C. T. Pascoe Vale 60. Roper, T. W. Brunswick 17. Ernst, G. K. Bellarine 6 J. Ross-Edwards, Peter Shepparton 18. Evans. A. T. Ballarat Nonh 62. Rowe, B. J. Essendon 19. Evans. B. J. Gippsland East 63. Seitz, George Keilor 20. Fogany. W. F. Sunshine 64. Setches, Mrs K. P. Ringwood 21. Fordham. R. C. Footscray 65. Sheehan, F. P. Ballarat South 22. Gavin. P. M. Coburg 66. Shell, H. K. Geelong 23. Gleeson. Mrs E. S. Thomastown 67. Sibree, Ms P. A. Kew 24. Gude, P. A. Hawthorn 68. Sidiropoulos, Theodore .. Richmond 25. Hann, E. J. Rodney 69. Simmonds, J. L. Reservoir 26. Harrowfield. J. D. Mitcham 70. Simpson, J. H. Niddrie 27. Hayward. D. K. Prahran 71. Smith, E. R. Glen Waverley 28. Hetfernan. V. P. Ivanhoe 72. Smith, I. W. Polwarth 29. Hill, Mrs J. M. Frankst0n North 73. Spyker, P. C. Mentone 30. Hill, L. J. Warrandyte 74. Ste~all, B. E. H. Swan Hill 31. Hirsh, Mrs C. D. Wantirna 75. Stirhng, G. F. Williamstown 32. Hockley, G. S. Bentleigh 76. Stockdale, A. R. Brighton 33. Jasper, K. S. Murray Valley 77. Tanner, E. M. P. Caulfield 34. John, Michael Bendigo East 78. Toner, Mrs P. T. Greensborough 35. Jolly, R. A. Doveton 79. Trezise, N. B. Geelong North 36. Kennedy, A. D. Bendigo West 80. Vaughan. Dr G. M. Clayton 37. Kennett, J. G. Burwood 81. Wallace, T. W. Gippsland South 38. Kirkwood, C. W. D. Preston 82. Walsh, R. W. Albert Park 39. Lea, D. J. Sandringham 83. Weideman, G. G. Frankston South 40. Leigh, G. G. Malvern 84. Wells, Dr R. J. H. Dromana 41. Lieberman, L. S. Benambra 85. Whiting, M. S. Mildura 42. McCutcheon, Andrew St Kilda 86. Wilkes, F. N. Northcote 43. McDonald, M. J. Whittlesea 87. Williams, M. T. Doncaster 44. McGrath, J. F. Warrnambool 88. Wilson, Mrs J. T. C. Dandenong North Speaker: THE HON. C. T. EOMUNOS Chairman of Committees: MR W. F. FOGARTY Temporary Chairmen of Committees: Miss Callister, Mr Delzoppo, Mr Ernst, Mr B. J. Evans, Mr Harrowfield, Mr Hockley. Mr Jasper, Mr Kirkwood, Mr Plowman, Mrs Ray, Mr Remington, Mr Richardson, Ms Sibree, Mr Stirling, Dr Vaughan and Mr Whiting. Leader of the Labor Party and Premier: THE HON. JOHN CAIN Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and Deputy Premier: THEHoN.R.C.FoROHAM Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition: THE HON. J. G. KENNETT Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition: THE HON. T. L. AUSTIN Leader of the National Party: MR PETER Ross-EoWAROS Deputy Leader of the National Party: MR E. J. HANN 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Heads of Parliamentary Departments Council-Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Council: Mr.R. K. Evans Assembly-Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Mr R. K. Boyes Hansard-ChiefReporter: Mr L. C. Johns Library-Librarian: Mr B. J. Davidson House-Secretary: Mr R. M. Duguid Adjournment 10 April 1986 ASSEMBLY 1041 local organizations, particularly the shire council, the Motorcycle Riders' Association, which is very active in the Latrobe Valley, various individuals, an honourable member for Gippsland Province, Mr Murphy, and me. At present lights are installed at that level crossing but, regrettably, they have been inadequate for the purpose for which they were installed. This had led to the call for boom barriers to be installed at the Tramway Road level crossing. The Minister will recall that during the last election campaign the Labor Party issued a range of promises in relation to the Latrobe Valley and what it would do over the next term of Government. One of those promises in respect of the transport portfolio was the installation of boom barriers at Tramway Road. Last year the Minister said that it was high on the priority list of the Government in 1985-86 to have the barriers installed. It was anticipated that March this year would be the completion date. However, for various reasons, this has not been achieved and I inquire from the Minister when he anticipates the boom barriers will be installed at the crossing. Finally, difficulties have existed because of the shunting operations near the crossing. The lights operate when trains are not necessarily traversing the crossing and this has led to frustration and driver delay. Therefore, I make a special point of emphasizing that in the design specifications for the boom barriers there be incorporated a mechanism by which the lights can be operated manually if shunting operations are to take place nearby and trains are not traversing the crossing. This will be necessary if the barriers are to achieve their purpose of protecting motorists, train travellers and so on at the crossing. I call on the Minister to provide me with some information to take back to the people of Morwell about the anticipated date for the installation and completion of the boom barriers at the Tramway Road crossing. Mr CROZIER (Portland)-I direct to the attention of the Minister for Education the acute need for special education assistance to schools in the Portland-Heywood area. The Minister may well be aware that there are growing numbers of population experiencing emotional and learning difficulties in district schools as a direct consequence of the recent population growth and transient lifestyle of many of the newcomers. Although the need for these services is increasing, the actual availability of such specialists is diminishing. Recently I received representations from district school councils and the Portland Heywood Principals Association. All those representations have brought to my notice that recent professional surveys have clearly identified a need for social counsellors, behavioural guidance officers and other remedial staff. Everyone agrees that, if the problem is to be successfully addressed, the present special education unit at Portland, which is really only an annex of the Hamilton special education unit, should be fully upgraded to full status. The advantages of a separate unit at Portland include overcoming the present accommodation problem, reducing the travelling time needed by specialists in their journeys to and from Portland, providing professional support for those special service personnel currently located there and, most importantly, providing a service to those children in need, which is currently not available.