2018 Victorian State Election – Call to Parties Candidate

2018 VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION – CALL TO PARTIES

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE FROM THE CITY OF MELBOURNE

NAME : Australian Greens Victoria

Question 1 Will you work with the City of Melbourne to secure new public open space in central Melbourne? Projects we seek your views on include: a) the linking of parks along the Flinders St to Southern Cross stations viaduct; b) securing significant new public open space, and establishing a meaningful open space contributions regime, in the Arden precinct ahead of development; c) securing a permanent park on Franklin Street between Swanston and Victoria Streets as a legacy of the Metro Rail project; and d) vesting the triangular site on the Victoria and Exhibition Streets with Council.

Yes. The Victorian Greens firmly support new open public space, including all of the four projects mentioned. Open public space is vital for our communities; it keeps us healthy, prepares our urban environment for climate change, and cools our cities. The Victorian Greens also believe that the Arden precinct must be developed with adequate public space. The provision of public space in the current Arden Vision needs to be strengthened and clarified. This should include specific locations for new parks.

Question 2 What are your targets and funding commitments for the 2018-22 term for climate adaptation and mitigation in greater Melbourne, including large scale renewable energy investment and stronger Environmentally Sustainable Design requirements in the Victoria Planning Provisions?

The Greens have a comprehensive plan to power Victoria by 100% Renewable Energy by 2030, and transition out of toxic polluting coal. Our plan would:  Build $9 billion worth of publicly-owned large-scale renewable energy  Significantly increase the Victorian Renewable Energy Target, so that 100% of our energy is renewable by 2030.  Up to $1 billion to upgrade the transmission network (as needed, identified by AEMO) to unlock a renewables boom across north and west Victoria - to bring part of the grid back into public hands and undo the neglect of corporate owners.  Build $500 million worth of publicly-owned storage, centered in the Latrobe Valley.  A plan to transition out of all coal in Victoria, with a timeline to remove the license to operate for all of Victoria's dirty coal plants by 2030.  A just transition plan for the Latrobe Valley to create new industries and jobs.  New pollution standards for coal plants, so they can’t continue to put toxic chemicals like mercury and sulphur into our air and damage our health.  Fund 10 Community Energy Hubs, so our communities can create their own clean energy.

Further information is available at: https://greens.org.au/vic/renewablevic

The Greens will create a new Climate Commissioner for Victoria, to lead a new independent Climate Commission. This will give climate change increased prominence within government and the cross portfolio perspective that is needed to adequately address the enormous challenges for our state. Further information is available at: https://greens.org.au/vic/climatecommissioner

We will also instigate a Climate Impacts Inquiry to look at how our environment and infrastructure is responding to, and will respond to, climate change and identify local adaptation needs across the state.

The Victorian Greens also want to improve the sustainability of new urban development in greater Melbourne. We are increasingly experiencing the urban heat island effect in our suburbs, because of the lack of clear rules in the planning scheme to help our neighbourhoods adapt to a changing and warmer climate.

We will improve environmentally sustainable design in Melbourne by:  Mandating that all new residential and commercial development achieve a minimum 8 star NatHers and best practice BESS ratings.  All new residential and commercial development must have an urban heat island mitigation statement that includes how the development will increase open space and tree cover.  Requiring new apartment buildings to provide 50% of their roof space for either solar panels or a green roof (garden).  Requiring minimum garden areas at ground floor level in residential zones. This requirement cannot be removed in these zones.

Question 3 Will you assist the urban renewal of Fishermans Bend and inner city environmental management by transferring Committee of Management status for Westgate Park to the City of Melbourne?

Yes. Chronic underfunding of Parks Victoria has resulted in the neglect of Westgate Park and an over-reliance on the wonderful volunteers in Friends of Westgate Park. As Fishermans Bend is developed and its tens of thousands of new residents and workers move in, it is essential that high quality open space and strong bidoversity values are embedded throughout the precinct. Transfer of committee of management status to the City of Melbourne will greatly assist in rising to this challenge. We will also commit $50 million per year additional funding for Parks Victoria to make up for the underfunding.

Question 4 Will you commit to planning and building new local solutions to the recycling crisis, including the mass diversion of recyclables to waste, and waste to landfill, working with local governments?

Yes. The Greens have a plan for Victoria to take real steps towards a circular economy. We believe the Victorian public is looking for change, and industry and local government are looking for strategic vision and real investment. We have proposed a Waste Transition Plan to overhaul Victoria’s waste management systems which will be funded through improved use of the landfill levies collected into the Sustainability Fund. We want to commit $378 million to our plan which invests in the expansion of the local sorting & recycling industry, and boosts demand for locally recycled content through state & local government procurement. The plan seeks to end plastic pollution by introducing a Container Deposit Scheme, phasing out single-use plastics & microbeads, and mandating 70% recycled content in packaging. Our plan also closes the loop on food waste by strengthening kerbside collection & expanding processing infrastructure to produce compost and other recycled products. We have an initiative called Recycle Smarter which creates the Circular Economy Centre and seeks to build a roadmap for Victoria to reach the circular economy. We would also maintain waste-to-energy as a last resort, in particular incineration treatments, which unless it is part of a range of measures, is not the most environmentally suitable way to transform Victoria’s waste management system. Working with councils to transform Victoria’s composting system is critical to our plan and we’ve allocated $170million to support local councils.

You can find out more about our Compost not Landfill initiative at our website: https://compostnotlandfill.org/

Question 5 Will you commit to a canopy cover target on all State Government managed land in greater Melbourne to contribute to help create a metropolitan Urban Forest?

Yes. We particularly support the work of Resilient Melbourne, Nature Conservancy and metropolitan Councils to work towards setting meaningful targets and funding the delivery of a Metropolitan Urban Forest, just as we support the City of Melbourne’s own target and pursuit of a 40% canopy cover by 2040. The State Government and its agencies, as major land controllers throughout Greater Melbourne, must be a full and willing participant in metropolitan Urban Forest aspirations. We will amend the remit and powers of VicRoads, VicTrack, Melbourne Water and other key land controllers to ensure that vegetation retention and planting is embedded.

Question 6 What are your plans to tackle homelessness including with housing-first models where real social and health support is wrapped around stable medium-term housing solutions?

We will run a $100m pilot of the Housing First model in Melbourne, to increase funding for front line homelessness services and work towards ending homelessness altogether. The Housing First model is an evidence-based approach to homelessness services, and has been successfully introduced in Canada, the UK and New Zealand. We will pilot the program in inner Melbourne initially, with a view to rolling it out to the outer suburbs and regional Victoria once the program is established. The Greens also have a comprehensive plan to fix the housing crisis by building 40,000 public homes over the next 6 years, and a further 40,000 public, social and affordable dwellings over the following 6 years.

Our detailed plans can be found at: https://victoria.greens.org.au/housing

Question 7 Where will you fund and build safe bicycle commuter routes of state significance into the central city, and will you complete a bike share policy including the regulation of dockless shared bikes trading on public space, noting that Local Government lacks legal authority to regulate?

The Greens have committed to a plan of $250 million over the next term of government to building safer bike infrastructure including a Metropolitan Wide Bike Network.

As a priority the Greens will build Bike Route #1 17km separated bike lane from St.Kilda Rd to Sydney Road through the CBD. We will also prioritise the construction of separated bike lanes the length of Flemington Road.

Question 8 Will you seek a clear mandate to commence Metro Rail 2 on an identified route, and complete designs, planning and tenders by 2022?

Yes. The Melbourne Metro 2 rail project is critical to the liveability of Melbourne. The Greens have committed to immediately start planning for Melbourne Metro 2 with the aim to have project completed in a decade.

Read our full plan for Melbourne Metro 2 here: https://victoria.greens.org.au/transforming_transport

Question 9 By when will you complete and publish an integrated transport strategy for Victoria as required under the Transport Integration Act 2010?

The lack of a long term transport plan for Victorian has resulted in project like the West Gate Tunnel, which will pour thousands of cars into inner Melbourne and profit Transurban.

The Greens have committed to developing a long term integrated Victorian transport plan are required under the Transport Integration Act 2010

Read our full transport plan here: https://victoria.greens.org.au/transforming_transport

Question 10 Will you commit to a new Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate State, Local and community strategic planning- and governance-framework setting, to ensure the efficient planning of declared urban renewal areas in the municipality?

Yes. It is not enough for State and Local Government to pursue their individual responsibilities as planning authorities under the Act. There must be a level of coordination to minimize duplication and maximise efficiency. All of this must of course be balanced with genuine and transparent community reporting and consultation. Clear governance frameworks for the delivery of Fishermans Bend, Arden, Macaulay, City North and future urban renewal areas in the City of Melbourne must be established with Local Government an equal partner in managing the delivery of vital community infrastructure, open space and flood mitigation measures, all with a clear and predictable development contributions mechanism and other revenue.

Question 11 Will you review Part 3 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (‘amendment of planning schemes’) to improve the efficiency and coordination of amendments and reduce the increasingly litigious nature of panels, working with the City of Melbourne and stakeholders?

Yes. We are particularly concerned about recent escalation of legalism in planning panels, epitomised by the at times farcical Fishermans Bend experience. When planning decisions are made by the best paid lawyers rather than professional planners with expertise working with the community, we simply don’t end up with the best outcomes. All land owners and participants in the planning system with an interest must be able to have their say, but the balance is way out at the moment. We strongly support the full review and reform of Part 3 of the Act, and we will call for a parliamentary inquiry to conduct a wholescale review of the entire Act.

Question 12 What are your concrete plans to progress State housing affordability policy, particularly with regards to using underutilised State Government land for new public housing, and in rolling out inclusionary zoning on a large scale?

The Victorian Greens are committed to ending homelessness and making housing more affordable, and we have a suite of initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing in Victoria. The Greens have a plan to reverse years of neglect of our public housing stock, and give the public housing system the biggest investment it has seen in decades. We will create 40,000 new public housing units in the next six years, and a further 40,000 new affordable homes in the six years from 2025. We will also stop the Labor government’s sell-off of public housing land, including the proposed redevelopment at Abbotsford St in North Melbourne, and ensure that existing public housing land remains 100% public housing. The Greens will introduce inclusionary zoning into our planning system, so that new developments will only receive planning approval if they include a minimum number of affordable homes. The minimum numbers are:  30% of all new dwellings in large housing complexes (100+ dwellings)  20% of all new dwellings in housing complexes with between 15-100 dwellings  For apartment and townhouse developments of 15 or less dwellings, either 15% affordable housing or the contribution of an affordable housing levy in lieu. We will also introduce rent caps (capped at 2.5%, in line with the Reserve Bank’s inflation target) to make renting more affordable and stop rents rising.

Our detailed housing affordability plans can be found at https://victoria.greens.org.au/housing and https://victoria.greens.org.au/planning

Question 13 Will you remove the 25,000 sqm gross floor area threshold where the Minister for Planning becomes the Responsible Authority for planning applications, returning responsible authority status to the City of Melbourne, in the interests of removal of duplication between State and Local Government? Or at least increase the threshold to 50,000 sqm?

Yes. It is longstanding Greens policy at the City of Melbourne level, supported by our State policies for many years, to remove this threshold and eradicate the unnecessary duplication. We would like to see such applications continue to be heard in public meetings of Council, to continue sufficient levels of public scrutiny.

Question 14 Will you comprehensively and urgently review (with genuine City of Melbourne and public input) planning, building and owners corporation laws with a view to significantly clarifying categories of accommodation and tenancy types and ensure a fairer system for all high density residents?

Yes. Greens MP for Melbourne Ellen Sandell has worked closely with local community groups to address the challenges facing Melbourne’s apartment residents. The Victorian Greens support a comprehensive and holistic review of the Building, Planning and Owners Corporation laws. Currently different types of accommodation are effectively unregulated. The Government’s Owners Corporation Amendment (Short Stay Accommodation) Bill passed in this term of Parliament is woefully inadequate, and does not address the regulatory gaps for residential and commercial accommodation. We need a system that is predictable and fair for everyone.

We have also committed to legislate to regulate short-stays in Melbourne, looking at Sydney as a potential model, to ensure that the sharing economy can exist but that apartments built as residential units cannot be let out long-term solely as short-stays without regulation, pushing up rents and destroying community and amenity for apartment dwellers. The Greens have a dedicated apartments policy, which also includes better access to sustainability measures for apartment residents, which can be found at: https://victoria.greens.org.au/apartments

Question 15 Will you announce your plans for the future use of the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre and precinct in Parkville, and will you work with the City of Melbourne to ensure a clear plan for Parkville Gardens generally, so as to reduce the incidence of ad hoc planning rule changes site by site?

A final decision should be announced early in the next term of Parliament, but we believe this should only happen after significant meaningful community consultation. The Victorian Greens support an increase in the State-significant public open space of Royal Park. Plans for the Parkville Gardens should also showcase world’s best and environmentally sustainable social or public housing. The Greens will create a holistic plan for this precinct. Existing development plans and controls have been changed three times under the Andrews Labor Government, without any broader strategy. The piecemeal approach to planning in Parkville must stop.

Question 16 Will you set out a funding and delivery timeline for delivery of the Harbour Esplanade masterplan, fully integrated with the Stadium precinct and a renewed whole-of-Docklands Community and Place Plan?

We note that the City of Melbourne is attempting to draw specific plans out of Development Victoria at the moment. As the proponent of the masterplan, Development Victoria must take a more active role in delivering new works. We want to see the Minister for Major Projects dedicate specific funding for the completion of the masterplan over the course of the term of Parliament. Public consultation on the details of the waterfront proper and the extent of placement of the heritage sheds must occur first; a funding and delivery timeline should then be set out by 2020. We estimate the expenditure needed in the 2018-22 term of Parliament to be in the order of $50 million.

Question 17 Will you work with the City of Melbourne and other affected Councils to introduce new student accommodation design standards, similar to the Better Apartment Design Standards?

Yes. We are particularly concerned with the large number of less-than-adequately designed student apartments proliferating north of the CBD. With new Better Apartment Design Standards in place, there may be a perverse incentive for developers in control of very high value land to develop student accommodation, which is now far less regulated in the Victoria Planning Provisions. New design standards are necessary and should be prioritised for completion early in the next term of Parliament. The Greens have committed to better apartment quality standards including minimum sizes and our policy can be found here: https://victoria.greens.org.au/apartments

NAME : Fiona Patten’s Reason Party Victoria

Yes. Urban green space is an important focus of the Reason Party. Fiona’s platform includes an Urban green roofs and spaces policy – to create more leisure environments, cool our city, reduce storm water drainage, reduce energy usage and insulate buildings all year round.

Fiona Patten’s Reason Party policy includes the following:

A pragmatic plan to achieve energy emission targets while sustaining energy affordability  Extend Victoria’s Renewable Energy Action Plan beyond 2040  Plan transition from existing coal-fired plants, in the context of agreed energy targets  Invest in the feasibility of Victoria’s potential sites for pumped hydro-power  Increase clean energy and environmental incentives for local businesses  Reduce regulations which inhibit the uptake of clean energy by small businesses and residents

A pragmatic plan to protect our environment while sustaining our economy  Audit potential impacts of rising sea levels and extreme weather events  Facilitate and support efficient recycling and a state-wide war on waste  Promote and facilitate policies and opportunities for green roofs and spaces  Foster new industries focused on plastic and waste repurposing

Fiona embraces ideas around sustainable design and improved planning.

Question 3 Will you assist the urban renewal of Fishermans Bend and inner city environmental management by transferring Committee of Management status for Westgate Park to the City of Melbourne?

Fiona will embrace any plan that assists in the renewal of Fishermans Bend and would be happy to receive a briefing on this issue from the City of Melbourne.

Yes. Reason Policy includes facilitating and supporting efficient recycling and a state-wide war on waste; and fostering new industries focused on plastic and waste repurposing.

Question 5 Will you commit to a canopy cover target on all State Government managed land in greater Melbourne to contribute to help create a metropolitan Urban Forest?

Yes. See Urban green space policy above, which will incorporate a canopy cover target.

Question 6 What are your plans to tackle homelessness including with housing-first models where real social and health support is wrapped around stable medium-term housing solutions?

Reason promotes workable and rational approaches to dramatically reduce homelessness that include:  Focus on early interventions to identify and support those at risk of homelessness  Coordinated, multi-agency, well-funded responses to homelessness  Appoint a Victorian Commissioner for the Homeless  Tackle social isolation for 16 – 25 year olds

Fiona Patten is an advocate of the housing-first model.

Reason’s improved, interconnected and safer walking and cycling paths strategy includes:  A fully funded state-based cycling strategy, including strategic cycling corridors  Invest in safe, direct and continuous bike routes, separated from other forms of traffic  A plan to revitalise and expand existing cycling trails

Fiona Patten has already called for a state government based bike share policy.

Question 8 Will you seek a clear mandate to commence Metro Rail 2 on an identified route, and complete designs, planning and tenders by 2022?

Fiona Patten’s Reason Party embraces this concept. Fiona’s current policy platform includes “Prioritised construction of Melbourne Metro Tunnel Stage 2.”

Question 9 By when will you complete and publish an integrated transport strategy for Victoria as required under the Transport Integration Act 2010?

We would expect a government to deliver this as soon as possible and within the first 6 months of the 59th Parliament.

Yes.

We are happy to receive a briefing from the City of Melbourne to assist us in formulating policy on this issue.

Reason Policy seeks workable and rational approaches to dramatically increase housing affordability.  Permit reasonable increases to density in inner and middle suburbs  Remove tax barriers to build-to-rent and rent-to-buy schemes  Adopt more ambitious targets for the Public/Community Housing Renewal Plan  Reduce Stamp Duty on investment in social housing  Greater security for long-term renters.

Fiona Patten has raised the repurposing of underutilisation government land for public housing in Parliament.

Reason will embrace responsible planning guidelines that provide adequate natural light, fresh air, storage and space. If there is duplication, we would be happy to explore solutions that will resolve this.

State government legislation that passed last year, appeared insufficient to address the concerns of many residents in this sector. Reason would be happy to revisit these issues as we adjust to new sharing economies.

This question appears to be directed at Parties capable of forming government, however we can confirm that we would embrace any strategy that reduces ad hoc planning changes by site.

This question appears to be directed at Parties capable of forming government, however we can confirm that we have a strong party focus on long term planning and would be very supportive of a plan of this type.

Question 17 Will you work with the City of Melbourne and other affected Councils to introduce new student accommodation design standards, similar to the Better Apartment Design Standards?

Yes. This is sensible policy that Reason would embrace.

NAME : ALP Victoria

A re-elected Labor Government will invest $35 million to buy or repurpose 25 small pockets of land in built-up suburbs to create new parks where there is a lack of public open space.

Labor will work with local councils to find vacant lots and small, unused pieces of land for new “pocket parks” to be created across Melbourne.

Labor will also invest $10 million for councils to upgrade and landscape underutilised suburban space and local parks.

The Andrews Labor Government is taking action and has legislated for net zero emissions by 2050. A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will also increase Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to 50 per cent by 2030, creating thousands of jobs, putting more energy into the grid, increasing investment and driving down energy prices.

Question 3 Will you assist the urban renewal of Fishermans Bend and inner city environmental management by transferring Committee of Management status for Westgate Park to the City of Melbourne?

The Andrews Labor Government has spent considerable time engaging with the local community, developers and other stakeholder groups to establish a robust and comprehensive plan as a guideline for future development in Fishermans Bend.

The Fishermans Bend Development Board has been established to guide the planning and development of this landmark project for Melbourne. The Board will guide engagement with the community, advising on precinct plans and major decisions for Fishermans Bend, supporting the growth of healthy, thriving neighbourhoods while creating new jobs.

The board will be led by Ms Meredith Sussex AM as Chair. Ms Sussex is joined by a team of five experts in planning, industry, finance and transport: Ms Cheryl Batagol PSM, Ms Janet Bolitho, Mr Gary Liddle, Mr Martyn Myer AO and Ms Susan Oliver.

The Board will ensure the vision for Fishermans Bend is realised through accountability and good decision-making.

In addition, a Mayors’ Forum has been established with the City of Melbourne and the City of Port Phillip, continuing the strong partnerships and collaboration integral to the success of the area.

Decisions related to Westgate Park will be considered through these processes.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested over $100 million in waste and resource recovery over the last four years.

Under the $37 million Recycling Industry Strategic Plan, announced by Minister D’Ambrosio in July this year, a further $8.3 million was invested in recycling infrastructure, bringing the total investment by Government to over $21 million.

Through the Plan, we are also working closely with local government through MAV and the regional Waste and Resource Recovery Groups to deliver outcomes for local communities.

Question 5 Will you commit to a canopy cover target on all State Government managed land in greater Melbourne to contribute to help create a metropolitan Urban Forest?

The Andrews Labor Government supports sensitive and appropriate use of State Government managed land in greater Melbourne and decisions concerning each site will be made in accordance with relevant policies after consultation with all stakeholders.

Question 6 What are your plans to tackle homelessness including with housing-first models where real social and health support is wrapped around stable medium-term housing solutions?

Homes for Victorians encompassed a diverse range of relevant initiatives including:

• $152 million Family Violence Housing Blitz • $109 million homelessness investment package incorporating the $10 million Towards Home rough sleeping package • Increasing and renewing social housing stock

The Andrews Labor Government has been making our roads safer by removing dangerous and congested level crossings, upgrading roads and building new bike lanes and pedestrian crossings with the $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund. This includes the recent announcement to invest $27 million to make St Kilda Road safer for all users with new cycle lanes that physically separate drivers and cyclists.

Question 8 Will you seek a clear mandate to commence Metro Rail 2 on an identified route, and complete designs, planning and tenders by 2022?

The Andrews Government is spending more than any previous Government has to transform Victoria’s transport infrastructure. Key projects include:

• The West Gate Tunnel Project • The Metro Tunnel • the Airport Rail Link • the Regional Rail Revival program • Level Crossing Removal program • North East Link • Suburban Rail Loop

Question 9 By when will you complete and publish an integrated transport strategy for Victoria as required under the Transport Integration Act 2010?

The Andrews Government is spending more than any previous Government has to transform Victoria’s transport infrastructure. Key projects include:

• The West Gate Tunnel Project • The Metro Tunnel • the Airport Rail Link • the Regional Rail Revival program • Level Crossing Removal Projects • North East Link • Suburban Rail Loop

The Andrews Labor Government restored the City of Melbourne as a referral authority for planning applications in 2015. The Council has been closely engaged with the work on Fishermans Bend, where a Mayors Panel has been established to ensure full engagement with local government.

There is no current commitment relating to this.

Over the last four years we have taken action to support Victorians’ housing needs through Homes for Victorians which outlines a comprehensive set of policies addressing both supply and demand across all sectors of the market – ownership, rental, affordable housing, public housing and homelessness. This has included trialling inclusionary zoning on government land

releases, with a view to expanding this to other development sites.

There is no current commitment relating to this. It is relevant to note that the Andrews Labor Government restored the City of Melbourne as a referral authority for planning applications in 2015.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will release an exposure draft of a modernised Owners Corporations Act by the 30th of June 2019. This will provide all interested parties with the ability to provide input following the consultation undertaken over the past few years as part of the Consumer Property Law Review.

Relevant stakeholders will be consulted when considering the next steps for the Parkville Precinct.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will continue to work with relevant stakeholders on this project.

Question 17 Will you work with the City of Melbourne and other affected Councils to introduce new student accommodation design standards, similar to the Better Apartment Design Standards?

The Andrews Labor Government has already created new design standards for developers that is seeing an end to dog-box sized apartments without storage or proper ventilation and if re- elected we will undertake further reforms including:

• Increasing apartment setbacks from neighbouring properties to improve privacy, natural light, airflow and to stop streets being turned into cold, dark wind tunnels • Introducing minimum green space standards • Ensuring apartment exteriors are made from natural, durable and safe materials, such as brick, timber, concrete, metal, stone or non-combustible cladding

• Putting in place mandatory construction management plans to put an end to residents being disturbed by noise from construction workers or rubbish removalists outside reasonable hours

The City of Melbourne and its residents will be consulted along with other interested parties on these reforms.

NAME : Liberal Nationals

The Liberal Nationals support new open public space and, if elected on 24 November, will launch a review of public open space as part of our liveability policy. On the Ardern project, we believe Labor is proceeding without establishing a proper regime for public open space, but we will work within the contract in good faith.

The Liberal Nationals believe in a balanced energy mix, of which renewables are an important and growing component.

With respect to large scale renewal energy investment, the Liberal Nationals remains deeply concerned at the surge in electricity and gas costs that has occurred since 2014, especially following Daniel Andrews’ closure of Hazelwood. Victorian families and businesses are being smashed by Labor’s high energy prices. Unlike Labor, we will utilise our safe onshore conventional gas reserves to help bring down power prices.

However, on renewables we have already announced that a Liberal Nationals Government will support the local industry by requiring major renewables projects use 75 per cent Victorian content. We will also help to provide solar panels and batteries to every Victorian public school that wants them.

The Liberal Nationals strongly support environmentally sustainable design requirements within the Victorian Planning Provisions where these are not cost prohibitive.

With respect to greater Melbourne, our policy to reverse Labor’s Neighbourhood Residential Zone and General Residential Zone changes will slow the heat island effects being forced on Melbourne by Labor’s program of forced densification and relentless tree destruction, including along St Kilda Road.

Question 3 Will you assist the urban renewal of Fishermans Bend and inner city environmental management by transferring Committee of Management status for Westgate Park to the City of Melbourne?

The Andrews Labor Government has completely botched the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Project, including by calling in permits within days of a VCAT hearing and failing to provide for meaningful transport connections to the precinct.

In light of China’s import ban on certain types of recyclable goods originating from Australia, the Liberal Nationals will invest in technologies and infrastructure to support our local recycling industry.

Question 5 Will you commit to a canopy cover target on all State Government managed land in greater Melbourne to contribute to help create a metropolitan Urban Forest?

The Liberal Nationals will be releasing a liveability policy which includes proper measurement of Melbourne’s liveability and a commitment to a review of open space, prior to 24 November.

Question 6 What are your plans to tackle homelessness including with housing-first models where real social and health support is wrapped around stable medium-term housing solutions?

Under Labor, the public housing waiting list has soared. Labor has been in government for 15 of the last 19 years, and has done little to address the massive demands of Victoria’s enormous population growth. Increases in the cost of living have put pressure on households and businesses, with more families now requiring government support.

Under Daniel Andrews, an excess of 82,000 individuals are on the public housing wait list, and homelessness has increased by 72 per cent over the past five years. There are now 17,854 people on the priority access waiting list, up 78.2 per cent from March 2016. Thousands are also sleeping rough each night and the CBD like suburbs and towns across Victoria have seen a visible increase in homelessness.

The Liberal Nationals recognise that there are a range of contributing factors toward Victoria’s housing and homelessness problems including family violence, housing unaffordability, the rising cost of living, and mental health and substance abuse issues.

We have already announced a commitment to decentralise population growth throughout the whole of the state rather than accept the current situation where over 90 per cent of new growth is in greater Melbourne, which exacerbates public and private housing shortages.

We will also fast-track the release of an additional 290,000 residential housing lots to help make housing more affordable and anticipate releasing additional policies in these areas prior to 24 November.

Bicycles play an important role in supplementing, supporting and alternating for other modes of transport. The Liberal Nationals will continue to fund and support the provision of additional infrastructure if elected to government.

Question 8 Will you seek a clear mandate to commence Metro Rail 2 on an identified route, and complete designs, planning and tenders by 2022?

The Liberal Nationals recognise that Metro Rail 2 is an important further step in expanding public transport and we will take advice from Infrastructure Victoria on the future progress and implementation of Metro Rail 2.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Nationals have announced a suite of rail policies that will make a real difference to the lives of Melburnians and Victorians at large, including a regional High Speed Rail network, train line extensions from Cranbourne to Clyde and Frankston to Baxter and track duplication between Greensborough and Eltham, which will ease the squeeze on our cities.

Question 9 By when will you complete and publish an integrated transport strategy for Victoria as required under the Transport Integration Act 2010?

The timing of an integrated transport strategy will be determined in government but a Liberal Nationals Government will always comply with the law.

A Liberal Nationals Government will work with local government to locate and declare appropriate urban renewal areas.

Planning scheme amendments play an important role in amending our planning scheme and panels have traditionally played an important role in informing decision makers, including government, of the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of amendment proposals. The Liberal Nationals are prepared to work with all stakeholders to ensure panels do not become excessively litigious.

Housing affordability has declined over the four years of Daniel Andrews’ government, driven in part by a slew of new taxes and charges imposed on the property and development sector as well as a slow release of new land for housing. These are necessarily passed through to consumers making housing less affordable.

The Liberal Nationals believes that there is a role for State Government land to play in underpinning a variety of developments including new public housing.

The Liberal Nationals have no intention of changing the existing 25,000 sqm gross floor area arrangements, as we believe they provide a suitable threshold. However, we will work with the City of Melbourne to increase the current, narrow time period in which public and council input through the Future Melbourne Committee is accepted, for the mutual benefit of both parties.

Short stay accommodation is fast becoming a popular choice for consumers throughout the world.

The Liberal Nationals understand that the development of diverse short-stay accommodation options in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will be of immense benefit to property owners, the tourism industry and the economy as a whole. However, every effective regulatory system must balance the competing rights of direct parties to a contract as well as others who may be affected by arrangements entered into.

There can be no doubt that Daniel Andrews and Labor have lost control of short stay parties and their sometimes tragic outcomes.

While the Liberal Nationals have no plans to restrict the genuine property rights of mum and dad investors who choose to rent out their homes to earn legitimate income, we believe that there need to be rules and standards.

If elected to government, and after genuine, good faith consultation with all stakeholders, we will introduce legislation that better balances the rights of residential owners to manage their property as they see fit, with the rights of neighbouring residential property owners and residents who want quiet enjoyment of their homes. The Liberal Nationals will ensure that out of control ‘party houses’ are dealt with swiftly, and the rights of nearby neighbours are respected and upheld.

Under Daniel Andrews, youth justice continues to lurch from one crisis to another. Assaults and serious incidents have been at record levels, and riots and mass escapes have added to the chaos.

Victoria’s youth justice is now being described as more dangerous than an adult system.

Too many violent young offenders continue to have a negative influence on the Victorian community and too many children from state care are ending up in the youth justice system,

having fallen through the cracks of a system in disarray.

Over the last four years, the Victorian community has witnessed extreme gang violence on our streets and across our suburbs. Young offenders being involved in serious crimes such as carjacking, home invasions, and innocent Victorians are being subjected to violence as they just go about their business.

Too many young offenders whilst in youth justice have not been able to get the necessary and appropriate education and rehabilitation because quite simply, the Government has lost control.

The Liberal Nationals believe that offenders need to be held to account and that victims will be central to the decision making processes.

Rehabilitation and therapeutic programs implemented will need to be targeted, more robust, and adhered to.

Victorians expect more, and that is why under a future Liberal Nationals Government, the youth justice system will be more closely aligned with the community’s expectations.

The master planning of the Harbour Esplanade, the Stadium precinct and adjacent public land, forms an important opportunity for balanced development where community objectives, commercial and residential development are balanced to achieve an exemplary outcome.

Question 17 Will you work with the City of Melbourne and other affected Councils to introduce new student accommodation design standards, similar to the Better Apartment Design Standards?

The Liberal Nationals note the importance of education exports to Victoria and the variety of requirements of local and overseas students. The Better Apartment Design Standards were introduced in August 2017 and ought to be reviewed for effectiveness and achievement of objectives in late 2019. It would be appropriate to consider student accommodation as part of that review.