PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
(HANSARD)
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FIFTY-NINTH PARLIAMENT
FIRST SESSION
TUESDAY, 5 MARCH 2019
Internet: www.parliament.vic.gov.au/downloadhansard
By authority of the Victorian Government Printer
The Governor The Honourable LINDA DESSAU, AC The Lieutenant-Governor The Honourable KEN LAY, AO, APM
The ministry
Premier ...... The Hon. DM Andrews, MP
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education ...... The Hon. JA Merlino, MP
Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Industrial Relations ...... The Hon. TH Pallas, MP
Minister for Transport Infrastructure ...... The Hon. JM Allan, MP
Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice and Minister for Victim Support ...... The Hon. BA Carroll, MP
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and Minister for Solar Homes ...... The Hon. L D’Ambrosio, MP
Minister for Child Protection and Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers ...... The Hon. LA Donnellan, MP
Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality and Minister for Creative Industries ...... The Hon. MP Foley, MP
Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety ...... The Hon. J Hennessy, MP
Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Ports and Freight ...... The Hon. MM Horne, MP
Special Minister of State, Minister for Priority Precincts and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs ...... The Hon. GW Jennings, MLC
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, and Minister for Suburban Development ...... The Hon. M Kairouz, MP
Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services ...... The Hon. J Mikakos, MLC
Minister for Water and Minister for Police and Emergency Services .... The Hon. LM Neville, MP
Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and Minister for Racing ...... The Hon. MP Pakula, MP
Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, and Minister for Fishing and Boating ...... The Hon. JL Pulford, MLC
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Veterans ...... The Hon. RD Scott, MP
Minister for Local Government and Minister for Small Business The Hon. A Somyurek, MLC
Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Resources The Hon. J Symes, MLC
Minister for Training and Skills, and Minister for Higher Education .... The Hon. GA Tierney, MLC
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women and Minister for Youth The Hon. G Williams, MP
Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs ...... The Hon. RW Wynne, MP
Cabinet Secretary ...... Ms M Thomas, MP
OFFICE-HOLDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FIFTY-NINTH PARLIAMENT—FIRST SESSION
Speaker The Hon. CW BROOKS Deputy Speaker Ms JM EDWARDS
Acting Speakers Ms Blandthorn, Mr J Bull, Mr Carbines, Ms Couzens, Mr Dimopoulos, Mr Edbrooke, Ms Kilkenny, Mr McGuire, Mr Richardson, Ms Spence, Ms Suleyman and Ms Ward
Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Premier The Hon. DM ANDREWS
Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Deputy Premier The Hon. JA MERLINO
Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition The Hon. MA O’BRIEN
Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party The Hon. LG McLEISH
Leader of The Nationals and Deputy Leader of the Opposition The Hon. PL WALSH Deputy Leader of The Nationals Ms SM RYAN
Leader of the House Ms JM ALLAN
Manager of Opposition Business Mr KA WELLS
Heads of parliamentary departments Assembly: Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Ms B Noonan Council: Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Council: Mr A Young Parliamentary Services: Secretary: Mr P Lochert
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FIFTY-NINTH PARLIAMENT—FIRST SESSION
Member District Party Member District Party Addison, Ms Juliana Wendouree ALP Maas, Mr Gary Narre Warren South ALP Allan, Ms Jacinta Marie Bendigo East ALP McCurdy, Mr Timothy Logan Ovens Valley Nats Andrews, Mr Daniel Michael Mulgrave ALP McGhie, Mr Stephen John Melton ALP Angus, Mr Neil Andrew Warwick Forest Hill LP McGuire, Mr Frank Broadmeadows ALP Battin, Mr Bradley William Gembrook LP McLeish, Ms Lucinda Gaye Eildon LP Blackwood, Mr Gary John Narracan LP Merlino, Mr James Anthony Monbulk ALP Blandthorn, Ms Elizabeth Anne Pascoe Vale ALP Morris, Mr David Charles Mornington LP Brayne, Mr Chris Nepean ALP Neville, Ms Lisa Mary Bellarine ALP Britnell, Ms Roma South-West Coast LP Newbury, Mr James Brighton LP Brooks, Mr Colin William Bundoora ALP Northe, Mr Russell John Morwell Ind Bull, Mr Joshua Michael Sunbury ALP O’Brien, Mr Daniel David Gippsland South Nats Bull, Mr Timothy Owen Gippsland East Nats O’Brien, Mr Michael Anthony Malvern LP Burgess, Mr Neale Ronald Hastings LP Pakula, Mr Martin Philip Keysborough ALP Carbines, Mr Anthony Richard Ivanhoe ALP Pallas, Mr Timothy Hugh Werribee ALP Carroll, Mr Benjamin Alan Niddrie ALP Pearson, Mr Daniel James Essendon ALP Cheeseman, Mr Darren Leicester South Barwon ALP Read, Dr Tim Brunswick Greens Connolly, Ms Sarah Tarneit ALP Richards, Ms Pauline Cranbourne ALP Couzens, Ms Christine Anne Geelong ALP Richardson, Mr Timothy Noel Mordialloc ALP Crugnale, Ms Jordan Alessandra Bass ALP Riordan, Mr Richard Vincent Polwarth LP Cupper, Ms Ali Mildura Ind Rowswell, Mr Brad Sandringham LP D’Ambrosio, Ms Liliana Mill Park ALP Ryan, Stephanie Maureen Euroa Nats Dimopoulos, Mr Stephen Oakleigh ALP Sandell, Ms Ellen Melbourne Greens Donnellan, Mr Luke Anthony Narre Warren North ALP Scott, Mr Robin David Preston ALP Edbrooke, Mr Paul Andrew Frankston ALP Settle, Ms Michaela Buninyong ALP Edwards, Ms Janice Maree Bendigo West ALP Sheed, Ms Suzanna Shepparton Ind Eren, Mr John Hamdi Lara ALP Smith, Mr Ryan Warrandyte LP Foley, Mr Martin Peter Albert Park ALP Smith, Mr Timothy Colin Kew LP Fowles, Mr Will Burwood ALP Southwick, Mr David James Caulfield LP Fregon, Mr Matt Mount Waverley ALP Spence, Ms Rosalind Louise Yuroke ALP Green, Ms Danielle Louise Yan Yean ALP Staikos, Mr Nicholas Bentleigh ALP Guy, Mr Matthew Jason Bulleen LP Staley, Ms Louise Eileen Ripon LP Halfpenny, Ms Bronwyn Thomastown ALP Suleyman, Ms Natalie St Albans ALP Hall, Ms Katie Footscray ALP Tak, Mr Meng Heang Clarinda ALP Halse, Mr Dustin Ringwood ALP Taylor, Mr Jackson Bayswater ALP Hamer, Mr Paul Box Hill ALP Theophanous, Ms Katerina Northcote ALP Hennessy, Ms Jill Altona ALP Thomas, Ms Mary-Anne Macedon ALP Hibbins, Mr Samuel Peter Prahran Greens Tilley, Mr William John Benambra LP Hodgett, Mr David John Croydon LP Vallence, Ms Bridget Evelyn LP Horne, Ms Melissa Margaret Williamstown ALP Wakeling, Mr Nicholas Ferntree Gully LP Hutchins, Ms Natalie Maree Sykes Sydenham ALP Walsh, Mr Peter Lindsay Murray Plains Nats Kairouz, Ms Marlene Kororoit ALP Ward, Ms Vicki Eltham ALP Kealy, Ms Emma Jayne Lowan Nats Wells, Mr Kimberley Arthur Rowville LP Kennedy, Mr John Ormond Hawthorn ALP Williams, Ms Gabrielle Dandenong ALP Kilkenny, Ms Sonya Carrum ALP Wynne, Mr Richard William Richmond ALP
PARTY ABBREVIATIONS ALP—Labor Party; Greens—The Greens; Ind—Independent; LP—Liberal Party; Nats—The Nationals.
Legislative Assembly committees
Economy and Infrastructure Standing Committee Ms Addison, Mr Blackwood, Ms Connolly, Mr Eren, Mr Rowswell, Ms Ryan and Ms Theophanous.
Environment and Planning Standing Committee Mr Cheeseman, Mr Fowles, Ms Green, Mr Hamer, Mr McCurdy, Mr Morris and Mr T Smith.
Legal and Social Issues Standing Committee Ms Couzens, Ms Kealy, Mr Newbury, Ms Settle, Ms Suleyman, Mr Tak and Mr Tilley.
Privileges Committee Ms Allan, Mr Guy, Ms Hennessy, Mr McGuire, Mr Morris, Ms Neville, Mr Pakula, Ms Ryan and Mr Wells.
Standing Orders Committee The Speaker, Ms Allan, Ms Edwards, Ms Halfpenny, Ms McLeish, Ms Sheed, Mr Staikos, Ms Staley and Mr Walsh.
Joint committees
Dispute Resolution Committee Assembly: Ms Allan, Ms Hennessy, Mr Merlino, Mr Pakula, Mr R Smith, Mr Walsh and Mr Wells. Council: Mr Bourman, Mr Davis, Mr Jennings, Ms Symes and Ms Wooldridge.
Electoral Matters Committee Assembly: Ms Blandthorn, Ms Hall, Dr Read and Ms Spence. Council: Mr Atkinson, Mrs McArthur, Mr Meddick, Mr Melhem, Ms Lovell and Mr Quilty.
House Committee Assembly: The Speaker (ex officio), Mr T Bull, Ms Crugnale, Ms Edwards, Mr Fregon, Ms Sandell and Ms Staley. Council: The President (ex officio), Mr Bourman, Mr Davis, Ms Lovell, Ms Pulford and Ms Stitt.
Integrity and Oversight Committee Assembly: Mr Halse, Mr McGhie, Mr Rowswell, Mr Taylor and Mr Wells. Council: Mr Grimley and Ms Shing.
Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Assembly: Ms Blandthorn, Mr Hibbins, Mr Maas, Mr D O’Brien, Ms Richards, Mr Richardson, Mr Riordan and Ms Vallence. Council: Ms Stitt.
Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee Assembly: Mr Burgess, Ms Connolly and Ms Kilkenny. Council: Mr Gepp, Mrs McArthur, Ms Patten and Ms Taylor.
CONTENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS Acknowledgement of country ...... 627 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants ...... 627 Ministers statements: Victorian bushfires ...... 628 Victorian bushfires ...... 628 Ministers statements: Victorian bushfires ...... 629 Bushfire preparedness ...... 630 Ministers statements: labour hire licensing scheme ...... 632 Waste and recycling management ...... 632 Ministers statements: rail network upgrades ...... 633 Waste and recycling management ...... 634 Ministers statements: school breakfast clubs ...... 636 CONSTITUENCY QUESTIONS Rowville electorate ...... 637 Eltham electorate ...... 637 Euroa electorate ...... 637 Ivanhoe electorate ...... 638 South-West Coast electorate...... 638 Essendon electorate ...... 638 Morwell electorate ...... 638 Yuroke electorate ...... 639 Forest Hill electorate ...... 639 Carrum electorate ...... 639 RULINGS BY THE CHAIR Direct pecuniary interest ...... 639 BILLS Professional Engineers Registration Bill 2019 ...... 641 Introduction and first reading ...... 641 Major Transport Projects Facilitation Amendment Bill 2019...... 641 Introduction and first reading ...... 641 Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 ...... 642 Introduction and first reading ...... 642 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Notices of motion ...... 642 COMMITTEES Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee ...... 642 Alert Digest No. 3 ...... 642 DOCUMENTS Documents ...... 643 BILLS Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment (Public Interest Disclosures, Oversight and Independence) Bill 2018 ...... 644 Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2018 ...... 644 Council's agreement ...... 644 Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2018 ...... 644 Royal assent ...... 644 Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment (Public Interest Disclosures, Oversight and Independence) Bill 2018 ...... 644 Royal assent ...... 644 West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019 ...... 644 Appropriation ...... 644 JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT Senate vacancy ...... 644 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Program ...... 645 MEMBERS STATEMENTS Victorian bushfires ...... 650 Bendigo Cricket Club ...... 651 Heyvan ...... 651 The royal train ...... 651 Rural and regional banking ...... 651
Benalla V/line services ...... 652 Bill Begley ...... 652 Bail laws ...... 652 Victorian bushfires ...... 653 Frankston electorate schools ...... 653 Cycling infrastructure ...... 653 Homelessness ...... 653 Maroondah Highway–Killara Road, Coldstream...... 654 Phillip Yeung ...... 654 Hire car industry ...... 654 Craigieburn Festival ...... 655 Victorian bushfires ...... 655 Victorian bushfires ...... 656 Victorian bushfires ...... 656 Drought assistance ...... 656 Yarrawonga car and motorbike show ...... 656 Wangaratta Racing, Food and Wine Carnival ...... 657 Maurie Smith ...... 657 Joshua Tyler ...... 657 Tiffany Morelli ...... 657 Victorian bushfires ...... 657 Laurimar Primary School ...... 657 Sebastopol Men’s Shed ...... 658 Pinarc Disability Support ...... 658 Economic and cultural development ...... 658 Sunbury Blue Light disco ...... 658 Ivanhoe library and arts hub ...... 659 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Notices of motion ...... 659 BILLS Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018 ...... 659 Second reading ...... 659 JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT Senate vacancy ...... 704 ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT Governor’s speech ...... 704 Address-in-reply ...... 704 ADJOURNMENT Warrandyte electorate bus services ...... 715 Hillsmeade Primary School ...... 715 Gippsland South electorate wind farms...... 716 Sunbury railway station car parking ...... 716 West Gippsland Hospital ...... 717 Victoria State Emergency Service West Heidelberg unit ...... 717 Public intoxication strategy ...... 718 Early childhood education facilities ...... 718 Evelyn electorate transport infrastructure ...... 719 Oakleigh railway station infrastructure ...... 719 Responses ...... 720
ANNOUNCEMENTS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 627
Tuesday, 5 March 2019
The SPEAKER (Hon. Colin Brooks) took the chair at 12.02 p.m. and read the prayer. Announcements ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The SPEAKER (12:03): We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land on which we are meeting. We pay our respects to them, their culture, their elders past, present and future, and elders from other communities who may be here today. Questions without notice and ministers statements ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF POLICE INFORMANTS Mr M O'BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (12:04): My question is to the Premier. The Premier told Jon Faine yesterday in relation to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants:
So we’ve got a royal commission, expansive terms of reference, the budget it needs, the time it needs. Since this royal commission was established, the years under investigation have now doubled, while the number of royal commissioners has halved. Yet the Premier has provided no extension of reporting time to the royal commission nor announced any increase in resources. Given this, will the Premier now commit to providing the royal commission with the additional resources and reporting time that are needed commensurate with the increased scale of this inquiry? Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:04): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and his interest in this vitally important matter. The government responds to requests made by the royal commission in relation to the scope of the terms of reference and the timing that is provided for under the instruments that created the royal commission—the letters patent. Beyond that we respond in terms of budget. Any resources needed by the royal commission will be provided by the government to the royal commission. It is important that we establish exactly what has gone on here in terms of the management of police informants, understand the impacts of that conduct and then hopefully—not as a government and an opposition but as a Parliament—come together to implement whatever recommendations the royal commission provides to us. The Leader of the Opposition should be in no doubt that the Attorney-General is in regular contact with the royal commission and its staff, and we stand ready to do anything more that is needed, but at this stage my advice is that no such extension of budget or time or personnel has been made. There has been no request made, and therefore I am providing the Leader of the Opposition with a statement of our intent. There is no request that is live at this point. Mr M O'BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (12:06): I ask the Premier: is his government’s reluctance to proactively offer additional resources or an extension of time to the royal commission because Nicola Gobbo, also known as Lawyer X, has been a longstanding activist in the Labor Party? Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! The members for Mordialloc and Ivanhoe! Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:06): Thank you very much, Speaker. The answer to the question is no, but I might just take the opportunity to say in passing that I think that it is a pretty long bow to be describing the Gobbo family as Labor mates. I would have thought that would be one of the longest bows I have seen drawn in this place and that not even him over there in the ejector seat would have pulled a bow that long. Really, the Leader of the Opposition ought to do better than that.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS 628 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:07): Obviously it is with great concern that I update the house in relation to fires that are burning out in the east of the state. They are the ones we are most concerned about. There were 28 going fires across the state as of this morning, with several watch and act messages in place. This is a very significant challenge. We have seen more than 2000 firefighters working hard to manage these fires, along with additional support both at a leadership level and with additional aircraft, particularly that have come from our friends in New South Wales and other support from South Australia. We thank them for their support, and we acknowledge that that is the system working as it should—a national effort, a partnership between different jurisdictions. We all look out for each other in our times of need. The fires of most concern are of course at Bunyip, Yinnar South, Dargo and Licola. A total of nine properties, including two houses—these numbers may change, but these are the confirmed numbers as I stand here now—have been lost, and unfortunately we have seen very significant impacts in terms of shedding and other infrastructure, including fencing and things of the like. There will be a very big clean-up once these fires are brought under control, and the government stands ready through all of its agencies to provide support and assistance, practical and otherwise, to each and every person affected by these fires. I do have an opportunity beyond providing this update to thank those more than 2000 firefighters— volunteer and career—many of them wearing different coloured overalls, different uniforms. They are from all of our services, and some are from none of our services at all. I want to thank each and every one of them for their commitment, for their passion, for their bravery and for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect property. We can rebuild homes but we obviously cannot replace those lost, and that is why it is so pleasing to note that we have had no serious injury or loss of life. VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (12:09): My question is to the Premier. I refer the Premier to the fact that over the weekend firefighters were without access to critical firefighting machinery because anti- forestry protesters had chained themselves to bulldozing equipment. With life and property at risk, why did the government not enforce laws that were specifically designed to prevent protest action from threatening public safety? Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:10): I thank the Leader of The Nationals for his question. I will need to get some specific advice in relation to the application of the laws that he cites, but I have no advice to say that there was any impact. This is the advice I have; you may have a different view. The advice I have is that there was no impact in relation to machinery not being able to be used that would otherwise have been used. In fact throughout the course of the weekend, when many of us I think spent many hours being briefed, visiting the State Control Centre and in teleconferences, my understanding—my advice—is that there was very substantial excavation work, earthmoving work and it was very successful in containing this fire, particularly the Bunyip fire. I should say, on top of that of course we have had the biggest aerial fleet the state has ever seen, with support from other states, both large air tankers as well as smaller assets. Beyond that we had strike teams and others doing such an amazing job on the ground. So with all three of those different methods, if you like, we were able to contain the fire at the highway despite the change and despite the challenges of then a sea breeze the day after the change and, almost at the same time, persistent northerly winds in the last couple of days. Those firefighters have done all of us proud, and I want to thank them and congratulate them for the work that they have done. But we also should acknowledge that these fires are still going. There are still people on the fireground right now putting themselves in harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe, so I thank them. I cannot accept, I should say, the point that has been made by the Leader of the National Party. My advice is different in that these assets, bulldozers and the like, were a very important part, a critical part, in the firefighting
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 629 effort over the course of the weekend. I am happy to follow up the specifics that he mentions and particularly to get some advice in relation to laws that were or were not applied. Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (12:12): There was a 10-hour delay in accessing critical firefighting machinery from a particular harvest and haul contractor. Given the ongoing nature of these protests, I ask the Premier: what steps are being taken by the government to ensure that critical firefighting equipment supplied by logging contractors is not held up again because of reckless and illegal behaviour by a small minority who believe that their protest is more important than saving lives and property? Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:12): A couple of points. Firstly, no protest is more important than saving life and property. Members interjecting. Mr ANDREWS: I am giving you the government’s view—my view and the government’s view. The SPEAKER: Through the Chair. Mr ANDREWS: That is the first point that I would make. There is no daylight between us on that issue. Be very clear about that. In terms of the assertion that has been made, no doubt in good faith, I would need to establish that that has in fact occurred before I can provide a response to it. Members interjecting. Mr ANDREWS: I do not have the advice. I do not have the information and the material that the Leader of the National Party is putting to me. I will confirm that, as I think I— Mr WALSH: On a point of order, Speaker, Brad Meyer was the harvest and haul contractor who had his machinery held up for 10 hours— Ms Allan: Well, why didn’t you supply that information? The SPEAKER: Order! Without the assistance of the Leader of the House. Mr WALSH: On the point of order, the Premier has said he wants more information. I am providing more information. Brad Meyer was the contractor whose machinery had protesters chained to it so he could not actually take it away to fight a fire. I ask the Premier: what is going to be done in the future to make sure protesters do not put their protests ahead of community safety? The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. Mr ANDREWS: Whilst I am indebted to the Leader of the National Party for the further information he has provided, when I referred to the need to get further information I was of course referring to fire services at Emergency Management Victoria. No offence to the Leader of the National Party, but I will get further advice on that. But there is no difference—no daylight—between us when it comes to the central point: no protest is more important than protecting life and property. MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine—Minister for Water, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (12:14): I just wanted to provide some further information in relation to some of our fires that are currently ongoing. This summer we have had over 2990 grassfires and bush fires. Yesterday alone we had 25 start as a result of lightning. We have got key concerns in relation particularly to four fires. There are others that are in the landscape as well: Bunyip, which has now grown to over 14 000 hectares; Licola, over 18 000 hectares; Dargo, over 12 000 hectares; and Yinnar South, over 1800 hectares. Over the weekend—and yesterday, and it is continuing today—we had over 2000 firefighters out there and 80 aircraft working on these fires. On the weekend alone at the very
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS 630 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 erratic fire that happened in the Bunyip State Forest we saw 850 firefighters, 160 appliances and four large air tankers flying over. They held it at the highways, the Premier said, but when I flew over yesterday what was extraordinary to see was the extent to which homes have been saved. I think it is something like 140 homes that have been saved, burning almost to the door—incredible efforts by our fire and aerial teams. I know that there are seven families that have lost homes and are suffering, and we will be with those families in coming days and weeks and months. Similarly in Yinnar South there have been around 200 firefighters, 40 trucks, vehicles and dozers. Licola and Dargo are the same. We had 400 police out doing evacuations and doorknocking in emergency warning areas. There were 330 community warnings, 57 emergency warnings, 1200 people at relief centres, and 45 grants and payments were made over the weekend. We had Forest Fire Management Victoria and volunteer and career CFA and MFB crews on the ground. I can absolutely tell you, having looked at the impact of that fire, they put their lives on the line over the last weekend and are still doing that today, and I want to thank them on behalf of the community. BUSHFIRE PREPAREDNESS Mr MORRIS (Mornington) (12:16): My question is also for the Premier. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission found that prescribed burning was one of the main tools for fire management on public land. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) annual report reveals that the amount of planned burning has dropped from 234 614 hectares in 2014– 15 to only 64 978 hectares in 2017–18, a reduction of almost 75 per cent on your watch. My question to the Premier is: why has the government put Victorians at risk by failing to fully implement recommendation 56 of the Black Saturday royal commission? Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:17): I thank the member for Mornington for his question, and I reject the assertions in his question. There has been no such failure at all. The member for Mornington and others opposite—in fact all members—would do well, I think, to just pause and think about this for one moment. I can remember going to the township of Lancefield and having to explain, together with the local member and the then minister for the environment, how it is that a controlled burn that occurred in circumstances that were not only in theory unsafe but got out of hand, and a number of homes were destroyed by the government, in effect, and its agency putting fire into that landscape. If the member for Mornington wants to talk about safety, then surely— Members interjecting. Mr ANDREWS: Well, you can talk about safety, but the— Mr Walsh: On a point of order, Speaker, the question from the shadow minister for the environment was very clear about controlled burns, and I ask you to bring the Premier back to answering that particular question about why the government is not honouring its commitment to the Black Saturday royal commission to have a 5 per cent burn target. The government has clearly failed its own target. If you go to the DELWP annual report, the government has clearly failed its own target, and I ask you to bring the Premier back to answering that question, please. The SPEAKER: The Leader of The Nationals has concluded his point of order. There is no point of order. The question to the Premier was quite a broad question. Mr ANDREWS: The very simple answer to the question is that we will only do controlled burning when it is safe to do so—safe for landholders, safe for those doing the controlled burning. I would commend— Members interjecting.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 631
Mr ANDREWS: Well, given that the member for Mornington is apparently an expert on these matters, I would commend to him the Safer Together document, that framework, following Lancefield, where we were all, I think, well reminded that if you have got significant fuel load, if you have got literally no moisture whatsoever in that landscape, if you have got wind conditions and temperature conditions, all of those, either separately or jointly, are a recipe for disaster if you push ahead blindly with controlled burning, as it would seem the member for Mornington is proposing and advancing. The advice from fire services, from Emergency Management Victoria and from— Ms Neville interjected. Mr ANDREWS: indeed from the inspector general of emergency management, from the Lancefield community, I dare say, and from those who are called upon to conduct this controlled burning is that it can only be done when safe to do so. It is— Members interjecting. Mr ANDREWS: Well, to be lectured by others about a lack of resources, really—$66 million cut from the fire services. If those opposite want to play politics with this, then that is fine. It reflects on them, not on any of the policy settings that have been set by this government. We will only do controlled burning when it is safe to do so. That is the advice of our fire services, and that is what common sense tells you ought to be the case, not the alternative, as advanced by the member for Mornington, which is to burn and burn and burn more, regardless of the risks involved. Ms Allan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House will come to order. Mr MORRIS (Mornington) (12:21): Clearly the strategy is working well. Mr Andrew Clarke of Jinks Creek Winery said, after having his winery destroyed by the Bunyip State Park fire: I’ve been begging them— referring to Forest Fire Management Victoria— for 20 years to burn off the state forest at the back of our place and still to this day it hasn’t happened. So the supplementary is— Ms Neville: That’s wrong. The SPEAKER: The Minister for Police and Emergency Services! Mr MORRIS: So the supplementary is: why haven’t the requests of people like Andrew Clarke been acted on so that the risk of out-of-control wildfire is reduced? Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:22): I do not want to be having through the member for Mornington an argument with a man who has lost his house and his livelihood. I will not do that. I do have to make the point, though, that my advice is that there have been controlled burns in the Bunyip State Forest in 2008, 2012 and 2016. I am also further advised that in relation to the fires that we have dealt with over this last 72-hour period—and again I make the point—there are firefighters on the fireground right now putting themselves in harm’s way. So the member for Mornington can keep asking his questions, and I will keep answering them, but I will never forget the fact that there are people right this minute out there on the fireground. I would also make the point to the member for Mornington that lightning caused these fires on the weekend. One of the strikes, which was the beginning of one of these fires, was in an area that was control-burnt back in 2016. I am happy to have a debate about this. Keep asking questions.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS 632 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
MINISTERS STATEMENTS: LABOUR HIRE LICENSING SCHEME Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (12:23): I rise to update the house on Victoria’s first ever labour hire licensing scheme. It is going to clean up the industry, and it is going to put the interests of workers first. It is based on a fundamental principle—that is, of course, that workers should earn a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. I want to thank the former Minister for Industrial Relations for the great work that she did in establishing a move towards this. The basic principle of a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work is one that those opposite do not believe in. We know they have fronted this Parliament and they have waxed lyrical about how this government does the right thing by workers, although in their minds, of course, it is the wrong thing. Instead of supporting these vital laws let us never forget that they voted against them. That is not surprising because the Leader of the Opposition, as we know, is no friend of workers. When those opposite were last in government what we saw were some 4200 public servants lose their jobs. Let us not forget that they went to war with our paramedics as well. They cut our vital services. By contrast, this government is focused on not only creating jobs—with 440 000 jobs created across this state—but also creating good jobs with fair conditions. Our labour hire scheme is part of our zero-tolerance approach to the exploitation of Victorian workers. With all the recent resignations from cabinet in Canberra, of course, Scott Morrison may soon be looking for labour hire to fill his ministry. He should well be aware that under our scheme, labour hire services will be required to hold a valid licence, and businesses that breach these arrangements using unlicensed providers will pay up to half a million dollars in fines. For Scott Morrison, he might struggle to meet the minimum competence level. WASTE AND RECYCLING MANAGEMENT Ms SANDELL (Melbourne) (12:25): My question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. The minister is no doubt well aware of the huge recycling and waste crisis facing Victoria. Residents in 20 council areas are now having their recycling sent to landfill, including residents in the minister’s own electorate of Mill Park. I know the minister has said that she is working with councils and companies to try and find solutions, but surely now is the time to commit to some long-term plans to get us out of this mess. My question is: given this escalating crisis, will the government now bring us into line with South Australia and New South Wales and introduce a 10-cent refund on bottles and cans and also a ban on unnecessary single-use plastics, like the EU has just voted on? Ms D'AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (12:26): I thank the member for Melbourne for her question. Certainly everyone will know that there are some significant challenges that have been facing the recycling sector now for sometime—globally, in Australia and of course in Victoria. We have wasted no time in working with councils, from last year at the very least, providing additional resources to them to manage the changes in contractual arrangements that they needed to implement last year, providing additional resources— in fact, record resources, record funding—to waste programs in this state. We also released a recycling strategic plan last year, which identified not just short-term but medium and longer term strategies that need to be addressed to actually deal with this issue in a complete sense. The challenges that we face of course are some things that cannot just be addressed by 10-word slogans, in fact, or indeed any individual programs such as the container deposit scheme, whether or not a CDS is available to us in Victoria, as in other states. Where it is available it has not actually solved a lot of the problems that are confronting the recycling industry. What is important here is that we are working with councils today, day by day, identifying alternative processes that are able to take on their waste. I am happy to report that as of today about 30 per cent of the councils that are impacted by the SKM Recycling situation have found alternative processes. We hope that in the next few days
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 633 we will have further information to report on a significant number of other councils that are still working right now, with our support, to identify alternative processes. What is very important for us to be very clear about is that what the member for Melbourne is actually advocating, we are already doing—with record amounts of investment. And let us not forget where this whole problem started. SKM has been a rogue operator, and I make no bones about this in identifying them as cowboys in the sector. They have been in frequent breach of the high standards of the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), putting communities at risk. We never want to see a repeat of what happened in Coolaroo, where for 12 days a fire raged, and the efforts of our firefighters to contain that, with many, many people having to be evacuated. We make no apology for giving the EPA additional resources, additional powers to crack down on what exactly happened here. Let us not forget where this whole thing started: with a rogue operator that has put the community at risk. We will not tolerate that as a government. Ms SANDELL (Melbourne) (12:29): I thank the minister for her answer. The minister refers to SKM as ‘cowboys,’ so maybe now it is time to create a proper local recycling industry right here in Victoria. The government, as we understand it, is sitting on over $500 million in the Sustainability Fund, money collected precisely to deal with problems like waste. I know in the past the minister has blamed the former Liberal government for not spending enough of this money, but the current Labor government has also not spent the full amount and the fund continues to prop up the government’s budget. My question is: Minister, in the budget this May will the government spend the remainder of the Sustainability Fund on creating long-term solutions, like a 10-cent refund on bottles and cans, a local bottle recycling plant in Victoria or plans to require packaging sold in Victoria to be made of recycled materials? Ms D'AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (12:30): I thank the member for her supplementary question. Let’s be very clear: our government has provided record investment towards recycling waste and resource recovery. Let me also be clear that money alone is not going to solve the crisis that we have got here. It is a global crisis impacting Australia and of course our state. There are a whole range of complex issues that we are working through with councils, and the reality is— Ms McLeish interjected. Ms D’AMBROSIO: Are you okay? The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair and without interjections. Ms D’AMBROSIO: The reality is that we are working with councils on the solutions that are required through our strategic plan, and I do want to acknowledge and thank the member for Melbourne for acknowledging that the very ideas that she is proposing we are now actually starting to implement in a holistic and comprehensive way to solve what is a very complex problem. MINISTERS STATEMENTS: RAIL NETWORK UPGRADES Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Public Transport) (12:31): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s record upgrades in our rail network. We are 100 days in, and we are not wasting a moment in getting on with delivering Victoria’s Big Build. Our investment in transport infrastructure will gear up again this Easter with a construction blitz scheduled from March until April. Construction workers will be working around the clock on the southern entrance of the Metro Tunnel and preparing for the high-capacity metro trains, which are scheduled to come online later this year. These works will ensure that we can run more trains more often across Melbourne. Work will take place on six metropolitan train lines, including the Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston, Sandringham, Mernda and Glen Waverley lines. The additional maintenance and upgrade works are
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS 634 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 scheduled across the network throughout the blitz, thanks to a 37 per cent increase in maintenance as part of the new franchise contracts. Now, I know works can frustrate commuters, and we appreciate people’s patience during this time. We have timed the works to be over the quieter Easter holiday period, and I know there are a few football fans amongst us— Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the minister to resume her seat. Members on my right! The member for Bentleigh is warned. On a point of order, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. Ms McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, it appears that the minister on her feet is actually reading a document, and if that is the case I ask her if she could table it, please. Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bentleigh! Is the minister reading or referring to notes? Ms HORNE: Referring to notes. The SPEAKER: The minister, to continue. Ms HORNE: As I said, there are a number of footy games going on during this construction blitz, and that is why we have actually extended the free tram zone to make sure that people can get where they need to go and get to those footy games. Public Transport Victoria, Melbourne Metro and V/Line will work with VicRoads to ensure that there are buses going to where they need to go, and we have got more than 600 replacement buses out on the network. We will make sure that disruption is kept to a minimum and that people go where they need to. We understand that disrupting people’s travel time is frustrating, but we need to get on with the job. WASTE AND RECYCLING MANAGEMENT Ms STALEY (Ripon) (12:34): My question is to the Treasurer. The government has permitted our kerbside recycling system to fail, forcing councils to send massive amounts of recycling material to landfill, yet the government continues to collect the municipal and industrial landfill levy, partly paid to the Sustainability Fund, which now has reserves greater than $500 million. Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: The member for Essendon! Members are entitled to ask question or raise points of order without being shouted at across the chamber. Members will be removed from the chamber without warning. Ms STALEY: Will the Treasurer suspend the collection of this bin tax while municipalities have no option other than to send kerbside recycling to landfill? Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (12:35): I thank the member for Melbourne for her second supplementary question. Members interjecting. Mr PALLAS: Sorry, the member for Ripon. The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer will refer to members by their correct title. Mr PALLAS: It was a case of mistaken identity, but very consistent messaging, might I say. Mr Walsh: On a point of order, Speaker, I hate to be a killjoy, but this is a very serious issue around recyclable product going into landfill. I ask you to bring the Treasurer back to actually treating that with the respect the question deserves. His frivolous, flippant comments do not do him any justice. He is just showing what a fool he is.
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The SPEAKER: Order! You had me for the first part of that point of order. I ask the Treasurer to come to answering the question. Mr PALLAS: The landfill levy plays an important role in being able to make sure that as a state we have a sufficiently resourced policy aimed at reducing the amount of waste produced and also ensuring that waste production is being put into long-term and viable industries that can recycle the commodities. Additional to that, the policy that we put out in the middle of last year basically looks at how we can use our procurement strategies also to leverage appropriate use of recycled materials in our infrastructure projects. The landfill levy plays a vital role. It produces a very substantial amount of capacity for the state. We do know that a consequence of China’s recent policy—the National Sword policy—has had significant ripple effects upon the industry. So we have made investments. Some $37 million has gone into ensuring the sustainability of Victoria’s recycling industry. That investment has seen things like— Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order. The Treasurer will resume his seat. I do ask the member for South-West Coast to cease shouting across the chamber as well. Ms Staley: On a point of order, Speaker, just on relevance, I asked whether the government was going to suspend the bin tax, not for a general dissertation on the operations of that fund or on what China may or may not be doing. It is a very simple question with a yes or no answer. The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is being relevant to the question. Mr PALLAS: Let me be very clear. As the minister made clear in her response, we will continue to work with councils and the recycling industry in order to ascertain opportunities to pick up what constitutes a very substantial shortfall in our recycling capacity, but let me also be very clear that the state will not assume the responsibilities of local government. We will help them, we will work towards a viable long-term industry, but we will not be in the position effectively of providing local governments with their core responsibility to the community. We have made $14.5 million available through immediate investment to assist local councils with their recycling collection agencies. We have given $8.3 million to expand the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund. We have given $2 million towards market development for recycled materials. We have given $3 million for public education to make sure that we continue to impress upon the community the need for the recycling effort. Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, I think the Treasurer is now debating the question. The question was: will he suspend the bin tax? I ask him to answer the question. Will he suspend the bin tax—yes or no? The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer is being relevant to the question, so I do not uphold the point of order. The Treasurer to continue. The Treasurer has concluded his answer. Ms STALEY (Ripon) (12:40): So, Treasurer, the bin tax is designed to encourage recycling, which is now impossible because the government has allowed— Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Frankston can leave the chamber for the period of 1 hour. Member for Frankston withdrew from chamber. Ms STALEY: The bin tax is designed to encourage recycling, which is now impossible because the government has allowed the kerbside recycling system to collapse. Treasurer, just like the banks that have been named in the royal commission charging for services not delivered, why is the Andrews government now charging Victorians for a service that is not being delivered?
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND MINISTERS STATEMENTS 636 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (12:40): I thank the member for her question and I just make this point: it is a refreshing change of history that now the Liberal Party are citing the banking royal commission with some positivity, having denied the need for it on 29 occasions. A member interjected. Mr PALLAS: Twenty-six! Our position is that the landfill levy does and continues to play a vitally important role. It puts pricing pressure around the production of waste and makes sure that it is appropriately disposed of. The state will use these resources, and has up until now, to ensure that appropriate recycling infrastructure is put in place. It would be foolhardy for us not to leave that pricing pressure in place, particularly given that Victoria still lags behind other states. Indeed, the state of New South Wales—with a temporary coalition government in place there, I imagine—charges a considerably higher landfill levy than this state does. MINISTERS STATEMENTS: SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUBS Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education) (12:42): I rise to update the house on the delivery of the Andrews Labor government’s school breakfast clubs program. The first 100 days of this second term has marked another milestone. The program has now served 7 million breakfasts across Victoria, ensuring students have the best possible start to their school day. Seven million times students arriving at school on an empty stomach have benefited from free nutritious breakfasts. Since 2016, 50 000 students from 500 schools have been supported, with teachers reporting improved concentration in the classroom, improved attendance at school and stronger relationships with their students. But of course there is more that needs to be done. That is why the Andrews government, in its second term, will expand the program to a further 500 schools, provide free lunches to participating schools, provide school holiday backpacks for kids that teachers have identified need that support during school holidays and deliver a series of cooking classes to deliver nutrition and meal preparation education to families to make sure that kids get a nutritious diet. Importantly, we will continue to work with Foodbank to include locally sourced products to deliver the expanded program. These are our priorities. These are Labor priorities. We would not, like some, cut the education maintenance allowance. We would never threaten funding cuts to Foodbank, like the minority Morrison government did. Only Labor genuinely supports vulnerable kids and their families, whether it be through the school breakfast program, whether it be through the school uniforms program, glasses for kids or the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund. Only Labor supports our kids to give them the best start in life. Mr Wells: On a point of order, Speaker, during ministerial statements today—and I seek your clarification—you said the Minister for Public Transport gave her ministerial statement all about public transport infrastructure. Now, we have a Minister for Transport Infrastructure—the member for Bendigo East—and I am wondering if we could get some clarity on this side, on the opposition side, on what roles and responsibilities each minister should confine their discussions or statements to, because from what we heard today we would have thought that that statement should have come from the Minister for Transport Infrastructure rather than the Minister for Public Transport. Ms Allan: On the point of order, Speaker, it has been 100 days since the election, and I am pleased that the opposition are just now coming to this issue of the creation of the new portfolio of transport infrastructure. I listened very carefully to my colleague the Minister for Public Transport’s ministerial statement. If those opposite had bothered listening to the statement, instead of the constant interjections that they subjected the minister to, they would have heard the minister talk about the disruption that is happening to public transport passengers as a consequence of our Big Build agenda. Why are we building transport infrastructure? To build a better public transport network, which the minister is responsible for. She was entirely sticking within the confines of her portfolio responsibility, and on
CONSTITUENCY QUESTIONS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 637 the way through she needed to reference the building agenda to be able to talk about the disruption that passengers were experiencing. I would be delighted to offer the members opposite a briefing on the transport infrastructure portfolio. Indeed the shadow minister had his briefing last Friday, and he may not have communicated back to his party room the content of that briefing. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of the shadow minister. I am happy to provide the Manager of Opposition Business with further information, but pretty simply it is like this: I am responsible for building the infrastructure that the Minister for Public Transport is responsible for operating, and we are pleased to work together as we build a better, stronger public transport system. Mr Battin: On the point of order, Speaker, to support the Manager of Opposition Business, we recently wrote to the Minister for Public Transport about those disruptions caused by the infrastructure, which were stated today to be part of that responsibility. The reply from the Minister for Public Transport was that this was not part of her portfolio and could I please write to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. I am more than happy to supply that letter to the Parliament if you would like, but that was the exact response from the Minister for Public Transport. Members interjecting. The SPEAKER: Order! I do agree that there is a level of overlap between the two portfolios, but I do not uphold the point of order raised by the Manager of Opposition Business. Constituency questions ROWVILLE ELECTORATE Mr WELLS (Rowville) (12:47): (183) My question is to the Minister for Roads. Minister, can you advise how VicRoads has monitored the safety and operation of Wellington Road, between Stud Road and Clauscen Drive, in Rowville since the former roads minister wrote to me on 31 August 2017 promising that VicRoads would do so? A constituent had a frightening near miss on Friday, 22 February, when she was nearly hit by a car on the pedestrian crossing—can you believe it?—near the childcare centre at 1028 Wellington Road. She was crossing Wellington Road on a green pedestrian light. This incident is the tip of the iceberg at this section of Wellington Road, with one resident saying, ‘Local roads are so congested that it’s actually getting quite dangerous, as the community are losing their patience’. I alerted the roads minister to residents’ concerns about the extra traffic when the childcare centre was first proposed. It is frustrating to see that two years later the government continues to ignore the warning of these residents. ELTHAM ELECTORATE Ms WARD (Eltham) (12:48): (184) My question is for the Minister for Education. Minister, I thank you and the Andrews government for the substantial investment in my local schools. I know that St Helena Secondary College, a terrific local school, is enjoying its soccer pitch and netball courts built by the Andrews government. Last year’s state budget saw $3.8 million directed to the school—and I see the Treasurer here; thank you very much, Treasurer—for a new competition-grade gymnasium, reducing pressure on stretched basketball resources. I also thank the minister and the Premier for the $13.4 million election commitment last year to further upgrade facilities at St Helena. Minister, what is the time line for these two projects, which will both further enhance this great school? EUROA ELECTORATE Ms RYAN (Euroa) (12:49): (185) My constituency question is for the Minister for Regional Development in the other place. In November last year I made an election commitment to fund an upgrade of Williams Road at Lima South. The minister, as a member for Northern Victoria Region, subsequently buckled to community pressure and agreed to do likewise. She identified Williams Road as a priority, saying, ‘We will fund the council to upgrade the road’, and she said also that she had
CONSTITUENCY QUESTIONS 638 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
‘already spoken to Benalla Rural City Council about this’. After emphasising this priority and with development works rapidly proceeding for the Lima South quarry development in Benalla, I would like to ask Ms Symes, who is now the minister in charge of the funding in this area, why she has not delivered on her promise. IVANHOE ELECTORATE Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe) (12:50): (186) My constituency question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. I seek information on the take-up rate of the Andrews government’s successful solar panel system 50 per cent rebate program across the Ivanhoe electorate. Since July last year the Andrews government has been putting power back in the hands of Victorian households with the new Solar Homes program. I encourage Victorians to go to www.solar.vic.gov.au or call 1300 363 744 to find out how they can install a solar panel system and get half of the cost back via a 50 per cent rebate from the Victorian government. We are passionate about renewables and solar power in the Ivanhoe electorate. I know there has been a strong uptake of the rebate program across my electorate, and I am keen to understand further the details of the rebate take-up across the Ivanhoe electorate. SOUTH-WEST COAST ELECTORATE Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (12:50): (187) My question is to the Minister for Health in the other place, and I ask: will the minister visit my electorate and discuss the much-needed upgrade to the Warrnambool Base Hospital, and if so, when? Minister, I sent you an email on 6 December inviting you to visit the hospital but you have ignored my correspondence. This is a key issue for my electorate. Patient numbers at the hospital have soared 47 per cent in the past three years, with CEO Craig Fraser telling the Warrnambool Standard newspaper last week that the figures were: … putting pressure on our facilities, especially the ageing infrastructure. The community know the hospital needs to be upgraded and you know the hospital needs to be upgraded. Come and visit and see for yourself the pressure you are putting the nurses and doctors under by dragging your feet on this much-needed upgrade. Give the staff a break and the community the hospital they deserve. Enough is enough. ESSENDON ELECTORATE Mr PEARSON (Essendon) (12:52): (188) I direct my constituency question to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and I ask: what is the latest information about the construction of new netball and tennis courts at the Riverside netball and tennis club in Ascot Vale? MORWELL ELECTORATE Mr NORTHE (Morwell) (12:52): (189) My constituency question is to the Minister for Agriculture in the other place. Minister, what is the latest information in regard to the level of government assistance that is being provided to those organisations who are supporting farming families in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region, given ongoing drought conditions? For example, Gippsland Farmer Relief, GFR, has more than 70 volunteers who support our farmers in need. Often these farmers are affected by flood, drought and bushfire, which can lead to mental health issues and financial and business hardship. GFR provide practical assistance through the donation of household assistance hampers and referrals to financial and welfare support. GFR has had its farmer client base treble over the past year—they currently provide help to over 130 farming families. For GFR to be sustainable they desperately require state government funding to employ staff so they can continue to deliver their critical services. Minister, I therefore ask for your assistance in providing $1.2 million in funding for a two-year pilot program to ensure Gippsland farming families continue to be supported by the Gippsland Farmer Relief organisation.
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YUROKE ELECTORATE Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (12:53): (190) My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. What is the latest information the minister can provide on the relocation of the Craigieburn fire station. As part of the 2018–19 Victorian budget the Andrews Labor government announced a new $13 million integrated station for Craigieburn, providing our career and volunteer firefighters with a bigger, better and more modern space. Our local firefighters do an incredible job protecting lives and property, as we have seen all too well lately, and I am delighted that this government is continuing to provide them with the support that they deserve. I look forward to hearing from the minister and sharing her response with Craigieburn CFA members. FOREST HILL ELECTORATE Mr ANGUS (Forest Hill) (12:53): (191) My constituency question is to the Minister for Education. Minister, when will the government provide adequate toilet facilities for Livingstone Primary School in my electorate of Forest Hill? I note that I first asked you this question on 19 September 2018 and never received a reply from you. Livingstone Primary School was built in the 1970s. It is a fast- growing and high-achieving school. The school has total student toilets of 17 girls cubicles, 12 boys cubicles, 13 boys urinals and two disabled toilets. The only addition to these facilities over that time has been five cubicles in the Building the Education Revolution (BER) building, which are included in the aforementioned totals. In 2005 there were 423 students at the school; this year there are 780 students. That represents a huge 84 per cent increase in students at the school over the last 14 years. However, aside from the additional five BER toilets, the number of toilets available for the students to use has remained unchanged over that time. Additionally, the toilets are now in an unsatisfactory condition. I have been contacted by school parents lamenting the current inadequacy in condition and number of toilets at the school. Minister, my community wants to know when you will address this deficiency in the toilet facilities available for Livingstone Primary School students. CARRUM ELECTORATE Ms KILKENNY (Carrum) (12:54): (192) My question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Minister, I have been contacted by quite a number of constituents, home owners as well as renters, wanting to know what are the next steps in the rollout of half-price solar panels with no up-front costs and half-price batteries. We know that the up-front cost of solar is one of the biggest barriers for Victorians wanting to install solar, so it is no surprise that the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to half-price solar panels and interest-free loans has been very well received. It was the Liberals who privatised Victoria’s power industry, and whilst privatisation may have worked for the big energy companies we know that privatisation has just not worked for Victorian households. I am proud that the Andrews Labor government is putting power back in the hands of Victorian households. Minister, what are the next steps in the rollout of half-price solar panels at no up-front cost? Rulings by the Chair DIRECT PECUNIARY INTEREST The SPEAKER (12:55): Order! Before we move to the introduction of bills, in the last sitting week the Manager of Opposition Business raised a point of order about whether the votes of the members for Essendon and Thomastown on the Parliamentary Committees Amendment Bill 2019 should be allowed. I committed to coming back to the house with a ruling, and I thank the Manager of Opposition Business for raising this point of order. Standing order 170 prevents members from voting on a matter in which they have a direct pecuniary interest. The Manager of Opposition Business’s point of order centres on whether the members for Essendon and Thomastown have a direct pecuniary interest in the bill given that allowances paid to positions they currently hold are increased by that bill.
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In determining what constitutes a direct pecuniary interest, I have examined the approach taken by previous Speakers of this house and in other jurisdictions. Most follow a test laid down by Speaker Abbot in the House of Commons in 1811. He interpreted ‘direct’ to mean ‘immediate and personal’ to the member. He explained this by saying the interest must belong: … to the persons whose votes were questioned, and not in common with the rest of His Majesty’s subjects, or on a matter of state policy. This is from Erskine May, 24th edition, page 83. Under Speaker Abbot’s approach that a direct pecuniary interest is something that is immediate and personal, it seems likely that the only type of bill that could engage a direct pecuniary interest would be a private bill, as all other bills deal with matters of public policy. This is the approach to determining ‘immediate and personal’ taken by the House of Representatives. While it can be hard to think of members’ salary arrangements as public policy in the same way that, say, road rules or tax law are, I share the view of the New Zealand Speaker of 1992 who ruled: Members do not have a financial interest in a payment of members bill. Honorarium does not attach to the individual, but to the office. Thus, while the bill increases allowances paid to certain offices, those increases will apply to anyone who holds that office. So it is a matter of public policy, not an immediate and personal interest to current members. Last week I referred to a 2007 ruling from Speaker Lindell that ruled that members’ salaries were not a matter in which members had a direct pecuniary interest because salary is not a declarable financial benefit under the Members of Parliament (Register of Interests) Act 1978. While I agree with Speaker Lindell that members’ salaries do not engage issues of a direct pecuniary interest, I arrive at that conclusion for slightly different reasons. I note that many previous Speakers of this house, back to 1858, have ruled that salary issues were not a matter in which direct pecuniary interest could be held because—using modern language, not that of the day—the interest is held by the office, not the individual. I therefore rule that, under standing order 170, the members for Essendon and Thomastown do not have a direct pecuniary interest in the bill. There is no point of order. I thank the member, though, for raising that point of order. Mr Wells: On a point of order, Speaker, further on that ruling. When I raised the point of order originally, when Speaker Lindell made that ruling on 1 March 2007 it was, I thought, because of the last paragraph, which clarified that it was because the committees had not been set up at that time. In your ruling just now you have referred to the position rather than the member of Parliament, but in this case it is not a debate on a collective pay increase for a number of committees and it is not a collective vote on a number of members of Parliament receiving it. If we had a collective vote on the members of Parliament’s pay increase, not everyone would agree. Some would be opposed to it because of the financial situation or economic situation of the state at that time, so not everyone would agree. You referred to the office or the position in your ruling, but the member for Essendon and the member for Thomastown do hold the positions—they are currently in the positions. So we are not voting on a pay increase for a position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier that has not been appointed or has not been filled. This is very different, and that is why I am raising this further point of order—because the positions are currently filled. It is not that we are voting on a position that is held or an office that is held. They are currently filled by the member for Essendon and the member for Thomastown. The SPEAKER: I understand the Manager of Opposition Business’s point of order. It is probably better that we have a discussion outside the chamber rather than this appearing to be a direct challenge to my ruling. I am relying not on Speaker Lindell’s ruling for this ruling; I am relying on a range of
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 641 other precedents that I have set out, and I am happy to run through those with the Manager of Opposition Business outside the chamber. Mr Wells: Speaker, I thank you for that. I know you have referred to a House of Commons ruling, which we accept, obviously. You also referred to a New Zealand reference, which we understand. But the one that was previously used was the one from Speaker Lindell. Are there any other rulings from previous Victorian speakers that would help with this particular situation? The SPEAKER: As I said, I will provide the practice of the house to the Manager of Opposition Business. Bills PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS REGISTRATION BILL 2019 Introduction and first reading Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (13:01): I move: That I have leave to bring in a bill for an act to establish a scheme for the registration of professional engineers to promote best practice in providing professional engineering services, to provide for the endorsement of registration, to provide protection to consumers of professional engineering services and to make consequential amendments to other acts and for other purposes. Mr WELLS (Rowville) (13:01): I ask the Treasurer to give a brief explanation. Mr PALLAS: I thank the member for his question. The bill delivers on the government’s commitment to establish a scheme for the registration of professional engineers. Registration will be carried out by the Business Licensing Authority, with input from the Victorian Building Authority and approved assessment entities. Enforcement of the legislation will be the responsibility of Consumer Affairs Victoria and, where professional engineers are engaged in the building industry, the Victorian Building Authority. Motion agreed to. Read first time. Ordered to be read a second time tomorrow. MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS FACILITATION AMENDMENT BILL 2019 Introduction and first reading Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure) (13:02): I move:
That I have leave to bring in a bill for an act to amend the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 and for other purposes. Mr WELLS (Rowville) (13:03): I ask the Minister for Transport Infrastructure to give a brief explanation of the bill. Ms ALLAN: This bill will make some modest amendments to the utilities regime that sits within the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009. The act came into effect in 2009 and over that time, with the delivery of a number of major transport infrastructure projects that we have got on the go, it has become apparent that there needs to be improvements to the way that the construction industry can engage with utility companies at the front end of the planning and development process, and this bill will facilitate that.
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Motion agreed to. Read first time. Ordered to be read a second time tomorrow. PRIMARY INDUSTRIES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2019 Introduction and first reading Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure) (13:03): I move:
That I have leave to bring in a bill for an act to amend the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, the Dairy Act 2000, the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981, the Fisheries Act 1995, the Game Management Authority Act 2014, the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994, the Meat Industry Act 1993, the Melbourne Market Authority Act 1977, the Plant Biosecurity Act 2010, the Veterinary Practice Act 1997, the Wildlife Act 1975, and to make miscellaneous and consequential amendments to the Confiscation Act 1997, the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987, the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, the Environment Protection Act 1970, the Firearms Act 1996, the Land Act 1958 and to repeal the Livestock Disease Control Amendment Act 2007, the Broiler Chicken Industry Act 1978 and the Broiler Chicken Industry (Amendment) Act 1991 and for other purposes. Mr WELLS (Rowville) (13:05): The opposition requires a detailed explanation of what this bill is all about. Ms ALLAN: I am sure the Minister for Agriculture, on whose behalf I am introducing this bill, would be delighted once the second reading has been tabled tomorrow to provide the opposition with a detailed bill. I think it is clearly apparent that this is a bill that makes a number of changes to acts that sit within the agriculture portfolio and therefore also have consequential impacts on other related acts, like the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981, and I am optimistic that the opposition will give me the forbearance to deal with the rest of that tomorrow. Motion agreed to. Read first time. Ordered to be read a second time tomorrow. Business of the house NOTICES OF MOTION Notices given. Committees SCRUTINY OF ACTS AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE Alert Digest No. 3 Mr BURGESS (Hastings) (13:06): I have the honour to present to the house a report from the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, being Alert Digest No. 3 of 2019, on the following bills: Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Bill 2019 Essential Services Commission Amendment (Governance, Procedural and Administrative Improvements) Bill 2019 Open Courts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2019 Spent Convictions Bill 2019 Statute Law Revision Bill 2018
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Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal and Improving Parliamentary Standards Bill 2019 West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019 together with appendices. Ordered to be published. Documents DOCUMENTS Tabled by Clerk: Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978: Orders under s 17B granting licences over: Moonee Ponds Court House Reserve The Kings Domain Reserve and Alexandra Park Reserve Orders under s 17D granting leases over: Cross Keys Reserve Flinders Foreshore Reserve Mornington Park Reserve Point Leo Foreshore Reserve St Kilda Botanical Gardens Reserve Tasma Terrace Reserve Dhelkunya Dja Land Management Board—Report 2017–18, together with an explanation for the delay Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986—Certificate under s 7 Parliamentary Committees Act 2003—Government response to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee’s Report on the 2018–19 Budget Estimates Planning and Environment Act 1987—Notices of approval of amendments to the following Planning Schemes: Boroondara—C310 Buloke—GC117 Campaspe—GC117 Cardinia—C253 Central Goldfields—GC117 Colac Otway—C85 Corangamite—C44 Gannawarra—GC117 Greater Bendigo—GC117 Loddon—GC117 Macedon Ranges—GC117 Melbourne—C349 Mildura—GC117 Mount Alexander—GC117 South Gippsland—C109 Swan Hill—GC117 Statutory Rules under the following Acts: Adoption Act 1984—SR 8 Coroners Act 2008—SR 9 Fisheries Act 1995—SR 11
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Health Complaints Act 2016—SR 12 Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004—SR 10 Subordinate Legislation Act 1994—SR 13 Subordinate Legislation Act 1994—Documents under s 15 in relation to Statutory Rules 4, 5, 9 Surveillance Devices Act 1999—Report of the Victorian Inspectorate under s 30Q Victorian Inspectorate—Reports 2017–18 under s 39 of the Crimes (Controlled Operations) Act 2004, s 131T of the Fisheries Act 1995 and s 74P of the Wildlife Act 1975 Wildlife Act 1975—Wildlife (Prohibition of Game Hunting) Notice (Gazette S49, 20 February 2019). The Clerk tabled the following proclamation fixing an operative date under Sessional Order 16:
Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018—Parts 2, 3, 5 and 6 and Divisions 1, 3 and 6 of Part 7 and Part 8—29 April 2019 (Gazette G9, 28 February 2019). Bills INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES, OVERSIGHT AND INDEPENDENCE) BILL 2018 SAFE PATIENT CARE (NURSE TO PATIENT AND MIDWIFE TO PATIENT RATIOS) AMENDMENT BILL 2018 Council's agreement The SPEAKER: I have received messages from the Legislative Council agreeing to the following bills without amendment: the Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment (Public Interest Disclosures, Oversight and Independence) Bill 2018 and the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2018. SAFE PATIENT CARE (NURSE TO PATIENT AND MIDWIFE TO PATIENT RATIOS) AMENDMENT BILL 2018 Royal assent The SPEAKER (13:08): I wish to inform the Assembly that on 26 February 2019 the Governor gave royal assent to the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2018, which was presented to her by the Clerk of the Parliaments. INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES, OVERSIGHT AND INDEPENDENCE) BILL 2018 Royal assent The SPEAKER (13:08): I wish to inform the Assembly that on 5 March 2019 the Governor gave royal assent to the Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment (Public Interest Disclosures, Oversight and Independence) Bill 2018, which was presented to her by the Clerk of the Parliaments. WEST GATE TUNNEL (TRUCK BANS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) BILL 2019 Appropriation The SPEAKER (13:09): I have received a message from the Governor recommending an appropriation for the purpose of the West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019. Joint sitting of Parliament SENATE VACANCY The SPEAKER (13:08): I have received a message from the Governor transmitting a dispatch from the President of the Senate notifying that a vacancy has occurred in the representation of the state
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 645 of Victoria in the Senate through the resignation of Senator the Honourable Jacinta Collins on 15 February 2019. Ordered that message be taken into consideration immediately. Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure) (13:09): I move:
That this house meets the Legislative Council for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose a person to hold the place in the Senate rendered vacant by the resignation of Senator the Honourable Jacinta Collins and proposes that the time and place of such meeting be the Legislative Assembly chamber on Wednesday, 6 March 2019, at 6.15 p.m. Motion agreed to. Ordered that message be sent to Council informing them of resolution. Business of the house PROGRAM Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure) (13:10): I am very excited to introduce the government business program motion, and I move: That, under standing order 94(2), the orders of the day, government business, relating to the following bills be considered and completed by 5.00 p.m. on Thursday, 7 March 2019. Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Bill 2019 Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018 West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019. In moving this motion to the house I will just make a few short comments and, always optimistically, seek the support of the chamber for the program. Whilst we have three bills on the program, each of them brings its own complexity and detail that I am confident members will be very keen to make a contribution on. With the roads legislation I do note that it was a bill that was before the previous Parliament but it did not achieve passage due to the timing of the election. The energy legislation bill is an important commitment that has been made on behalf of the government by the energy minister around a default offer, and this is important to inject some better competition into the market to support particularly low-income families to get a better deal on their energy offer. While the West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019 has only been introduced to the Parliament in this term of Parliament, the government did release an exposure draft on this bill during the course of last year, and this bill is largely, indeed mostly, consistent with that draft. I do note that the opposition has indicated that they would like to take this bill into consideration-in-detail. Whilst we have considered that request very, very carefully, we also note that the opposition has predetermined its position on this bill, which perhaps indicates that it is not as keen on gaining detail on the bill as they are about perhaps making political points on a bill that is about facilitating a really important piece of infrastructure. But I will save my speech for Thursday when the bill is debated in the Parliament. Also I would like colleagues to note that the last of our two inaugural speeches will be held later in the week, on Thursday. The member for Tarneit and the member for Bass will be regaling us with their first speeches to the Parliament. We look forward to that happening on Thursday afternoon. Also I would like colleagues to note that for anyone who is wanting to make their contribution more broadly on the address-in-reply, we would be keen to have that undertaken this week, as next week we would like to put that address-in-reply to the house so it can be transmitted back to the Governor for her consideration.
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Finally we will be welcoming our colleagues here tomorrow evening for the joint sitting, and I am thankful for the cooperation of the Manager of Opposition Business to facilitate that happening in this chamber tomorrow. I commend the motion to the house. Mr WELLS (Rowville) (13:13): We as the opposition—the Liberals and Nationals—have no choice but to oppose this business program. Some people may be saying, ‘Why would you oppose it when there are only three bills on the notice paper?’. On Tuesday—today—we will debate the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018; on Wednesday, the Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Bill 2019; and on Thursday, the West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019. The rest of the time will be taken up with the address-in-reply. So that part of it is all straightforward, and we support that part of it. The problem we have is that we approached the government on going into consideration-in-detail stage with the West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019 on Thursday. We only have one bill that would be up for offer to be debated on Thursday so you would have thought, with one bill, we could go into consideration in detail because we have the whole day. I understand that there is room for the address-in-reply, but we could go into consideration in detail. There is no reason not to. So the question we have on the opposition side is: what has the Treasurer got to hide if he is not prepared to go into the consideration-in-detail stage? The consideration-in-detail stage, we believe, is very, very important because it allows the shadow Treasurer and other opposition MPs the ability to be able to get up and ask the Treasurer clause by clause about concerns that the opposition have. The issue is that Victorians are going to be slugged with tolls, and they may never, ever get to use the tunnel. They may never, ever wish to use the tunnel but are still going to be paying tolls. My understanding is that the current concession deeds for CityLink expire in about 2034, and I believe there has been a one-year extension. This means that the people of my electorate of Rowville are going to be paying tolls—I am getting to the point—for 10 years. That is why we want to raise it in the consideration-in-detail stage. The SPEAKER: Order! The member can resume his seat for a moment. Ms Allan: On a point of order, Speaker, the Manager of Opposition Business did indeed get there in the end. I appreciate I was allowed some liberty to expand, but perhaps not as much as the Manager of Opposition Business has been doing. I would ask that he come back to the motion. The SPEAKER: I think the Manager of Opposition Business was coming back to the motion before the house. Mr WELLS: The consideration-in-detail stage is very important for members on our side of the Parliament to be able to ask those valuable questions in consideration in detail on, for example, why Victorians would be paying tolls for another 10 years that are not relevant to their travel plans. We have a situation where the 10-year extension means that a significant amount of income, profits, revenue and benefit—or whatever else you want to call it—will go to CityLink, but we want to go through the clauses and we want to be able to put questions to the government, to the Treasurer, so that they can give answers to the opposition upon which it will be able to then base a reasonable decision on which way it will vote on this. But if they are going to shut down debate, then we have no option as to which way we are going to vote—whether to oppose or support this bill. My point is that this is a test of fairness. Allow us to go into the consideration-in-detail stage to go through, clause by clause, the concerns that we have so that we can relate that back to our constituents. It is for that reason that we will be opposing the government business program. Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe) (13:17): I am disappointed to hear that the opposition are opposing the government business program. I am pleased that there will be a joint sitting tomorrow here in the Assembly in regard to Victorian Senator Jacinta Collins, who is retiring, and her replacement, Raff
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Ciccone, who is well known to me. We hope to wish him well through that joint sitting process tomorrow. Also there are three bills that the Leader of the House has outlined: the West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019, the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018 and the Energy Legislation Amendment (Victorian Default Offer) Bill 2019. They are very significant bills, particularly the bill around truck bans. Truck bans are also very popular in the Ivanhoe electorate, where we have seen curfews on trucks from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. along Rosanna Road and surrounding arterial roads. I think discussions and debate around truck bans over there in the west are very important, and I look forward to contributing to that debate. There are also the inaugural speeches from the members for Bass and Tarneit. We have had very many inaugural speeches to work our way through in the house, and I am pleased that they will conclude, but I am looking forward to hearing from the members for Bass and Tarneit this week, as other members of the house will be. I note also that the opposition has raised some concerns in relation to going into detail on a particular bill. We certainly had a track record in the previous Parliament of providing those opportunities to the opposition. I would also note, though, that there is a house of review in our Parliament, and we have a lot of business to conduct and get through this week. There will be opportunities for the opposition to pursue the bills in greater detail when they get to the other place. I note also there will be address- in-reply responses this week, and there are many to work our way through. I am looking forward to giving my address-in-reply. I think it is very important that members have the opportunity to make an address-in-reply so that they can outline, explain and perhaps recast and think about what happened in November last year, to assess and understand it so that our constituents know that we are very clear about the decisions that were made at the election last year and the overwhelming affirmation from the Victorian people. Certainly those in the Ivanhoe electorate expect to hear my address-in-reply so that they know that I am very clear about what they prioritised at last year’s election. This will lead to greater investment in education and health services for the people, staff and professionals who provide those services in our community. There are of course young people and people of all ages across the education and health systems who will benefit from those opportunities—the jobs that are created, the infrastructure that is being invested in across our state and the commitments that we have made to a range of projects and programs. The address-in-reply also provides an opportunity for those opposite to explain why they found themselves enduring the wrath of the Victorian people at the last election. It is very important that we have the opportunity to give an address-in-reply and that all members are given the opportunity to explain themselves. We will explain how we are going to respond to the trust that the Victorian people overwhelmingly placed in us and deliver on the range of commitments that resonated with them only a few short months ago. With those comments, I commend not only the government business program and the legislative program that has been outlined but also the opportunities it presents. We have received great support from the community to keep getting on with the job and to keep working through our legislative program to make sure that we are focused on the people of Victoria and not on ourselves in this place. We will get on with what the community expects us to do, which is to pass legislation, to invest in their priorities and to make sure that this Parliament is focused on the people of Victoria. Mr D O'BRIEN (Gippsland South) (13:22): I am pleased to rise to speak on the government business program. I am astounded at the contribution we just heard from the member for Ivanhoe, who finished by saying that the people of Victoria are more interested in the issues that affect them than they are in us, having only a minute earlier talked about the importance of delivering his address-in- reply. I am sure that the people of Gippsland, for example, would like a bit of time for the opposition to probe the West Gate Tunnel (Truck Bans and Traffic Management) Bill 2019, given that they will be paying for the project via their CityLink tolls for an extra 10 years. The member for Ivanhoe
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 648 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 suggested that we need to focus on the people of Victoria. Yes, we do, but I am sure the people of Gippsland would much rather us work on that legislation and go into consideration in detail on that legislation so that we can ask some genuine questions about it rather than hear about the projects that he has delivered for the people of Ivanhoe. I find that rather amusing. This is a very light program for a government that likes to consider itself a great reforming government. We have got three pieces of legislation, one of which has already been dealt with by this house in the previous term of Parliament. I hasten to add that I do not believe that more legislation is necessarily better. Indeed I would probably say mostly the opposite, so I am not criticising the government on that. But in that context, as the Manager of Opposition Business said, there is no shortage of time for us to deal with the West Gate Tunnel bill in consideration-in-detail stage on Thursday. It is the only bill we have got. I have written in my notes here that we have possibly got four or five inaugural speeches to go, but I thank the Leader of the House who has said there are only two inaugural speeches to go on that side. It is not like we are chock-a-block full and do not have time. The Leader of the House said that we had obviously made up our minds on the West Gate Tunnel legislation. Whether that is the case or not, Parliament should have the opportunity to actually probe the government about this legislation and ask questions about how it came to present this bill to the house and what the implications will be, as I said, particularly for the people of Gippsland who, as users of CityLink, will be slugged for this project for another 10 years when very few of them will actually ever use the West Gate Tunnel. It is a particularly important piece of legislation for my constituents, and we should have the opportunity to ask the government and the Treasurer what the implications of this bill will be. There are two other pieces of legislation, as I have mentioned. The transport legislation we have already dealt with once in this chamber, and there will be plenty of issues there. Roads issues are critical in my electorate of Gippsland South. I am sure the government would love to debate the issue of the rollout of wire rope barriers which it is spending hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars promoting at the moment because it knows it has got a political problem. We are getting new ones. I saw a sign yesterday in an area between Traralgon and Morwell as I was coming to Parliament where the wire rope barriers have been rolled out, and they are so close to the road that it is impossible to pull over. And this is a new one: they have now got signs up, saying ‘Narrow shoulder ahead’—narrow shoulder ahead because they have put the wire rope barriers too close. Ms Allan: On a point of order, Speaker, reluctant as I am to take a point of order on the member for Gippsland South as he is talking about an initiative that saves lives on country roads, I do ask that he come back to debating the government business program motion. The SPEAKER: Order! I do ask the member to come back to the motion before the house. Mr D O'BRIEN: This is legislation that we should be having full and frank debate on and I look forward to doing so when we get to that legislation. Unfortunately, because of the intransigence of the government, particularly the Leader of the House, with respect to going into the consideration-in-detail stage, we will not be able to ask some of the questions that we want to ask and find out information about the West Gate Tunnel bill which will be slugging the people of Gippsland South for a lot longer to come because of this legislation. Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (13:26): It is a pleasure to rise and support the government’s business program. It comes at a time when this government has marked, just on Monday, 100 days in government. We have made a fast start and this government business program is testament to the work that we are doing to support all Victorians in each and every element of their lives. When we think about some of the bills that are on the agenda, particularly the West Gate Tunnel bill—anyone who has travelled on the Monash Freeway at any time of the day trying to get into the city will have seen the impacts and the burdens on the communities in the south-east and the eastern suburbs, all the way through to the west. This is an important bill and it shows the government’s commitment to realise this infrastructure project by putting it up early in the year with our infrastructure agenda.
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I have been very pleased with the member for Rowville’s new lease on life. He has come in with vigour and purpose, particularly with points of order dating back some 200 years. It has been very entertaining to watch. The member for Rowville has cause as well to maybe be calling for these consideration-in-detail stages because he has been doing so much work on behalf of the opposition. The number of second-reading speeches on that side is up to 19; and the member for Rowville has made six second-reading speeches. He has made a fast start—almost a third of the work. He might be calling for some consideration-in-detail stages, but for any other one of those opposite, who average about 0.4 of a speech on a bill each sitting week, it is an extraordinary thing. On the member for Gippsland South, The Nationals have made five second-reading speeches, and two of those have been made by the member for Gippsland South—40 per cent of the work. It is an extraordinary thing to be calling for consideration-in-detail stages when those opposite, between their 20 or so members, have not even fronted up during the government business schedule and bothered to speak on bills. I mean, you can call for a consideration-in-detail stage but at least get the runs up. Everyone is watching to see who is contributing in this place, and when you cannot be bothered putting your name down for a second-reading speech, it is a bit rich to come in here and call for a consideration-in-detail stage. To those opposite: step up, check your notes, maybe get a lead from the member for Rowville—he is going back hundreds of years in precedent—and you might be able then to call for a consideration-in- detail stage. Each and every day in this place this week we are focusing on a particular bill. That will give those opposite a chance to reflect on how that bill relates to their communities and how it relates to Victoria as a whole. When you come in for your three days—we do not sit for four days like the feds—come in and earn your money and get stuck into some bills, do the work that your constituents elect you to do. Start contributing to the government business program, analysing it and opposing or supporting it—just do something on that side, other than sitting on the back bench and doing nothing. You cannot come in here and call for a consideration-in-detail stage. One thing we are really excited about, I think across the Parliament, is the address-in-reply. It has been a real treat to hear all members across this Parliament put forward their values and the journey that they have taken to this place. Regardless of political allegiances across the two houses, it is good to find out a little bit about what motivates someone in the work they do, what makes them tick and why they have put themselves forward on behalf of their community to lead in this place. We are very excited that the member for Tarneit will give her first speech as part of the address-in-reply to the governor’s speech. She will be, and already is, an outstanding member for Tarneit. Then the member for Bass will make her first contribution. She is a wonderful representative for her community as well, and we are really excited about that. Also for those returning members, it is a chance to thank those that have put up with us and to acknowledge the communities that have re-elected us to serve in this place. It is a great honour to represent our communities. Like the member for Ivanhoe, I might get the chance to say a few words, thank my community and commit again to the work that we do as members of Parliament. It is a great program. We are 100 days in and we have made a fast start; there are a lot of things on the go. My challenge, as I conclude my remarks on the government business program, is to try to average more than 13 second-reading speeches across three months. The member for Rowville has been walking around complaining of a sore back today, because he is carrying that team. As the father of the opposition, and probably the father of the Parliament, his back is sore from carrying his team. Come on, step up and make some contributions on the second readings of bills. Ms SANDELL (Melbourne) (13:31): In 2014 the government promised more consideration in detail in this Parliament, but in the last Parliament we only went into consideration in detail a handful of times. The Greens have opposed the guillotine in the instances where we have requested going into consideration in detail on a bill and that request has been denied. It is the role of MPs, particularly on
MEMBERS STATEMENTS 650 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 this side of the house, to scrutinise legislation, and we are a little bit hamstrung if we are not given the opportunity to actually go to the third-reading stage. On the West Gate toll road bill, we have some serious concerns about this project. This bill does deserve a lot of scrutiny, especially because the project came about due to a deal between the government and Transurban, the details of which have been largely kept secret from the Victorian public. We understand, and we hope this information is correct, that the opposition has asked to go into consideration in detail and that request has been denied. Given that we only have three bills on the guillotine this week, it does seem like a reasonable request to go into consideration in detail, particularly because there may only be one bill being debated on Thursday. If the consideration-in- detail stages have been denied, which is the information we have received, we are inclined to vote against the government business program in this case. House divided on motion:
Ayes, 52 Addison, Ms Foley, Mr Neville, Ms Allan, Ms Fowles, Mr Pakula, Mr Andrews, Mr Fregon, Mr Pallas, Mr Blandthorn, Ms Green, Ms Pearson, Mr Brayne, Mr Halfpenny, Ms Richards, Ms Bull, Mr J Hall, Ms Richardson, Mr Carbines, Mr Hamer, Mr Scott, Mr Carroll, Mr Hennessy, Ms Settle, Ms Cheeseman, Mr Horne, Ms Spence, Ms Connolly, Ms Hutchins, Ms Staikos, Mr Couzens, Ms Kairouz, Ms Suleyman, Ms Crugnale, Ms Kennedy, Mr Tak, Mr D'Ambrosio, Ms Kilkenny, Ms Taylor, Mr Dimopoulos, Mr Maas, Mr Thomas, Ms Donnellan, Mr McGhie, Mr Ward, Ms Edbrooke, Mr McGuire, Mr Williams, Ms Edwards, Ms Merlino, Mr Wynne, Mr Eren, Mr Noes, 30 Angus, Mr Kealy, Ms Ryan, Ms Battin, Mr McLeish, Ms Sandell, Ms Blackwood, Mr Morris, Mr Smith, Mr R Britnell, Ms Newbury, Mr Smith, Mr T Bull, Mr T Northe, Mr Southwick, Mr Burgess, Mr O'Brien, Mr D Staley, Ms Cupper, Ms O'Brien, Mr M Vallence, Ms Guy, Mr Read, Dr Wakeling, Mr Hibbins, Mr Riordan, Mr Walsh, Mr Hodgett, Mr Rowswell, Mr Wells, Mr Motion agreed to. Members statements VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) (13:38): Can I first thank all emergency services workers who have come down from across the state, all of those that have come into my electorate and across the electorate of Narracan and assisted during the Bunyip State Park fires that have been burning this weekend. They have come from communities across the state to help those that are in need at the moment. I would like to pass on a special thanks to all the volunteers and those that have come to the aid of those in need at this particular time.
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I also pass on special thanks to the member for Benambra, who is out on the fire line at the moment fighting the fires. I think it is important that we support those from in here who are helping. I also thank the member for Rowville, who I know has come down to my electorate to go onto the frontline of the fire in our area. We do appreciate them. Is there anything he cannot do? There is nothing this man cannot do, but I would like to personally thank him. The fire event that we have seen recently down in Bunyip and the fire events across the state will have an output of major problems and concerns across the state with loss of houses, loss of wildlife and loss of stock and fences. One of the things that it has emphasised is the importance of the current model of the CFA. It is absolutely vital that we continue to support the volunteers, and it is absolutely vital that we keep the surge capacity. Any changes to the model of the CFA could put at risk—already has put at risk—the volunteer numbers in this state, with a reduction of 3000. It is so important that every member of this Parliament gets on board and supports the CFA volunteers. BENDIGO CRICKET CLUB Ms EDWARDS (Bendigo West) (13:40): I am very honoured to be the number one ticketholder for the Bendigo Cricket Club and was thrilled to join them at their 125th anniversary dinner, ‘125 Not Out’, last weekend. This marked an incredible milestone for the club, which was established during the gold rush days when the club was known as the Forest Street Methodist Comrades. Congratulations to the current and past players, the many volunteers, supporters, committee members and families who have made this club so great for 125 years. HEYVAN Ms EDWARDS: I was also pleased to launch the HeyVan last week. It is an initiative of Victoria’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan. The HeyVan is operated by Haven; Home, Safe in Bendigo and Swan Hill, and is one of eight new assertive outreach programs across the state servicing areas identified as having the highest incidence of rough sleeping. THE ROYAL TRAIN Ms EDWARDS: Another exciting announcement last week was that visitors to the upcoming exhibition in Bendigo, Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits, will be able to travel there in style by catching a historic royal train from Melbourne to Bendigo. It has been a collaborative effort to make this happen, and I congratulate Bendigo Tourism, the Victorian Goldfields Railway, the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, VicTrack and V/Line for working together to make the royal train a reality. The train includes carriages used by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1954 and by Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1983 during their royal tours in Victoria. This is the first time the public will access those carriages. RURAL AND REGIONAL BANKING Ms RYAN (Euroa) (13:41): Rural and regional communities have been devastated to learn of the Andrews Labor government’s decision to force hospitals and schools to centralise their banking with Westpac in Sydney. Many country towns do not even have a Westpac, and the bank is closing a number of branches in regional Victoria, including Benalla. This decision will also take away significant investment from local schools, hospitals and community groups who are the beneficiaries of the community banking model. Heathcote Health is among those that have been ordered to withdraw their funds from the local Bendigo Bank to bank with Westpac, even though there is no Westpac in Heathcote and the funds will not stay in the local community. The community bank has supported local projects for many years, and I am worried that this support will be severely curtailed by Labor’s arrogant and heavy-handed decision to remove funds from local communities.
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BENALLA V/LINE SERVICES Ms RYAN: Train travellers across country Victoria will be very bemused, I think, by the story in today’s newspapers about the government’s redesign of fabric on train seats. It seems that Labor hopes we will be so excited by a new pattern that we will forgive the fact that they have not purchased new trains. Ron Bone was a regular user of V/Line services, travelling from Benalla to Melbourne for treatment for cancer. After missing specialist medical appointments because of delayed services, Ron now has to catch the 5.09 a.m. New South Wales-run XPT service to make sure he can get to Melbourne in time. Barbara Schedlich also travels from Benalla to Melbourne for medical appointments. She finds the connection of V/Line services to metro services excellent when V/Line is running on time. However, of the approximately 40 trips she has made since January 2017, only three have arrived on time— (Time expired) BILL BEGLEY Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Public Transport) (13:43): I rise today to pay tribute to one of Williamstown’s most generous and active community members, the venerable Bill Begley, who sadly passed earlier this year after a battle with cancer, at age 63. Bill was a well-known and respected member of our local community, serving as the vicar at the Williamstown Holy Trinity Church since 2011, after having been appointed Archdeacon in March 2016. Bill had a strong social justice ethos. He was a fine example of how we should all live. For over a decade Bill worked as a prison chaplain and was a strong advocate for community service, particularly through the lunch program and emergency food relief service run by the Holy Trinity Church. He was well known for his quick wit and humour, bringing much colour and fun to the Holy Trinity Church services. It is my understanding that during the St Francis of Assisi day—the patron saint of creation and animals—Bill invited members of the community to bring their pets to the service for a blessing. Few vicars can claim to have blessed cats, dogs, tortoises, rabbits, guinea pigs and lizards. His openness and kind-heartedness was always on display. Bill lived his life with great integrity, and he will be missed by many. My heart goes out to his wife, Leanne, and their three daughters, Rachel, Sarah and Tess. Vale, Bill Begley. BAIL LAWS Mr WELLS (Rowville) (13:44): This statement condemns Labor’s longstanding failure to bring bail laws in line with community expectations. It has been reported publicly that five of six people accused of viciously attacking police in St Kilda on Sunday morning have now been released on bail. It is sickening to watch the video footage of the man who was filmed pounding a policeman’s head into the pavement six times. It is also hard to understand how the balance—these other people—are roaming the streets of Melbourne only days after the attack. Four others accused of punching, hitting and spitting on officers during the attack are also free. The injuries suffered by the police involved are awful, with one of them requiring surgery and the other with a suspected cheek fracture. Victorians are outraged. Only last week we reflected again on the horrors of the Bourke Street rampage as the offender was sentenced to life imprisonment for his shocking crimes. Victoria Police had recommended against bail for the offender only five days before his horrendous attack on 20 January 2017. In the aftermath Labor promised Victorians that bail would change and, in the words of the previous Attorney-General, that community safety would be given a higher priority in the future. More than a year—in fact 13 months—after the Bourke Street attack, Labor voted against coalition amendments to speed up the process and bring in the government’s bail amendment legislation six months early. Premier Andrews loves to boast about getting on with things, but rewriting— (Time expired)
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VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr EDBROOKE (Frankston) (13:46): Today I want to give a big shout-out to all the emergency services who have come to the aid of fire-affected communities across Victoria. I know the minister and I have been seen at the staging areas and visiting the incident control centres, and it is nothing short of an incredible effort across the board for the people who are there, whether staff, volunteer, police, fire, ambulance and the rest of the crews. They are amazing. FRANKSTON ELECTORATE SCHOOLS Mr EDBROOKE: I spent a special afternoon last week at Nepean special school with Peter Murphy, the Labor candidate for Dunkley, presenting leadership badges. The smiles on the faces of Chloe, Amelia, Raf and Rex the dog said it all. It was also my pleasure to be able to announce that the teepee that was recently destroyed at the school has been entirely covered by insurance and will be installed again very, very shortly. This news was taken very well. Congratulations also to the wonderful Frankston Heights Primary School grade 6 leaders who I also had the chance to present with their leadership badges last week, and the Aldercourt Primary School captains, house captains and SRC reps. It is just amazing to see such an energetic group of Frankston students who will lead our community into the future, and for me, meeting our community’s future leaders is certainly one of the most exciting parts of the job. I am a former schoolteacher and visiting some of these schools and seeing how much they have grown with the support of the Labor government is something to behold as well. CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (13:47): With population growing at 100 000 people a year and the Premier’s plan to have 70 per cent of that population moving into suburbs like Glen Eira, Caulfield and Elsternwick, it is no wonder that the Glen Eira council held a forum only last week to look at how to ensure that we get cars off the road and people riding bikes. We certainly support more ability to have bikes on the road and more people on bikes, but connecting them through a given road will cause huge issues with many residents, certainly in terms of safety and in terms of access. What we plan, and I have written to the Minister for Roads, is to look at alternative paths to ensure that we connect this road from the Pakenham rail line all the way through the city, creating a bike highway and promoting more bike accessibility, and not running it through Inkerman Road. I request that the Minister for Roads look at alternate transport options for this bike path, including Dandenong Road and along the tram track as an important way to ensure that we get bike access and at the same time ensure our residents in Caulfield and certainly through St Kilda have accessibility to their homes. HOMELESSNESS Mr STAIKOS (Bentleigh) (13:49): Last year, I received a letter from six-year-old Xavier Sellenger. It read: ‘To the government, I want to start a charity for homeless people, for it is not fair. Can you help me?’. So after the Christmas break I met with Xavier to discuss how he can assist and make a difference in the lives of people who are doing it tough. He told me that he had already done a few things to raise money for homeless people, including selling copies of a book that he had written. He asked a number of sophisticated questions before I told him about a wonderful local organisation, Bayside Community Information and Support Service (BayCISS), which is very active in helping people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. I told him that they are always in need of donations of goods to distribute to people in need. Xavier immediately wanted to assist and will be helping with a collection of toiletries for BayCISS. Nearly 25 000 people registered as homeless on the night of the 2016 census. The key contributors to this are family violence and a lack of affordable housing. State and federal governments are principally responsible for addressing this issue, but we also require the will of the community. There are many people much older than Xavier who do not want to even see the problem—as though it does not exist.
MEMBERS STATEMENTS 654 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
But not Xavier. This very kind-natured young six-year-old boy identified the problem, and he wanted to do something about it. He certainly gives us all hope for the future. MAROONDAH HIGHWAY–KILLARA ROAD, COLDSTREAM Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (13:50): Today I rise to pay tribute to the Coldstream community who have finally been successful, after many years of campaigning, to have traffic lights installed at the dangerous intersection of Killara Road and Maroondah Highway in Coldstream. Coldstream CFA volunteers, local residents and local traders have been advocating for upgrades to enable safe navigation through this area for locals, tourists, transporters and first responders. Unlike those opposite, local Liberals have listened to what matters to the Coldstream community. I fought hard, together with local residents, for years seeking road safety upgrades at Killara Road and Station Street and was proud to have promised to the community in 2018 that a state Liberal government would install traffic lights at this dangerous intersection. Whilst the Andrews Labor government unfortunately blatantly ignored the concerns of Coldstream residents and traders and did not support delivering that promise, I am pleased to inform this chamber that our hardworking federal Liberal member, Tony Smith, has now secured $20 million of commonwealth funds. This will ensure the installation of traffic lights at Killara Road and Station Street becomes a reality, along with duplication of the highway through this area. With funding confirmed, I look forward to VicRoads getting underway on this much-needed safety upgrade. I wish to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of locals involved. I particularly congratulate the volunteers at the Coldstream CFA, led by Captain Sean Bethell, and local advocate Kevin Ryan and the Coldstream Voice action group for leading a petition on this issue. PHILLIP YEUNG Mr PEARSON (Essendon) (13:52): It is my privilege to honour the life of Phillip Yeung, a small business owner in my electorate, who died suddenly in late December 2018. Phillip was born in Hong Kong in 1953 and came to Australia in 1986. He learned to bake bread in Australia after being unable to find work in his original profession of knitting. In 1996 he opened Bakers Parlour on Union Road, Ascot Vale, and quickly became a respected member of a diverse community village. Phillip began his business with very few resources, but with persistence and hard work he built a wonderful life for his family. Phillip’s family describe him as a loving and fun father who always put others before himself. He was a man of humility whose love was to bake for his loyal customers some of the finest bread I have ever tasted. Phillip’s work ethic and generosity earned him much respect from all who had the good fortune to cross his path. Phillip’s family have told me how grateful they are for the love and support of the community in their time of loss. Food is about people. The act of cooking and feeding people is about nourishing and building community. Phillip gave that gift to Ascot Vale and its surrounding community for 23 years. Phillip is very much missed by his wife, Lisa; his children, George, Angela and John; his daughters-in-law, Joan and Wendy; and his grandchildren, Wesley, Ethan, Kingsley and Jayden. Thank you, Phillip, for all that you gave to our community. We miss you so very much. Vale, Phillip Yeung. HIRE CAR INDUSTRY Mr RIORDAN (Polwarth) (13:53): There is a real concern in my Polwarth communities about the lack of regulation and care taken when hiring cars in Victoria. The reported accident rate for international drivers for the Great Ocean Road region is in excess of 20 per cent. Currently hire car companies take no responsibility for the cars they rent to people who are visiting our state and the iconic Great Ocean Road for a short stay. It is now reported that the Victorian taxpayer is being ripped off potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid traffic infringements and notices. Cars are being
MEMBERS STATEMENTS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 655 hired by large family groups who are being pulled over by police on a regular basis with too many people in the car and, in one case, four children who were not in child restraints and were found to be freewheeling around the car. Due to the process for issuing fines and infringements the overwhelming majority of visitors will have left the country before any fine recovery can be made. I am calling on the government to act to ensure that these lost revenues are not lost to Victorian taxpayers. In an alarming new development hire car companies are now refusing to pay out on insurance claims for this high rate of accidents their cars have caused. After a recent T-boning accident that involved a Mr Pat Breen from my electorate, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car company based in Sydney said they were not responsible for costs incurred by Mr Breen and instead referred him to a driver whose address is in Indonesia. Claims manager Karen Shaddock has been repeatedly asked to comment and respond to these claims that her car rental company is letting international tourists drive around uninsured. CRAIGIEBURN FESTIVAL Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (13:55): Despite scorching hot weather last Saturday, this year’s Craigieburn Festival was another huge success, with thousands of local residents turning out for a fantastic day of performances, rides, food and market stalls. As always the festival was a great opportunity to catch up with local residents and meet many new people. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by for a chat. In particular I would like to thank the members of the new Hume Climate Action Now group, who stopped by to introduce themselves. I wish them all the very best in their endeavours. Unfortunately this year’s festival did not include the annual CFA torchlight parade, which was cancelled as our local firefighters were responding to the Bunyip bushfires. This is a timely reminder of the absolutely critical role that our volunteer and career firefighters perform. Every year the torchlight parade provides the opportunity for our community to line the streets and say thank you to the many firefighters who protect our community. We could not do that this year as these champions were busy protecting another part of our state. This is why we have so much respect for them—they go where they need to go to protect whoever needs their help. So while I did not get the opportunity to do so on Saturday, I take this opportunity to say a huge thankyou to all our volunteer and career emergency services workers, particularly those in our fire services. I know that every single local resident is immensely grateful for the work that our firefighters do, and I look forward to the torchlight parade returning as part of next year’s festival. I congratulate Hume City Council on another successful Craigieburn community festival. VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr NORTHE (Morwell) (13:56): I rise today to acknowledge and pay tribute to the immense generosity and community spirit of the people of the Morwell electorate. As I stand here we are experiencing the effects of bushfire activity, with the Yinnar South fire threatening many communities. The townships of Budgeree, Budgeree East, Jeeralang, Jeeralang Junction, Jeeralang North, Jumbuk, Yinnar, Yinnar South and surrounds are no strangers to bushfires, having only just marked the 10th anniversary of Black Saturday and the Delburn complex of fires. It is a difficult time for property owners as uncertainty exists regarding what damage may or may not have occurred to their homes, assets, livestock, pets and fencing. On behalf of the Morwell electorate I would like to convey my deepest respect and gratitude to all who are fighting these fires on the ground and in the air. They are working around the clock in intensely difficult conditions to protect the lives and assets of their community. They are heroes. I would like to send an enormous thankyou to those who are also supporting the 400-plus people who have registered for support at the Kernot Hall relief centre in Morwell. To Latrobe City Council staff and councillors, local Lions clubs, the Country Women’s Association, the Red Cross, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Victorian Council of Churches, amongst others, you are doing a magnificent job. To local businesses, traders, individuals and families who have donated food, water,
MEMBERS STATEMENTS 656 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 sleeping equipment and more, I say thank you. It makes my heart swell with pride to bear witness to the intense generosity of the local community when we face such disasters. And to all those affected, we stand with you now and we will stand with you through the long and difficult road to recovery ahead. VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (13:58): In the grip of another bushfire event over the weekend, we saw the best of Victorian community spirit. Our emergency services showed care, courage and determination as they protected lives, properties and communities. We offer our heartfelt thanks for their sacrifices as they kept others safe, and for those that were affected we pass on our thoughts and our support. Across a number of fire fronts we have seen tens of thousands of hectares burnt, several properties lost and farming communities devastated. More than 2000 firefighters across the CFA, the MFB and Forest Fire Management Victoria did an incredible job over long hours and in dangerous and unpredictable conditions, and the efforts of hundreds of Victoria Police officers alongside Ambulance Victoria and the SES helped protect communities. Hundreds of thousands of Victorians were on edge over the weekend as they enacted their fire plans or considered the impacts on their communities, their families and their friends. I share the significant pride of my local community in the efforts of the volunteers of the Edithvale CFA brigade. Members attended the Bunyip State Park bushfire on Friday afternoon alongside dozens of brigades and hundreds of firefighters across all agencies to ensure every Victorian in that area was protected. Many hours were spent in dangerous conditions protecting these communities, and they did an absolute credit to their community and to the Country Fire Authority. On behalf of our local community we pay tribute to them. They illustrate every great quality of community spirit, leadership and volunteerism. VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Mr McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (13:59): I want to give a huge shout-out and thanks to our wonderful CFA volunteers who have worked tirelessly to combat the bushfires burning across the state. I want to give particular thanks to the Mount Macedon CFA. My daughter Danielle and her partner have a property and livestock at Garfield North that were heavily impacted by the Bunyip fire. The hard work of the Mount Macedon crew and others meant the home and one of the sheds on the property were saved. The livestock have now been found only a few kilometres from home. Thanks so much on behalf of my family and all those whose properties were saved due to the hard work and dedication of the CFA. DROUGHT ASSISTANCE Mr McCURDY: On another point, I also want to raise rate relief, which is needed for drought- affected farmers, along with rebates for fixed water charges. Shire rate relief and water charge rebates have proven effective in the past, and this assistance needs to be committed to immediately by the government to assist farmers being hit hard by the dry conditions. The combination of drought and the dairy industry downturn has led to low milk prices, low rainfall and high water prices hitting at the same time. Again I urge the Victorian government to support this stance, which would ease the financial pressures on farmers and their families. YARRAWONGA CAR AND MOTORBIKE SHOW Mr McCURDY: A fantastic selection of motorbikes were on display at this year’s Yarrawonga show and shine. Hosted by the Boosey Creek Cruzers car club on the Yarrawonga foreshore, the event gave the public the opportunity to see some of the best examples of all eras of cars and motorbikes. Members of the public were able to stroll through the displays and talk to the owners. Congratulations to event organiser Ken Smith and his team from the local car club on putting on this popular event.
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WANGARATTA RACING, FOOD AND WINE CARNIVAL Mr McCURDY: The Wangaratta Racing, Food and Wine Carnival delivered two days of racing and entertainment on the weekend. Congratulations to Paul Hoysted and his team, who always do an amazing job in running race days at Wangaratta. Some 4000 people turned out— (Time expired) MAURIE SMITH Ms THOMAS (Macedon) (14:01): I rise to honour the life of Kyneton local Mr Maurie Smith, who died peacefully last week at the age of 84. Father of Jenny, who is deceased, along with Brendan, Peter, Brian, Damian, Michael and Sharryn, and grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great- grandfather, Maurie loved his family very much and they loved him in return. He also loved the Kyneton Football Netball Club, where he was a life member in recognition of his 54-year involvement with the club, including as a player of more than 100 senior games and a remarkable 42 years as a trainer and head trainer until 2002. Maurie was proud to work as a cleaner at Kyneton Secondary College until his job was taken away by the Kennett government. A Labor party member for more than 25 years, Maurie provided me with unwavering support in my preselection, in my 2014 campaign and as the member for Macedon. Maurie is remembered by Labor branch members as one of the town’s real characters. His joy in life will be missed by many, and that includes me. Vale, Maurie Smith. JOSHUA TYLER Ms THOMAS: Congratulations to Kyneton-based screenwriter and director Joshua Tyler. As writers of Top End Wedding, Josh and co-writer Miranda Tapsell recently travelled to Utah for the world premiere of the film at the Sundance Film Festival. Top End Wedding follows in the footsteps of other great Australian films such as Shine and Animal Kingdom, which also premiered at the festival. Congratulations to Josh, Miranda, director Wayne Blair and the entire team on this remarkable achievement. I wish you every success with the film, and I cannot wait to see it. TIFFANY MORELLI Ms THOMAS: Congratulations to Tiffany Morelli of Kyneton, who is celebrating 10 years of employment at Kyneton Subway, making her the longest serving team member. VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES Ms GREEN (Yan Yean) (14:02): I want to give a big shout-out to members of the CFA brigades in my local community—Diamond Creek, Doreen, Hurstbridge, Mernda, Wallan, Wattle Glen, Whittlesea and Yarrambat—who have all taken part in strike teams to combat the current going fires that are in the east and north-east. I also want to thank other support members who have taken up the slack at home, particularly their families, who have supported them while they are there. Please stay safe, everyone. LAURIMAR PRIMARY SCHOOL Ms GREEN: On education, schools are the centre of any community but really more so in any new community. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the fabulous staff at Laurimar Primary School. I was privileged to be a guest at the school last week to talk to students about the three levels of government. While I was there, during the morning break principal Jason McBean presented certificates to a number of incredible and heroic staff for their recent efforts. In the space of three or four days teachers were called upon to attend to a student who had gone into anaphylactic shock, staff on a lunchbreak provided urgent and immediate first aid out the front of the local Woolworths by using the school defibrillator, and the prompt response of other staff assisted a mum who had fainted and passed out in the school car park after bumping her head. So this school does much more than just educate our kids. They are an integral part of the community— (Time expired)
MEMBERS STATEMENTS 658 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
SEBASTOPOL MEN’S SHED Ms SETTLE (Buninyong) (14:04): Today I would like to talk to you about the Sebastopol Men’s Shed. It is a men’s shed that I have had a long association with and one that has come a long way with the support of the Labor government. Tomorrow a new shed is being delivered for construction, and I know that with it will come a great deal of excitement. In fact I am heading out to Sebastopol on Friday morning to check on how the construction is going. I may even pick up a hammer, but that is only a maybe. PINARC DISABILITY SUPPORT Ms SETTLE: Last week Sebastopol Men’s Shed delivered some large wicking gardens to Pinarc Disability Support in Ballarat. Pinarc is a not-for-profit organisation that has been operating for 20 years and is a registered national disability insurance scheme provider in Ballarat. Pinarc’s vision is that their services enable people with a disability, their family and their carers to be equal and valued members of the community. I am pleased to say that that is exactly what they have been doing for 20 years. One of the exciting ways in which Pinarc are improving lives is through a service called EasyTech Living. This is new technology that makes lives easier by providing things like automated doors, windows and blinds and sensory equipment for those with sleeping disorders, customised for the people who need them. Ballarat is a very proud region, and it makes me proud to share a story like this. Our community work together to help each other, and that makes us stronger. ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (14:05): Australians are overwhelmingly practical people, not ideological. They want politics to be a contest of ideas that resolves matters in the national and community interest to increase prosperity and deliver a fair go. Australia proudly leads the world in having the longest sustained period of economic growth. This provides the incentive and imperative to address inequality, because we know the impact it has on lower life expectancy and educational achievements and higher crime, health problems and mental illness. Calls for pay rises resound from the Reserve Bank Board to union demonstrations on the streets of Melbourne. This is an immediate measure to help address inequality, but we must simultaneously address place-based disadvantage. This is the bigger picture investment that will create more opportunities and help Australians reap greater, long-term rewards. This is why I have produced strategies to deliver economic and cultural development where they are needed most. Such initiatives address critical concerns on how to attract new industries and jobs featuring economic development zones, and how to save a fortune by aligning affordable housing with blue-chip infrastructure. Australia is long overdue in having unity tickets that increase jobs growth and productivity while reducing welfare payments by investing in infrastructure, lifelong learning and social cohesion. Mutual obligation demands a coordinated strategy and creative responses to turn adversity into opportunity. For change to be regarded as a friend, not an enemy, it must deliver a fair go for all. Australia’s government cannot remain a bystander. That is why I look forward to the next election— (Time expired) SUNBURY BLUE LIGHT DISCO Mr J BULL (Sunbury) (14:07): The Sunbury Blue Light committee celebrated 40 years of serving the Sunbury community on Friday, 22 February, with a massive birthday disco with over 400 attendees at the Sunbury Memorial Hall. The Sunbury Blue Light committee is made up of dedicated volunteers and Victoria Police members who work hard to create a safe and fun environment for Sunbury’s kids to have a great time and meet police officers and people from other emergency services. Blue Light committees provide education; help with crime reduction, life skills and coaching; and host cultural, social and sporting programs for young people aged between five and 18 years.
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Sunbury Blue Light is one of the oldest continual discos in Victoria. It was first established in 1979 and has been serving my community ever since. Mr Pearson: How many Blue Lights did you go to? Mr J BULL: I did get to a couple, the member for Essendon, I have to say. Congratulations to committee members Rose, Kim, Ben, Kate, Carlie, Rohan and Jarrod as well as— (Time expired) IVANHOE LIBRARY AND ARTS HUB Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe) (14:08): I congratulate Banyule City Council on the $750 000 Living Libraries grant from the Andrews Labor government. We started with the sod turn for the $29.4 million Ivanhoe library and arts hub. A critical project for our community, it secures the art deco historic Heidelberg town hall. We will get a new library and arts hub in Ivanhoe. Business of the house NOTICES OF MOTION Mr SCOTT (Preston—Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Veterans) (14:08): I advise that the government does not wish to proceed with the notice of motion today and requests that it remain on the notice paper. Bills TRANSPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (BETTER ROADS VICTORIA AND OTHER AMENDMENTS) BILL 2018 Second reading Debate resumed on motion of Mr PALLAS: That this bill be now read a second time. Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:09): It gives me pleasure to rise today as the lead speaker for the Liberal-Nationals on the debate of the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. Whilst this is the first time I have been a lead speaker on any bill, as the new shadow minister it is not my first time speaking on the subject of roads issues. In fact over the last three years it has been a very intense topic of discussion because the south-west coast does have the worst roads in the state. The bill that is before the house today is an omnibus bill and introduces a number of sensible if not overdue amendments, which we support. These include the amendment to the Road Safety Act 1986 which seeks to transfer greater responsibility for the administration of alcohol interlock devices to VicRoads, thereby easing pressure off court resources—clearly a sensible decision when this will take 5000 matters out of the Magistrates Court that are currently being done and which are really of an administrative nature. That is a good thing, because the pressure on courts is certainly getting greater as we have more and more people coming into Victoria as well as rising crime rates. Any issue that I had with respect to this amendment was clarified for me when I received a briefing from the department, which I am very grateful for, and I thank them for that. Whilst the interlock devices will be moved to the VicRoads office as a result of this change to the law, it will not take out of the court system more serious offences. In fact this will change the law so that people who commit serious offences whilst under the influence of alcohol, such as causing serious harm or injury to people, and who would have once been convicted of that serious offence and would have actually gone without an interlock system, will now receive an interlock device. Now that will be part of this legislative change as well. The bill also proposes minor amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law Application Act 2013 and addresses some fatigue issues; to the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017 provisions
BILLS 660 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 for disciplinary actions for permission holders; and to the Transport Integration Act 2010, and this is basically about streamlining the transactions of land transfers between departments. This is a good thing because it reduces costs and improves efficiency, which is something I am always very pleased to see the government working towards, because that obviously means improved savings. The Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act of 1983 is also in the bill, and among other things this actually clarifies some compensation issues for train drivers who are exposed to traumatic incidents and now includes others in the cabin who may be witnesses to these traumatic events. We move to support these amendments as they do reduce red tape and streamline transport authority activities. I do make note that this bill does mirror the bill that was introduced in the 58th Parliament; however, it did not make its way through the process and was not debated in the Legislative Council. But where the bill actually fails is in the amendment to the Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979 in relation to the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account, where I feel it is quite inadequate. The bill proposes to direct revenue from traffic infringements into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account to fund road maintenance and upgrades in Melbourne’s outer suburban interface communities and throughout regional Victoria. The bill proposes that 33 per cent be devoted to the regional roads area and 33 per cent to the outer suburban or interface areas, as they are called. The remainder is to be used to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings anywhere in the state. I think this amendment falls short because there is no guarantee of long-term infrastructure funding, as it is reasonable to assume that funding from this source will actually dwindle as vehicles become increasingly automated. There is likely to be a reduction in traffic infringements because of the automation aspect. The government just recently made announcements—a few weeks ago—about a trial around automated vehicles, so they are acutely aware of the industry working towards automation. I certainly am finding, as I go around doing my due diligence and finding out more about the shadow portfolios of ports, freight and rural roads—that this is the direction the industry is heading in. So clearly there will be an impact on the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account, and that needs to be addressed. There is actually no point, if we cannot be confident of funds being available, to legislate to have them quarantined. I suggest that makes 33 per cent, which I actually think should be 40 per cent, completely inadequate to fund the huge amount of work that we have to fix the roads, while being mindful of the fact that there may be some dwindling of these funds. I propose that the Liberal- Nationals move a reasoned amendment to the second-reading speech and I ask that it be circulated now. I move:
That all the words after ‘That’ be omitted and replaced with the words ‘this bill be withdrawn and redrafted to provide for an increase in the guaranteed level of funding for rural, regional, outer suburban and interface communities from Better Roads Victoria funding and to ensure that such funding is not reduced over time by a reduction in the total funding pool’. Why do I think that 33 per cent will not cut it? Clearly our roads are bad. But do not take my word for it. Independent analysis found that roads in the south-west, for example, are the worst roads in the state. The RACV has calculated that in the south-west we have about 600 kilometres of distressed roads that will cost about $486 million to repair. That means that over one term of government $120 million a year will be needed to fix distressed roads in south-western Victoria alone. In a report by the Auditor-General in which he looked at the state of rural roads, released just a little over a year ago in 2017, he found that the Andrews Labor government severely lacked in ability. He found the government lacked strategy. The systems to determine how to spend money to get the best return for taxpayers money to manage road assets were either non-existent or, if there was a system in place, the systems were unable to talk to each other across the state and therefore lacked any way of properly determining where money was actually best spent. This smacks of damning evidence that this government cannot manage roads and its actual management system is shambolic. Notably the Auditor-General’s report found that the government mandates—and this is something that I wanted to point out early in my contribution—that one of the tests for the safety of roads called skid resistance
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 661 is carried out every three years. But in the report the Auditor-General is very clear and states that it does not happen. So the government cannot even carry out its own mandated requirements. The government’s response to road pavement maintenance is reactive and is certainly not optimised. Maintenance is carried out when it is critical, and there is a policy of worst first. This constitutes a really costly approach that is less desirable than prevention and early intervention approaches. So exactly how costly is this? To rehabilitate a road costs taxpayers between $70 and $175 per square metre. But to routinely maintain a road only costs $3 per square metre. Hence this is why it is so distressing to find that $1 billion is being put into a system that chooses to use an approach which costs $70 to $175, rather than using a maintenance approach which costs $3. This is simply unbelievable. Why does this happen? It is because the minister cannot get the department to stop, take stock of its approach and its systems and stop wasting people’s money. Why is that? I do not know. The minister is the boss of the department. The buck stops with the boss. And guess what: that is the minister. Any business operator will tell you that it is basic business practice to manage your assets in such a way that maintenance is strategically done and asset replacement is planned and managed. In my 20 years of managing a business, we completely had to have a handle on what the life span of an asset was and replace it accordingly. For example, on a farm, pasture has about a 10-year life span and you need to replace 10 per cent of your pasture every year on a rotational management grazing process. Surely you should see that same sort of practice in departments, but we are not seeing that. The Auditor-General was quite clear. He reported that there is no system for management of our country roads. I am told by VicRoads people that 5 per cent of Victorian roads need to be renovated per annum for the asset to be managed effectively. And yet it is no surprise that we are not seeing that. In fact they say it is around 2 to 3 per cent, so it is woefully lower than it should be. No wonder we are not able to have faith that our roads are functional and are being maintained at a rate that is safe. This is such a lack of management capability, and that is one of the government’s problems. The second problem, though, are the funds themselves. It is a double-edged sword, however, because the government are saying that they are putting $1 billion into country roads over the next four years. They say they did that in the last four years, so it is no surprise that we are seeing that roads are not up to standard. They are throwing money away by using it very poorly. If you are going to go back and fix the same thing over and over again, it is no wonder that there is no advancement in the condition of the assets. There is no way that any business could survive if they used this approach. But when it is someone else’s money, like it is in this case, Labor do not seem to care. The Labor government are clearly using a flawed approach, but it is taxpayers money so I assume they are comfortable that there is plenty more where that came from, given we saw them raise taxes 12 times in the last four years after saying that they would never raise taxes. The Premier was explicit in saying he would not raise any taxes. He promised that to the Victorian people, but what did we see? Twelve taxes. We expect we will see more of this because that money is certainly not being used effectively on our roads under this government’s guidance. The other thing this government seems to be doing more of is using a technique of managing roads by just slowing people down. Again, to run a successful business this is exactly the opposite of what you need to do. You need to keep efficiencies and productivity up, and slowing people down does not help productivity. I see them stick up ‘slow down’ signs wherever I go. On the Princes Highway we are seeing open stretches at 60 and 80 kilometres per hour, even down as low as 40 kilometres per hour in south-western Victoria. On the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road, a major truck route, traffic is slowed down to 80 kilometres per hour. It smacks of an incredibly poor understanding of productivity. Again, why won’t 33 per cent cut it? Well, our roads are no longer fit for purpose and they are crippling industry. Unless the minister gets a hold of the problem within her portfolio, we will be missing out as a state. The opportunities that are able to be captured for agriculture alone are staggering on a global scale. Our food and fibre industries will be able to contribute enormous amounts to state coffers if we harness this opportunity. With 19 000 kilometres of major rural roads and more than 4000 bridges
BILLS 662 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 across country roads, there are only going to be more problems if change does not come soon. There are significant parts of the network that need some renewal, and if we want industry and the general population to be kept moving safely and efficiently, then change is what we need. Businesses in my own backyard are suffering the effects of our appalling road pavements. There are still issues in the Glenelg shire around the Portland area, which is actually Victoria’s second-busiest port. The RACV manager of roads and traffic, Dave Jones, said that it is a real hurdle for a region that creates 10 per cent of Victoria’s total gross domestic product. Brian Williamson, managing director of freight operator Porthaul, said that the roads had deteriorated into such a terrible state that the company has been spending an extra $100 000 or more on repairing damage to their 60 trucks caused by poor roads around Portland: They’re half-million-dollar rigs and we were spending money on them while they were still fairly new, repairing parts that should not be breaking: spring hangers, king pins. Just last Saturday in the local Standard newspaper in Warrnambool Graham Ryan of Ryans transports, Mike Steel from Bamstone and Glenn Owen from Owen Truss were talking about how their products are getting damaged. You have heard me say in this place before that Mike Steel, who runs a bluestone company, says his pavers are turning up to jobs fractured and broken. That says a lot when the road is responsible for doing damage to a bluestone pitcher. Graham Ryan and I have had many conversations about Ryans transports—it moves people all over the world, Ryans transports does—and what he tells me is that if he ran his work yard the way the government runs the roads, he would be absolutely in trouble with WorkSafe, because the damage to the roads is putting his drivers at risk. If it was in his workplace that he had potholes like that and somebody was hurt, this would be akin to a WorkCover issue. I have had that conversation with Graham many times about this double standard that is expected by this government compared with business owners. And he is right—he is basically saying that he is worried about his drivers and that our roads are unsafe. People on rural roads are dying at almost four times the rate of people using city roads. They are killed because our roads are not up to standard. That is 2500 people who will die in the next 10 years on country roads. This is an even more staggering figure: 50 000 people will be hospitalised with serious and life-changing injuries as a result of our roads. I am going to repeat that: that is 2500 Victorians, country Victorians, who will die on our roads in the next 10 years because our roads are not getting the attention they deserve and 50 000 people who will have life-changing injuries. That affects their families. That is people affected with life-changing injuries. Rural people are consistently telling me that their roads are important but very unsafe—96 per cent of people who responded to a survey said roads are important and unsafe. Another part of the RACV review said 10 per cent of roads in south- west Victoria are poor or very poor. That is alarming when you consider that our region is the state’s biggest agricultural producer. This points to a lack of understanding of the correlation between producing products, being able to compete in the world and producing taxes to get Victoria moving faster and safer and to help our roads. But back to business and how our roads are reducing productivity and reducing the competitiveness of our state—do not take my word for it; here again is what the RACV said: Rural businesses have had it with the state of country roads in Victoria … So, again, why are we, the Liberal-Nationals, believing a reasoned amendment is necessary for this bill? Well, our road network is suffering as a result of decreased and insufficient funding. The Victorian Auditor-General says that state funding of the road network is insufficient and funding has actually decreased, particularly in the area of maintenance, by 41 per cent. That coupled with the mismanagement of funds—effectively having a government chasing its tail—is just never going to work. We see all the time this government’s inability to run the state as a business and to run projects, whether it is due to cost overruns, consistent overspending or, as I am pointing out, mismanagement of the funds they have. These funds are actually not indexed, so funding has not kept pace with road
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 663 construction, has not kept pace with maintenance needs and has not kept pace with the cost of building roads and bridges. This is the part that I found very, very disturbing when I read it. According to economic forecasting, at the current level of investment we are seeing right now and have seen for the last four years road deterioration will continue to the extent that 50 per cent of the road network will be in poor condition by 2025. That is only six years from now. I am going to repeat that: 50 per cent of our roads in poor condition. That is alarming. Six years—I know how fast I find six years goes. So it is absolutely clear that the government’s haphazard, reactive approach to road maintenance is costly and ineffective. Another issue that my colleagues and I constantly have brought into our electorate offices is that roads are falling apart within weeks of having been repaired. Beside me sits the member for Lowan, who just last week raised in this place an issue about an intersection that had been repaired and had just fallen apart. In my electorate there is the Myamyn-MacArthur Road, a road that the community had campaigned for years and years to have done. In the first three months, with the first rainfall we saw, the blocked drains left water sitting on the road and potholes were created on that beautiful new construction site that had just been finished three months earlier. It was an absolute disgrace, and didn’t the community go berserk about that—and rightfully so. The government bill succeeds in cutting some red tape and tidying things up a bit, but what it raises is the question of Regional Roads Victoria’s effectiveness. Basically I think what we want to see as members of this side of the house is whether they are taking these recommendations the Victorian Auditor-General has put forward about how shambolic the system is and actually looking at how the system can be better run, because all I am seeing out in the country are billboards and ads on the radio telling us that Regional Roads Victoria is doing a great job fixing roads. The evidence is not on the table just yet so far as I can see. Let us start pushing government to get their management systems in order because, according to the Auditor-General once again, there is actually inadequate data collection. How can you manage a system if you do not know what is wrong with it? Deterioration factors are not monitored. There are actually 10 key road deterioration factors that you use to assess a road, but the government are not even using four of these factors to do their assessment. Issues relating to data collection and consolidation use are really widespread in the department. It is just amazing to read about if you have a good read of this report, and I urge you to do so. There are disparate systems and databases in use, so that means regional offices recording data in separate spreadsheets cannot actually compare it with other areas because there is no centralised road assessment system. Data concerning our regional and rural roads is not validated through a central system, which might trigger further assessments and repairs. Alarmingly—and this one really is quite alarming—there is no overall governance policy existing around data collection. Also, maintenance reporting is not mandated. What we have found is reporting only reflects planned work rather than all work which has been carried out, so when the government does manage to collect the relevant data, it is unable to make proper use of it because existing databases are not integrated to enable network-wide evaluation. The government does not have the capacity to consolidate and review information about our road network. Consequently, statewide decision-making is not driven by important factors such as the condition of the road itself and the condition of the road pavement. Rural data is out of date. The government are only inspecting rural roads every 12 months, yet freeways are inspected much more often. This means data upon which decisions are based can be a full year out of date, and this is particularly concerning in areas which have been ravaged by floods or other extreme weather events. Just two days ago, in the Wangaratta Chronicle, we saw an article about how the community there are saying, ‘We need help with getting our road fixed’. We all remember the story last year when floods hit that area. Well, those roads are being left with no repairs because there is no system—and they are not in that system because it does not exist—to get those roads fixed. Moreover, the government is not able to access historical data regarding past maintenance issues, and this creates very real problems when trying to plan a maintenance program for the following year.
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One other issue that really distressed me when I was doing my research into this bill and working out whether it was adequate is that contractor monitoring and compliance issues are really poorly managed by government and there is confusion and a lack of understanding that relates not just to the condition of our roads; it actually relates to the way the government understands and evaluates contractors employed to fix them. Contractor performance is not accurately measured because the government— surprise, surprise—does not oversee things centrally. Timeliness and quality of work are assessed regionally, albeit by numerous contract arrangements and monitoring systems—no benchmarking— but cost effectiveness and quality are not assessed at all. Unbelievable. I do not know if anyone else has run a business here but if that was how I ran my business, I would have gone broke years ago—in fact, I do not reckon I would even have gotten it off the ground. Consequently, the government is unable to evaluate, compare or benchmark performance at a regional or statewide level. There is also the potential for conflicts of interest—and I have had many people in my office who know the VicRoads system quite well talk to me about this, but this is out of the Auditor-General’s report, so this is not hearsay. This is after investigation and research. Historically, road contractors have also been employed as road inspectors, so the person who is fixing it inspects what they have fixed. Contractors have been subject to performance ratings, and as a consequence they frequently only register hazards and defects that they can address confidently, so they are not actually doing the whole works; it is only what is easy. There is a conflict of interest here, and that is what I am trying to point out. How can you assess a problem that you design the solution for and provide the tender for? How can you be objective on that job? Of course if you think you can get away with as little material as you possibly can use, then that is what you will put forward. If nobody is actually monitoring, which is again what the report points out—no-one is monitoring the work that is being done, no-one is testing whether it is 30 centimetres or 60 centimetres of rubble that has been put down—how can we understand if the government is getting a good return on investment if there is actually no way of monitoring the system? I will conclude by saying that the bill does not go far enough towards fixing our state’s dangerous road network, and it is clearly not a priority for this government. The government keeps delaying this bill, and that is what I said earlier. It has been through the house, and the government put out some terrific press releases last year—they would rather grandstand than find real solutions. The postponement of this bill did not stop the former minister putting out a media release on 9 August last year, under the headline ‘$2 billion guaranteed to fix country and suburban roads’. Mr R Smith interjected. Ms BRITNELL: The point that my colleague beside me makes is that this was first discussed in 2015, and it is now 2019—four years on. Perhaps the minister in the past should have put a little disclaimer in that press release saying, ‘You’ll only get it if we pass it through Parliament’. He certainly did not put it in the fast-track basket to get it through at all. Roads are important, even when you pass the tram lines of the city. Rural people do matter and our lives and safety matter too. Our industries matter and are stifled by underinvestment in our roads. The passage of freight is slowed and its safe arrival is jeopardised. Businesses wear these increases and, when the roads are poor, the maintenance costs to their businesses. This means there are less likely to be products that we are producing that are wanted overseas or domestically because they are damaged. This means that taxes for Victoria that could be put into hospitals, more roads or more schools are being compromised. Shoddy road patch-up jobs are simply not the answer. They put people at risk and they end up costing more in the long run. Effective road management is essential so we can plan, review and resource roads appropriately. Let us straighten out the tender process. Government, come on, do your job: run the state like a business. Do what normal businesses do: use practices that are really quite standard—yes, absolutely.
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Mr Pearson: It is not a business. Ms BRITNELL: The running of a contract is what we do in business—and it is what you do in government. Straighten out your tender practice so the taxpayer is confident that the road that is getting built meets specification because you have been monitoring—part of basic work practice—and is independently assessed and that there is actually a good return on investment. That is just what any business that is commissioning any work would do, and the state has a similar responsibility. Members interjecting. Ms BRITNELL: I cannot believe you think that is not appropriate. This bill offers rural roads and rural people a tokenistic, inadequate and potentially dwindling source of funding. It fixes some issues relating to red tape and administration, but it does not fix or even address the larger and more serious issues at play here. The government has mismanaged our roads because the system used is shambolic. It is a mess, and you know it. The safety of rural people and the survival of the industries upon which we all rely is vital to Victoria. I urge the government to seriously consider our reasoned amendment because our roads are vital to getting product to market, to getting kids to school safely, to getting families home after school, to getting dads home from work and to getting mums into the workplace and out to pick up the kids. Come on, these are the activities that we need to do safely on our roads, and we are losing. Do you remember the statistics? I do not know if you could possibly forget them— 2500 people in the next 10 years will be killed on our rural roads, but 50 000 people will suffer life- changing injuries. They will be left dealing with the fact that the road they were travelling on left them maimed for life. Bus drivers come into my office and say, ‘I really don’t know if I can take on this responsibility any longer—those 30 kids on the bus. I’m just really not coping with the fact that that responsibility is too great for me because our roads will not cope for much longer. I am not sure I’m going to take this responsibility on any longer’. I have had constituents in my office say that. I know the member for Lowan has heard that in her office because we have discussed this. I urge the government to seriously consider our reasoned amendment, to get back to the drawing board with this and to at least give us a fighting chance of getting our roads in the country, the city and the interface areas—some of which are growing like the Mitchell area—back into shape. Let us keep our families moving; let us keep our industries growing. The state of Victoria and the state of our roads are something we should be investing in and moving very much forward with, not backwards. Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (14:39): It is a pleasure to rise and speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. It is a fantastic example of the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to infrastructure in our state—the vital infrastructure that underpins the prosperity of our people into the future—our commitment to community safety to make sure everyone in our community can get home safely and our ambitions, with the campaign Towards Zero, to in future set a target for us all to have no person’s life lost on our roads across Victoria in the future. That is underpinned by all of the infrastructure work that we do each and every day. This bill, as was mentioned, has the underpinnings of Project 10 000. That goes back to 2013 and the origins of the Labor financial statement of the 2013–14 campaign that underpinned an employment and infrastructure policy that set the standard for investment across our network but also in regional and rural roads. The ambition of Project 10 000 was to create 10 000 jobs in Victoria. Well, I am happy to say to this house and this chamber that hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created since the Andrews Labor government was elected and that there are substantial amounts of construction jobs right now across our state. People are benefiting and their lives are changing because of the infrastructure work of the Andrews Labor government—things like the roads in our rural and regional communities or the announcement just today of the preferred contractor to build the much-needed and long-awaited Mordialloc freeway. This is a project that has been talked about for a number of years, and only an Andrews Labor government
BILLS 666 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 will deliver that project. Our community is very excited about the safety improvements and the connections to employment to come and about getting people home safer and sooner. Before I delve a little bit further into the bill, there are a couple of points from the lead speaker for the opposition that I want to address. There were overarching statements made about the need to invest in road infrastructure, what happens if you do not and the impacts on communities. I think we can all agree that if you are not investing in roads, there is an impact on communities. But if you take those statements, the quotes that have been given and the reflections that have been made on the government and then go back to the 2011–14 budgets created by those opposite, they cannot stand by their statements and say all of those things and then fund by half what our infrastructure contribution is in this space. Mr McGuire: Did they even mention jobs? Mr RICHARDSON: They did not mention jobs, member for Broadmeadows. They did not mention jobs at all. When talking about community safety, the message on our roads is a critical one. When you take the lead speaker for the opposition, the member for South-West Coast’s, statements and reflections on the government about the need to commit various infrastructure funds and what could happen if that does not occur and when you invest half of what the Andrews Labor government is investing in this area, then you cannot be held to that standard. You have to then also be frank and honest and say that in the past you have not met the obligations and responsibilities to your community and your constituents. The member for South-West Coast suggested that government be run as a business, that we should be running the Victorian government as a business. As the member for Essendon rightly pointed out, you can take values and principles from the corporate sector and business world to underpin policies that you create and approaches that you take—you take best practice from all sectors—but the statement ‘to run the government as a business’ probably explains why those opposite close train lines, close schools and leave people vulnerable. You can see the ideals and the visions that have been put forward by those opposite: ‘If it ain’t making money, cut it or get rid of it’. They are the ethos and values of those opposite when they say ‘run the government as a business’. They would not fund these country roads to the tune of a business. We have as a government an obligation to our communities to create a base-level standard, and where there is market failure it is the Victorian government that steps in to support those communities. Based on that notion, if a road is not turning a profit or if it is not something that you can get a yield from, it would be closed and you would walk away from it. We saw that with rail infrastructure under the Kennett era; we saw schools close. If you run a school as a business, you are going to close schools. I get that the lead speaker for the opposition had a speech prepared by the shadow cabinet. She read it from top to bottom and did better than the Greens and got to 30 minutes, but when you say those statements you are indicating to the community that you would cut, you would close, you would not invest in roads and you would not invest in rail because it would not be a profitable business venture. That is a concerning statement by those opposite, and I would really like to know if the Leader of the Opposition also agrees that the government should be strictly run as a business. The Leader of the Opposition is in the chamber now. Does he believe that the government should be run purely as a business, purely to create profit? What we would see is cuts and closures—and maybe that is why the federal government has gotten into so much trouble. When we think about this bill and when we think about revenue that is taken from various enforcement measures—traffic light cameras and the like—at the moment we do not have a floor in the investment that is provided and created through rural and regional areas, so this reasoned amendment is peculiar, because at the moment it is discretionary. The Andrews Labor government is investing substantial money in rural and regional roads, but in theory at the moment it is all discretionary and there are no protections there. This bill creates that minimum standard to ensure that 33 per cent of the revenue taken from Better Roads Victoria goes towards country roads and goes towards regional and rural
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 667 roads. I think that is a standard set that is a really important contribution. Currently at discretionary levels that support would be lacking. This goes to our commitment and our incredible investment in our country and rural roads. When we think about the $2 billion guaranteed to fix country and suburban roads across our state, we still see that the road toll is too high. We see that families across Victoria are touched by either the loss of a family member or friend or the tragic consequences of injuries on our roads to livelihoods and employment. When we reflect on some of the questions that were asked in the previous Parliament and the attacks that were made on wire rope barriers, it is an extraordinary thing to talk about community safety, talk about needing accountability and talk about experts and listening to the advice when every single expert puts forward how important wire rope barriers are in preventing head-on collisions and preventing cars running off the road. These wire rope barriers across our state save lives. It is not like a philosophical debate that we see on that side about energy policy or where they get all tied up in knots about various other things—this is important, evidence-based research that says wire rope barriers save lives. Those opposite, throughout question time and through speeches in the last Parliament, came into this chamber and undermined that research and the expert advice that said wire rope barriers save lives. For those opposite to come in here and again claim that this bill does not have accountability and say that is why they have moved this reasoned amendment is absolutely flawed. The position they have taken on wire rope barriers that have prevented so many collisions and protected so many lives is utterly shameful. There is another key element to this bill that I want to touch on. It relates to the public transport amendments and in particular the amendments to the transport legislation regarding VicTrack. Out in my local community we have a situation where we are trying to find a home for the Chelsea SES. In the absolute dog’s breakfast that can sometimes be the bureaucracy in trying to get land transfers or assessments in this space, we have had to go to six different agencies to talk about whether it is possible to get long-term leases on various elements of land. That work to streamline land transfers by enabling VicTrack to transfer interests in land to VicRoads and the head of Transport for Victoria—locally we are very happy about that, because what we have hit locally is the inability to get all the bureaucracy coordinated on these particular matters. The impact this has had on this project means we are still yet to find land that is feasible for the Chelsea SES. I am really excited to see how that might actually aid and assist our efforts to try to find them a home by streamlining those land transfers with VicTrack and VicRoads. That is a welcome amendment that will have an impact on my local community. In conclusion, this goes to the agenda of the Andrews Labor government: tens of billions of dollars invested in infrastructure, which underpins the prosperity of our state and creates jobs. We are the engine room of the nation’s economy. As well as creating those jobs and providing for a more prosperous nation, we are seeing safety improvements across our state to make sure that everybody gets home safer and sooner. Ms McLEISH (Eildon) (14:49): I rise to speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. The bill before the house amends a number of different acts. A lot of those amendments are about looking at reducing red tape and streamlining processes. I am always a fan of making things a little bit easier and making things more efficient, and certainly we see that with the streamlining of processes. A lot of these amendments are, I would say, a little overdue. We have some very positive amendments that are being made. I look first of all at amendments to the Road Safety Act 1986. The bill transfers the administration of alcohol interlock devices and their removal from the Magistrates Court to VicRoads. This is going to free up a lot of time in the courts. We hear time and time again how our courts are clogged, how people
BILLS 668 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 cannot get access quickly and how they have to wait, but we also hear and acknowledge the large workload of a lot of the magistrates. I think a move like this is certainly positive. I note this move is also being made at the same time as a number of other functions of VicRoads are being moved into Service Victoria. They have had a real bungle with the fines where they have had changes in that area, so I am really hoping that the amendments and the changes that are being made to the bureaucracy actually have positive impacts rather than the negative impacts we saw previously. The amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law Application Act 2013 extend the existing exemptions from fatigue management rules for drivers of rail replacement buses to apply to record keepers as well as drivers. I think that is quite positive. The amendments to the Transport Integration Act 2010 streamline land transactions between transport agencies. One of my big bugbears is that we see far too often that agencies do not speak to each other and departments do not speak to each other. Sometimes heads are butted, and certainly electorally, when you are trying to get things sorted out at times, it seems nobody wants to actually own the problem. I know that many of us do experience that, so I am hoping that the streamlining between agencies does work out positively. But I think, keeping those positives in mind, that there are certainly a couple of negatives, which is why our lead speaker, the member for South-West Coast, put forward a reasoned amendment to basically put the bill back on the drawing board and to introduce some of what we see on this side as well-needed changes. With regard to the Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979, the speed camera fine revenue goes into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account for the repair and upgrade of our roads. That relies on the amount of red light and speed camera fine revenue being consistent or increased, and it is quite varied. So when we are looking to split the pie, we are looking at splitting a variable pie. I think we would all like to see something much more consistent so that we know exactly how much is going in. It says here that 33 per cent of this pool would be spent on outer suburban roads, 33 per cent on rural and regional areas and 33 per cent on the rest. I would like us to have a think about what actually happens now and the current funding levels. I think it is very important to get this on the record because much of the funding outlined by the government in the last budget was only possible due to the proceeds that have been received from the federal government for the sale of Victoria’s share of Snowy Hydro. This included the money for fixing country roads—$168 million towards regional road restoration and maintenance. Roads were neglected in the last four years of the government, which was actually confirmed by the Auditor- General in 2017. It was great that the Auditor-General was able to confirm that, but every man and his dog on the street in country Victoria would be able to confirm it as well because they see less and less being invested in country roads. The only time we started to see that investment was in the election year, when Labor tried to make it look as though they were doing a lot. We see currently Labor now boasting that it will spend money on country roads. That is entirely thanks to the windfall received from the federal coalition government with respect to Snowy Hydro. I hear constantly that the government thinks that the— Mr Pearson: On a point of order, Speaker, I have been paying attention to the member in her contribution. I note that she is quoting extensively from a document. I was wondering if she could make that available to the house. Ms McLEISH: I am quoting from notes, but I am happy to make those available because I think that this— The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Eildon will make that available. The member for Eildon to continue.
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Ms McLEISH: I am more than happy to do so, because the truth hurts sometimes. I can see the member for Essendon, lurking on the middle benches there. He is very, very touchy in this area. Now, when Victorian motorists hear that the government is talking about spending $1 billion on repairing and upgrading roads and level crossings in rural areas, they think, ‘Hang on a minute, what’s going on here?’, because it is not what we committed. We did commit $1 billion, absolutely, before the last election, but the government in the last budget only committed $165.2 million for regional road restoration and repair. Now they are pretending on the other side that it is a lot more than that, but let me tell you: if they go and check the budget documents, they will find out the true story. So this is why we think that you cannot be trusted. You cannot guarantee adequate levels of funding for maintenance, and this is precisely why the shadow Minister for Roads has moved a reasoned amendment—to make sure that 40 per cent of the proposed fund is allocated to regional roads. I can think of many areas in my electorate that actually need work done. In rural Victoria, I have the Murrindindi and Mansfield shires. We have major transport routes there. The Melba Highway and the Maroondah Highway are major freight routes. We see loads of B-doubles, freight trucks, constantly up and down this road. We see tourist buses and local traffic. It has been put to me by very many people that going on the Midland Link Highway to Benalla is now becoming a much more popular way of getting from the city to the Hume Highway rather than having to go through the toll roads in the city and the congestion. So more and more traffic is actually going up the Melba Highway and the Maroondah Highway, and these roads are really feeling the pressure. So the government really needs to get itself sorted and make sure that there is adequate investment there. Between Yarck and Mansfield the shoulders are not sealed—a huge increase in traffic but we do not have sealed shoulders. We do not have designated left-turn lanes into busy side roads. We do not have enough overtaking lands, and it is so important. I call on the government, when they are looking at this year’s budget, to actually make sure that they have some really positive solutions for these roads. Of course the surfaces need to be in good shape, and there is a lot of work that can be done there as well, but I have called for safety concerns to be addressed on the Midland Link Highway because of what residents have raised with me. We have, in the interface area, the Heidelberg-Kinglake Road that goes via St Andrews and Cottles Bridge. We see wire rope barriers put in all sorts of places where they are not needed, but we have some very windy, dangerous corners there and people say, ‘Well, how come they’re not in those positions?’. It is a lot more challenging to do them in some of those areas, but that is where the real risk is. People are constantly going over the sides of the roads there. It is the same with the Black Spur. There are always people running off the roads there. We see the barriers put where the road run-offs do not occur, but they are not done where they do occur. We have some major intersections down on the Warburton Highway, which is one of the key roads for many, many townships in the Upper Yarra Valley. We have got some intersections there that need work. We have had Wesburn Primary School calling out for years now to the deaf ears of the government to install electronic flashing speed signs. We have a dangerous intersection in downtown Healesville on the corner of Maroondah Highway, Badger Creek Road and Wilson Street. We have people who sit in the cafe; they watch the near misses, they watch the accidents that happen and they see a lot of traffic turning up the Badger Creek Road because that is the main tourist route to the Healesville Sanctuary. So we have loads of work that needs to be done in the interface areas and certainly on our rural roads. I do not think that the bill that has been put forward by the government really goes far enough, and I support wholeheartedly the reasoned amendment that has been put forward by the member for South- West Coast, the shadow minister, today because it makes a lot more sense to look after the lives of people travelling on country roads. We certainly see country drivers dying, but we also see city drivers dying on country roads.
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Ms EDWARDS (Bendigo West) (14:59): It is a great pleasure to make a contribution on the bill before the house today, which is the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. I have been listening attentively to the contributions that have been presented to the house today by the members for South-West Coast and Eildon, and I have to acknowledge that there were some anomalies in their contributions, particularly in relation to government spending. The Andrews Labor government’s spending on regional and rural roads, and indeed on metropolitan and suburban roads, over the last four years and more recently has been quite significant in comparison to what was spent by the Liberals and The Nationals when they were last in government. I would like to present some figures to the house. From 2011–12 to 2014–15 the spend on metropolitan roads by the Liberal-Nationals government was $148.8 million. In comparison the Labor government’s recent spend, from 2015–16 to 2018–19, has been $293.1 million. On rural roads the Liberal-Nationals in that period spent $458.3 million, and in contrast the Andrews Labor government spent $856.5 million. That is almost a doubling of road maintenance expenditure over the last four years, and I do not think those figures can be argued with because they are indeed budget figures. It galls me to hear that we are not spending on our regional roads. I have lived in regional Victoria all my life and I drive on regional roads every single day. And do you know what? People are not complaining so much about the state of the roads at the moment. What they are complaining about is that there is so much maintenance happening that they have to delay their trips or be held up because we have a road maintenance blitz happening right across regional Victoria. In contrast, when the Liberals were in government, we saw over 450 VicRoads staff sacked and a cut of more than $100 million to road maintenance. Clearly there is some misinformation being put out there by those opposite in relation to road maintenance funding. I would also like to point out that the 33 per cent guaranteed minimum funding that will come from the Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979 trust fund will be locked into our roads. Currently it is discretionary funding: it can go anywhere. This means that our regional and rural roads will have that 33 per cent set in perpetuity, irrespective of the figure it is being drawn from. I think the reasoned amendment that has been moved by those opposite probably needs to be moved as part of a fiscal bill rather than as part of this particular bill before the house today. I came across an article in the Herald Sun in December that, believe it or not, actually supported the Andrews Labor government. It says:
Victoria is now a state under construction. … Victoria looks to be transformed over coming years in a bid to have transport infrastructure catch up with population. It pointed out, as I mentioned, the maintenance blitz that was happening over the summer period. That was on around 224 kilometres of suburban roads—as well as on our regional roads, of course, but this was referring to suburban roads—that would be repaired over the next year, costing a record $183 million. It referred to works that are set to include upgrades to sections of the Princes Highway, the Nepean Highway, the Hume Freeway, the South Gippsland Highway, Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road and Centre Dandenong Road. This is of course in conjunction with a number of upgrades across regional Victoria, and I would like to mention just a few that have been happening across my own electorate that have made a big difference to commuters both on the Calder and the Hume freeways. The $42 million Calder Freeway, the M80 ring-road to Bendigo upgrade—and of course the Jock Comini Memorial Rest Area on the Calder Freeway is now completed, which is a fantastic outcome— and $19 million for Calder Highway safety improvements, intersection upgrades and overtaking lanes on the Bendigo to Mildura road. For those who do not know, that section of road is actually a major transport route for heavy vehicles transporting goods to Melbourne and back to Mildura as well. We
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 671 are very delighted by that. There is $68 million in maintenance and repairs funding that is going to the Bendigo-Maryborough Road and the Loddon Valley Highway. We are seeing safety upgrades in the Pyrenees Highway, and none more exciting than the Pyrenees Highway through Castlemaine that has recently been upgraded, making the drive into Castlemaine a much more pleasant experience. We have also delivered $6.6 million of black spot funding to the greater Bendigo region as part of that and currently planning is underway, which is something I am really excited about, for an upgrade to safety on the Calder Highway for Marong Road between Ironbark and Maiden Gully. Maiden Gully and Marong are two of the biggest growth areas of the Bendigo West electorate and we are very pleased that this planning is underway because the number of cars utilising the road is going to go through the roof in the coming years as our population out that way grows significantly. In relation to the bill I think it is really important to remember that the family violence royal commission recommended changes relating to alcohol interlock devices and how they worked in conjunction with our court system. One of the recommendations was to reduce the obligations of the courts when these interlock devices could be utilised by other agencies such as VicRoads, for example, that will take on the responsibility for helping people to have those interlock devices removed. Importantly this bill delivers on our commitment to Project 10 000 to provide better roads for more communities. That is a minimum of $1 billion over eight years allocated to repair and upgrade roads in Melbourne’s outer suburban interface communities, a minimum of $1 billion over eight years to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities, legislative changes to lock in a guaranteed proportion of funding for these communities in perpetuity, as I mentioned, and to confirm in legislation the compulsory payment of traffic camera and speeding fines into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. Of course rural and regional communities so far have been allocated $1.1 billion in this term of government. I think this is a testament to what this government really is about. It is about improving conditions and enhancing the safety for rural and regional motorists. What we know is that the number of regional Victorians who have died on our roads far outweighs those in other areas of the state. Last year 157 regional residents lost their lives on our roads out of the 214 across the state. While we can see a reduction in the number of road trauma and road deaths, it is not enough. That is why we are investing so heavily in improving our regional roads. We know that regional road safety is important and maintenance of those roads is just as important, as are the safety barriers which are making a huge difference to the number of people in run-offs from our regional roads who are hitting the safety barriers now and surviving, whereas before they might have run into a tree. This is making a big difference to the number of people who are not being killed on our roads. We have got a long way to go. Towards Zero was our target a couple of years ago and we have probably got halfway there with that program but we need to work much harder. Part of working harder is actually investing, and investing heavily, in our maintenance works and road networks. We know there is a lot more to do and that is why this bill is before the house. It means having that funding, that revenue, available for our regional roads, for our country roads and for our Melbourne roads—our metropolitan roads and our outer suburban roads—in perpetuity. That is what this bill is about, and I support the bill. Mr WAKELING (Ferntree Gully) (15:09): I am pleased to contribute to this debate on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. As has been articulated by the shadow minister, the member for South-West Coast, the opposition has moved a reasoned amendment, and I too would seek to support the amendment that has been presented by the shadow minister. This bill seeks to make a number of changes in regard to the operation of transport in the state of Victoria. The first is that it will seek to hypothecate speed camera revenue for funding of repair and upgrade of roads, with a 33 per cent allocation to outer suburban and interface areas, 33 per cent to rural and regional areas and the remaining third effectively allocated to a bucket—it will be then
BILLS 672 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 determined by the minister, I would presume, where that money is to be allocated. The opposition is seeking that those first two allocations be increased from a third and a third to ensure that the interface and, more importantly, rural communities have greater certainty with the level of funding that they will receive, because we know the state of roads, particularly in rural and regional Victoria, is very poor. One only needs to travel the state, to get outside the Melway, to identify the problem with many of our rural and regional roads. The member for South-West Coast, the member for Lowan and other members in this place who represent those communities will know only too well the parlous state of many of our country roads. We know that this government actually has a strange view of what in fact qualifies as a country road, because we know in the last Parliament the former roads minister sought to allocate country road funding to upgrade bridges on the Monash. The bridges were actually allocated to the rural seat of Mulgrave, which the Premier represents. The irony is that in the metropolitan seat that I represent I have to drive through the Premier’s electorate to get to the city. So we saw the Premier’s own electorate receive funding out of country roads money, but for the country communities to which that money was allocated it was in fact money that went missing. I remember the debacle of that question time in the last Parliament—Speaker, you were not in the chair at the time from memory. Certainly the minister had great difficulty in explaining to Victorians how in fact the electorate of Mulgrave qualified as a country seat for the purposes of receiving funding that had been identified specifically for rural road upgrades. The bill does make important changes with respect to the transference of the administration of alcohol interlock devices away from the courts to VicRoads, and that is an important step. We know the importance of the interlock devices. It is about ensuring that we have a safer place for people to commute on our roads. Particularly for those who are offenders, it has been identified that if they have previously been found guilty of an alcohol-related offence, they are inhibited from being able to drive. The government member who spoke previously talked about the funding that this government has allocated. Well, the one way that my community would see that level of funding is by the delivery of projects on the ground. During the last government no commitments were made by the then Labor opposition to provide road funding, and in fact, true to form, no funding was delivered to my community by the last government. No major roads were upgraded. No intersections were upgraded. In fact the one thing that my community was going to see was the construction of the east–west link. That was ripped away by the Labor government, and my community was given nothing in compensation. We saw, leading into this Parliament, that at the last election the Labor Party made no commitments to provide any road funding assistance for upgrades for the community of Knox and residents in the Ferntree Gully electorate. My community will not be surprised that despite the fact that this government claims it has record spending, despite the fact that this government is going to borrow $25 billion for infrastructure, none of that money is going to be expended within the electorate of Ferntree Gully. When you talk to residents in my community, they want to know what this government is proposing to do with roads such as Ferntree Gully Road. Whilst there are two lanes, the traffic is significant and certainly the government needs to provide an explanation as to whether or not they will be constructing extra lanes on Ferntree Gully Road, given the significant volume of traffic that is now filling our roads. The government’s planning system, which allows for the construction of a litany of unit developments—infill developments throughout suburbs in the City of Knox—is seeing a significant increase in traffic that is moving from Knox to Melbourne. As a consequence of that the roads are getting heavier, but they are not being upgraded to cope with the increase in traffic. The same is true of sections of the Burwood Highway in the Ferntree Gully electorate. The community rightly ask the question: what is the government going to do to ensure that we upgrade both Ferntree Gully Road and the Burwood Highway? Contrast that with the former coalition government when High Street Road
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 673 was duplicated. That made a significant difference to the Ferntree Gully community in ensuring improved traffic flow. But, again, despite the fact that upgrades occurred under the former coalition government, under this government there has in fact been little to no action. Then there is the Dorset Road extension. I know the mayor of Knox City Council has raised this issue. The question needs to be asked of the government: what is the government proposing to do with the future site of the Dorset Road extension? The question has been asked of the government, and the government rightly needs to provide an explanation as to what they are proposing to do with that section at the end of Dorset Road from the Burwood Highway through to Napoleon Road and on to Lysterfield Road. The land has been set aside. The government needs to provide an explanation once and for all as to what are its long-term intentions. Another major issue in my community is the need for traffic lights to be installed at the intersection of McMahons Road and the Burwood Highway in Ferntree Gully. That is a very dangerous intersection—an intersection that has significant traffic movement, which is only going to increase with the potential construction of further housing on the former Robertson Industries quarry site. At the last election the Liberal Party made a commitment to install traffic lights there. That was not matched by the Labor Party, and my community wants an answer from the government as to whether or not that important work will be undertaken. Equally, there are growing concerns about the intersection of Boronia Road and Lewis Road and whether or not there is a need for traffic lights to be installed at that intersection. This is another important issue for my community and a very important issue for people who are travelling from EastLink through Wantirna South and onwards to Boronia. Again, this government claim that they are spending lots of money and claim that they are going to borrow lots of money to spend on infrastructure. My community has said, ‘If you’re going to spend money, then you need to demonstrate how that money is going to be expended within the City of Knox in the electorate of Ferntree Gully’. My residents pay taxes. My residents are going to be contributing to this fund like residents from every other electorate across the state of Victoria, and they are, rightly, asking the question: what moneys are going to be expended by this government to upgrade road infrastructure within our community? It is imperative that more is done. It is imperative that the government stops ignoring the concerns of my community and starts spending money on infrastructure, and in regard to road infrastructure this is vitally important. Mr EREN (Lara) (15:19): I am delighted to speak on this very important bill before the house today, the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. We have heard a few speakers from that side. I do not think they have learned much at all in relation to the recent election that we had. Indeed regional Victoria spoke loudly and clearly in terms of our government, this side of the house, and the policy settings and the policy framework that we have in looking after regional Victoria. I know that personally in my electorate I actually increased my margin, as did many other regional members. That is because, in the 1990s—and everybody remembers this, and I think some of those members of the opposition are embarrassed by it—Jeff Kennett called regional Victoria the ‘toenails of Victoria’. Who is going to forget that? Mr D O'Brien: That was 20 years ago! Mr EREN: It was 20 years ago, but it is indicative of the opposition’s view on regional Victoria. That is why we on this side of the house know how important regional Victoria is. As regional members we are proud of the investments that we are making. We are making investments, record investments, in every aspect. I will just say on infrastructure alone that the Baillieu-Napthine governments of 2010–14 were in government for only one term before the people said, ‘Oh no, we don’t like you anymore. You’ve been there long enough. We’re going to bring a Labor government in, because they have a track record
BILLS 674 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 of investments into Victoria, particularly regional Victoria’. We have increased—almost doubled— the infrastructure spending in regional Victoria. It has gone from just over $7 billion during the previous Liberal Baillieu-Napthine governments to, in the last Parliament—four years of an Andrews Labor government—just under $14 billion in terms of regional infrastructure. A member: How much? Mr EREN: Just under $14 billion—almost double the amount they spent. Clearly this has been done strategically, because we understand the importance of regional Victoria. We understand that if you have a strong economy in regional Victoria you have a strong economy in the state of Victoria. That is why if you look at the growth rates in terms of jobs and the economy we are leading the way. Why wouldn’t people want to live in Victoria? That is why we have record growth in terms of population, unlike the 1990s, during the Kennett government, when people in the tens of thousands actually left Victoria saying, ‘We’ve had enough’. There were cuts to services, the sale of schools and a lack of infrastructure. Regional Victorians were called the ‘toenails of Victoria’. They left in droves. But they are coming back, and why wouldn’t they come back? It is because we have a fair system in place, making sure that regional Victorians do not miss out. Like many other regional members of Parliament on this side of the house, I am very proud of the Andrews Labor government and the strategic investments that go back all the way to Steve Bracks— the wonderful Premier that he was—and John Brumby. We know that the ring-road, even though it was on the Melway map for many, many years, only came about because of one Premier, a Labor Premier, who said, ‘We’re going to bite the bullet on this, because we need it’. So we built that ring- road. If we had not built it back then, we would now be a city that is clogged, we would be congested and nobody would want to visit that wonderful part of our state. Tourism plays a big part in this. As the former Minister for Tourism and Major Events, I understand the importance to Melburnians. We have intrastate tourism, for example, where Melburnians are going to country and regional Victorian for tourism purposes. That is why we need to make sure that we invest in our roads. I was the chair of the former Road Safety Committee between 2006 and 2010. We are proud of some of the changes we made back then as a government. Of course last year the road toll was at its lowest, which we are very proud of. That does not happen by accident; it happens by design, investment and strategy. Unfortunately we did not start that well this year, because of some motorbike accidents, but certainly the bill before the house will go a long way to making sure that the government is fair and equitable when it comes to investment in that very important area of roads. We are investing record amounts of money in public transport. There is no question that as the population grows we need to do both. We need to invest in public transport to enable people to opt to use public transport rather than the roads. For those people who still want to use the roads, we need to make sure that they have good road infrastructure in place so they can get home safely to their families and be able to go to work safely. That is why we have seen record investments being made right across the state when it comes to roads, and we are proud of that. Again I say: the opposition should look back over the history of this state to the investments that we have made and compare those investments to the investments they made when they were in government. That is why people choose Labor governments over the opposition—because they know the investments that we make are strategic, fair and equitable. We would never call regional Victorians the ‘toenails of Victoria’ like Jeff Kennett did. This bill aims to deliver on the Project 10 000 commitment to provide better roads for more communities. I have got to say that I have been a recipient of some of this funding. Why wouldn’t you invest in Geelong when the population is growing? A member interjected.
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Mr EREN: Absolutely. That is why to a certain extent when property values were readjusted nationally there was a downward trend on property values because of the overinflated prices. In the Geelong region, even though Ford and Alcoa have gone, the economy is really strong. Unemployment was 8 per cent when we took office in 2014; it is down to just under 5 per cent now. As the population grows in Geelong so do the investments in roads, because we understand that not only for locals but also for tourists—there are a lot of self-drive tourists now in the region—we have got to ensure that we have the best road infrastructure in place to make sure that those people are not hurt driving on our roads while they are in our state. Some of the investments that have been made in my electorate include $49.5 million for the Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road upgrade, the resurfacing of Geelong-Ballan Road, improvements to Melbourne Road, remodelling plans for Six Ways in Lara, time-based school zone signs at six local schools and $500 000 for Perkins Road, Lara, for pavement rehabilitation, widening and associated works. Our government has so far allocated over $1.1 billion to rural and regional communities. This is a great bill before the house. We will continue as a government to focus in on regional and country areas because we know the importance of them. Obviously the bill amends a number of different things to distribute the funds equitably, particularly 33 per cent for repair and upgrade of roads in outer suburban interface communities and 33 per cent for the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities, and the remaining 34 per cent can be allocated for repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings anywhere in the state. This means that we have locked funding for Victorian roads into legislation, ensuring outer suburban and country Victorian roads receive 66 per cent minimum of Better Roads Victoria funds, which equates roughly to $2 billion over the eight years. There is obviously another minor change in relation to the alcohol interlock program and how that is treated, particularly who has responsibility over that very important program to keep Victorians safe on the road. There are roughly 5000 applications made to our courts in relation to this, and we want to free up our court system of course to grant family violence intervention orders speedily with due regard, so VicRoads will do some of those duties in relation to the interlocks, which makes sense, and of course that will free up our court systems to deal with other urgent matters. This is yet again a wonderful bill by our government, and I am very proud to be part of a government that has invested steadily but consistently, unlike the other side, into regional Victoria. That is why we are seeing a trend that is going upwards in terms of the economy being strong in regional Victoria, in terms of the population growth that is occurring in regional Victoria and in terms of the people actually wanting live in and not move out of regional Victoria. The retention rates, particularly of young people in parts of regional Victoria, are very strong; that is a lot of confidence that we have given to those communities that lacked the confidence back in the 1990s through the Kennett era and of course lacks the confidence when a Liberal government is in, because they understand the importance of having a good government that cares for all Victorians. This is a great bill before the house, and of course I look forward to its speedy passage not only through this place but indeed through the other place. Mr D O'BRIEN (Gippsland South) (15:30): I too am pleased to rise to speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. It feels a little bit deja vuish again—if that is a word—to be standing and speaking on another piece of legislation that we have already dealt with here in this chamber. Speaking of deja vu—and before the member for Lara leaves the chamber—frankly we are getting a bit over hearing those on that side continue to dredge up things and comments that were made 20 years ago. Ms Kealy interjected. Mr D O'BRIEN: Seriously, they are talking constantly on the other side about what the Kennett government did or did not do. As the member for Lowan indicated, she was not able to vote when the Kennett government was elected, and some of us on our side and on your side could not vote when the
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Kennett government lost office; it was 20 years ago. You do not get us here every day standing up and talking about the Cain and Kirner governments and why they were so bad—we have got plenty of material from the current Labor government of course, so we do not need to—but please, can you get some new material? What happened 20 to 25 years ago really is totally irrelevant to the people of today. Having said that, it has also been rather galling listening to members opposite, like the member for Lara and like the member for Mordialloc a little bit earlier, speak about this government’s commitment to rural and regional roads when those of us on this side know—the member for Lowan at the table knows this better than anyone; the member for South-West Coast, who has already spoken on this legislation, knows as well; and I know, though I would never say that their roads are worse than mine, because I know how many complaints I get about the roads in South Gippsland, but I have been over there—how bad it is in the western part of the state. Members interjecting. Mr D O'BRIEN: To have those opposite constantly saying how wonderful the Labor government is, particularly given—as I think I am having thrown at me here—they have been in government for 15 of the last 19 years now and they are saying everything is hunky-dory, is absolutely not correct. The debate that we are having here and the reasoned amendment that has been moved by the member for South-West Coast is with respect to the proportion of funding from speed camera revenue that will go into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. We have certainly said that instead of a third going into rural and regional areas and another third to suburban and interface areas those proportions should be increased to 40 per cent each with the remainder available to be allocated as necessary. The reason for that is that obviously we see a great need in rural and regional Victoria in particular from my own perspective and that of The Nationals. We acknowledged that and recognised that going into the last election, where we had a stronger roads policy that would have allocated a significant amount of money to rural and regional Victoria had we been elected. I had great pleasure in being part of drafting that policy, which was not only about money but also about trying to come up with solutions to better deliver road maintenance spending in particular. That is something that drives the people in my electorate spare—the amount of money that they see spent on roads and not getting a good outcome. I know the member for Gippsland East mentioned in here only last week the work on the Princes Highway between Sale and Stratford, which I get many comments about. The government has spent I do not know how much money in the last 18 months to two years on that stretch of road, predominantly widening it to install wire rope barriers both on the verges and down the centre lane, and the outcome of the job is just appalling. The surface of the road is terrible; it has been patched and repatched numerous times since it was opened, and it is just a disgrace. Indeed the member for Gippsland East has just come into the chamber and will no doubt agree with me on this. The road itself has been widened but still has the ripple strips in the middle of the road, which make it confusing for motorists coming along as well. That is the sort of thing that people are frustrated about. It is not just about extra money. We think that we came up with some good ideas to ensure that our roads maintenance budget was more efficiently allocated and also that we would get better value for money in the work we were doing. But as I said, there are plenty of jobs that still need to be done in rural and regional Victoria. The most egregious oversight of the current government at the moment, certainly in my area, is that of the Princes Highway duplication between Traralgon and Sale. This is a project that has now been going for nearly 10 years. It is roughly 50 kilometres of highway between Traralgon and Sale that is being duplicated. It was first committed to by the Howard government as it left government, it was committed to by the Rudd government federally and it has had funding from the Brumby, Baillieu and Napthine governments. There are now two sections of that highway to be duplicated. Darren Chester, the member for Gippsland in the federal coalition government, has $132 million on the table from the federal budget last year as the 80 per cent contribution from the commonwealth, and yet the project has stalled. It has literally stalled.
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Two sections are left to be built that are now not being built for want of $33 million from the Andrews Labor government. I have been calling for it for the last three budgets. I genuinely expected it would be in last year’s budget because the money ran out and the project finishes in December this year. The previous two sections that were funded were opened and now we have two remaining sections that have stalled because the Andrews Labor government has failed to put up the money. So when I sit here during question time and hear the Premier and the Minister for Transport Infrastructure squealing about the commonwealth and its failure to put in capital funding for Victoria, I must say it is pretty hypocritical when there is $132 million on the table from the commonwealth which is not being matched by the state. As a result that important duplication project has stopped and will be stopped for the foreseeable future because the Treasurer has said it will not be funded in this year’s budget. Speaking of projects that have stalled: the Black Spur realignment project on the South Gippsland Highway between Koonwarra and Meeniyan. There was a commitment by the federal government in 2016 of $25 million that I am pleased to say was matched by the former Minister for Roads and Road Safety, the member for Narre Warren North, so that project was ready to go at a cost of $50 million in 2016. Yet here we are, coming into the state budget for 2019–20, and that project still has not begun. I understand that last year there were some hold-ups with some Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approvals at the federal level, but I am now getting people coming to me and saying how ridiculous it is that we have been promised this project for decades, we finally get an allocation of money and yet here we are nearly three years down the track and the project still has not begun. I call on the new Minister for Roads to get on with the job. This is a project that will save lives. There have been a number of significant accidents on the Black Spur section of the South Gippsland Highway over the past 10 to 20 years. Sadly, there was a fatality there in the second half of last year as well. This is a project that we need to get on with. The money is there. Stop messing around. Let us get on with it. I am annoyed when I see, as I did just half an hour ago, a Facebook ad from Regional Roads Victoria promoting the fact that we are upgrading and maintaining popular routes in Gippsland such as the Princes Highway and South Gippsland Highway. As I just indicated, that is not happening, so get on with the job. The Andrews Labor government needs to provide the money for the Princes Highway duplication. They need to get the impetus back with the Black Spur realignment and make sure that these important projects actually happen. Finally, there are a number of other aspects to this legislation, in particular interlocks. The removal of the interlock device administration from the Magistrates Court is a good thing. That does well. One thing I might add, and I have come across this a number of times, is that people who are forced by the courts to get an interlock device get a discount on the installation of that device if they are a concession card holder. This is an issue I have raised with both the previous coalition roads minister and the previous minister in the 58th Parliament. This is perplexing to me. If you have a concession card, you do not get a discount on a speeding fine, so why should people get a discount on those interlock devices? But I do think the transfer of administration from the courts to VicRoads hopefully will improve that process and free up some space in the courts. Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (15:39): This is a timely and emblematic bill. It underscores the big-picture vision of this government and it actually points to a proposition where we are acknowledging the first 100 days of the return of the Andrews Labor government and the plans to address economic development and jobs. It is timely and relevant, and it goes to the overwhelming majority of Australians’ view that they are practical people. They are not ideologues; they want us to give them a vision, deliver the plan and improve their lives. In so many ways this bill goes to those themes. The bill was born of Project 10 000, a vision to create jobs, provide better roads for more communities and drive economic activity. Just to go back to underscore this matter, if we look at what those commitments were, there was a minimum of $1 billion over eight years to be allocated to repair and upgrade roads in Melbourne’s outer suburban and interface communities. So this is really important,
BILLS 678 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 specifically to me as the member for Broadmeadows, because the City of Hume falls into that interface area where we are going through dramatic population growth, particularly as the designated capital of Melbourne’s north, and within about a decade we will have a population the same size as Adelaide. This is how significant these investments and strategies are. There was a minimum of $1 billion over eight years to be allocated to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities, so that is about the government making sure that everybody throughout the state gets the benefit of these allocations. Legislative changes will be made to lock in a guaranteed proportion of funding for these communities in perpetuity, so there is certainty. That is critical for decision-making. Victorian Labor will also confirm in legislation the compulsory payment of traffic camera and speeding fines into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. These commitments recognise the important role of the state government to plan and deliver transport projects for economic prosperity and for the safety of all Victorian communities. We have had some partisan debate across the chamber about the history of the state and which administration did whatever. Well, this is what the Andrews Labor government is committed to and here it is. The government’s ambitious eight-year target to invest a total of $2 billion in Victoria’s outer suburban and regional roads has been met in just four years. We have overachieved; there it is. A total of more than $3 billion has already been allocated to outer suburban, interface and rural and regional communities in the first term of this government. So that goes to the key thing that people want. They want you to deliver, and that is what this government has been about. That is its highest mark in the eyes of Victorians, and that, I think, was the overwhelming proposition behind the vote we had at the last election. Just drawing that down into one of the issues that I want to address, I think this underscores my view that we want to get the deal done between VicRoads and the Hume City Council to remove the loop road connecting Pascoe Vale Road to Camp Road in Broadmeadows. This is important because it will be like cutting the Gordian knot to get rid of this proposition and to be able to open up the area for economic development and revitalisation. This has been a protracted negotiation. I want to use this occasion on this bill to call for a resolution of this matter as a matter of urgency because of the economic development that we want to drive in this community because of its significance as the designated capital of Melbourne’s north and the economic development that is already occurring. In the last term I chaired the Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board, so we have got a whole strategy that would benefit from this deal going ahead. How do we create new jobs? Develop an advanced manufacturing accelerator, because that is what we need in this community. If you have a look at the Ford site, for example, Ford have been in negotiations to sell 40 per cent of that site, so if we were going to unlock the value of that, this would be fantastic. We need these jobs in Broadmeadows more than anywhere else because we are going through deindustrialisation. We also have to face the issue that Woolworths will be closing its distribution centre there and there could be up to 800 jobs for National Union of Workers workers that could be lost at that site soon, so we need to be on top of this strategy. This is an issue that is vital and urgent. We need to put the big picture vision in place on the revitalisation board. We need to get the departments and the different sections of the government working in unison and to have a coordinated approach to actually address these matters. These are the kinds of infrastructure deals that can trigger the other development propositions that we want. From the revitalisation board we are looking at increasing opportunities for small business start-ups and for self-employment, because you cannot really rely on the big factory jobs of the past. My mother worked on the assembly lines at Yakka, Ericsson, Denzil Don, Nabisco—they have all gone. We have to keep driving small and medium-sized businesses as well. There is also a proposal to develop a social enterprise sector in Hume, which I think could be of enormous benefit, because we have the poorest people from virtually the United Nations—more than 160 different nationalities are first calling Australia home in Broadmeadows. This is where you get your start. As my late father always called it, the land of opportunity. This is what we need to do to try and help that.
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Then we are looking to rezone former industrial land to facilitate job growth, because it is not just the Ford site. The most affordable available land within 16 kilometres of the heart of the world’s most livable city is right here, and you have got blue chip infrastructure. Unlocking this loop road would be important to add to that dimension of the great infrastructure that we have in the proximity of the centre of the city. If you think about it, we have got two train lines into Broadmeadows and we got the spur into the Ford site; the Andrews Labor government widened the Tullamarine Freeway; we have got Sydney Road and we have got the ring-road; and we have got the curfew-free international airport at the back door. I would argue that is the best, most significant infrastructure in a concentrated area in the state. We should leverage this, we should harness this and we should not let a loop road be the problem in the mix. Having said that, we need to see VicRoads and the Hume City Council work cooperatively on how we actually address the impact that will have on traffic flow and how that is managed within the community so that people see there will be some small pain but hopefully a much greater gain over time. This is the dynamic that we are working with at the moment, and I think that if this is done well, it will have major benefit. If you also look at some of the other propositions within this bill, what it does is it goes to one of the other critical issues. Victoria has the toughest drink-driving laws in Australia, and under recent reforms by the Andrews Labor government every drink-driver loses their drivers licence, must complete a behaviour change program and is required to use an alcohol interlock once licensed and driving again. These are strong new laws to help reduce drink-driving deaths and serious injuries and to encourage a culture where drinking and driving are separated. That is the critical point. These laws need to operate effectively and efficiently, and since 2014 VicRoads has managed drink-drivers who have committed a first offence with a BAC reading below 0.10. This scheme uses the same data available to courts in deciding when to remove an alcohol interlock condition for a drivers licence. In summing up, here is a piece of legislation that is emblematic of what this government does. Here is how you can get economic development. Here we are literally building the roads to the future and to better opportunity, and then here is the social aspect of it. Here is how the money will be transferred. It gives certainty on how these initiatives can be delivered, and its benefit goes right across the state. This is critical, because it is what this government is about—it is about giving opportunity to people no matter where they are. I think that actually needs to be recognised more often by the opposition. That is the inherent proposition in this bill. I commend the bill to the house. Ms KEALY (Lowan) (15:49): I am pleased to rise to speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. This is a broad-ranging bill, but there is one certain element I would like to focus on around the amendment to the Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979. In particular, this amendment seeks to hypothecate the speed camera fine revenues into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account for the purpose of repair and upgrade of roads, with funds to be allocated—a third to outer suburban and interface areas and a third to rural and regional areas—with the remainder available as a float across the state wherever it is deemed necessary to be allocated. There are many other elements of this bill, including an amendment to the Road Safety Act 1986 regarding the administration of alcohol interlock devices. It removes that from the courts so that it is now processed through VicRoads. I think if this helps to unburden the judicial system, then this is a good thing. However, we need to make sure that the VicRoads administration is not overburdened with having to manage an additional requirement. We need to make sure that there is sufficient staff in those areas, because I do get complaints from time to time around difficulties in responsiveness within VicRoads. Fortunately, whenever my office need to contact our local VicRoads office we find our local people very, very responsive, but things can go pear-shaped from time to time. So I do encourage the government to ensure that they keep a close eye on this and if there is additional burden upon VicRoads administration, that we do see some more staff allocated there or an improvement of process so that
BILLS 680 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 they are not overburdened and so that, importantly, people who are seeking to have an interlock device removed or have that situation amended in some way are not delayed in an untimely way. There are other positive elements, but the main concern I have is that this bill does not appropriately recognise the complete underspend on and under-maintenance of our rural and regional roads in particular. I therefore support the reasoned amendment that was put by the member for South-West Coast, which is to basically reallocate the split of the speed camera fine revenue so that there is a greater proportion allocated specifically towards rural and regional roads and to the urban interface areas as well—that is, that 40 per cent of the revenue that comes to the government via speed camera fines is allocated to rural and regional areas. There has been some debate on this bill about whether there is a sufficient amount of roads maintenance going on and how much money is being allocated. I know from reviewing the budgets over previous years that certainly in the first three years of the Andrews Labor government in the last term of Parliament there were significant cuts to the road asset management budget. In speaking to many people, whether it was civil contractors, people who work within VicRoads or people in our local community, a large number of concerns were expressed to me that we were not managing this enormous asset that Victoria has—it is an extremely large road network; it is my understanding that under VicRoads there are 24 000 kilometres of pavement that have to be managed through this organisation—and that it simply was not good enough. We had, I think, in the first year of the last term of Parliament a 17 per cent cut to the road asset management budget. We also saw the scrapping of the country roads and bridges program. This put an enormous amount of pressure on both VicRoads and local government to maintain this important asset of our road pavements. This issue is something I hear about more than anything else in my community. We have got other hot issues at the moment, such as those around the government’s mandate to move all hospital and government banking, school banking and even cemetery trust banking to a centralised account with Westpac in Sydney—even moving it out of the state. This is putting enormous pressure on communities, and there are huge concerns across my electorate about the impact this will have, not just on the smaller branches of those big four banks in our most remote rural communities. We have already seen a number of bank closures, but I am certain we will see more in the future because of the Labor government’s decision. It is also putting an enormous amount of pressure on our community bank model. Community banks donate so much money to our local communities. When I was CEO of Edenhope hospital we had $100 000 donated from the community bank to the hospital to build our first-ever purpose-built medical clinic. I do fret that those donations to the community will not be replaced by the Andrews Labor government in this change that they have put forward. Ms Thomas: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I think the member for Lowan has now strayed rather far away from the contents of the bill. She is talking about things that have nothing to do with the bill, and I would ask you to bring her back to speaking on the bill. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have been listening to many members speak on this bill, and many members have strayed far and wide from the bill, but I do ask the member for Lowan to refer to the bill. Ms KEALY: Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. In addition to some of these changes by the Andrews Labor government, we did see a significant cut to the VicRoads road asset management budget. Of course there was a bit of a change in the last budget, and I will acknowledge that. We have seen a large number of roadworks on our major roads, and that has also been supported by a major injection of cash from the federal coalition government, which is really working to improve our roads—particularly those major highways that it assists to build—and it is positive to see that it is supporting the maintenance of those as well. There are so many issues when it comes to the management of our roads. We do need to see a greater injection of funds, but we also need to see our roads managed in a much more proactive and positive
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 681 way. Too often we hear of poor maintenance works and poor repair works. I was on the Casterton- Apsley Road late last year and I was appalled to see that after some road patching was done—it had been done a couple of days beforehand—I could actually stick my finger into the asphalt that had been put in the pothole. It was that poorly mixed that it had not properly set. Just to emphasise why that is important on this particular road, there are a number of timber coupes in that area, and timber trucks that are fully laden travel along this road along with other community vehicles—domestic vehicles, farm vehicles and of course other freight vehicles as well. It is not good enough that we are spending good money to get these roads maintained and then we have got potholes blowing out not just after a few months; sometimes it is after days or even hours. I recall being in Penshurst last year and seeing somebody shovel some asphalt mix into a pothole, step on it once with their boot and then get back in their car and drive off. Not less than 30 seconds later, a fully laden log truck drove through it and blew out the pothole. This is what we need to look at to make sure that we have high-quality works when we fix our roads. We can talk about the amount of money that we are spending on roads, whether it is less or more, until the cows come home, but at the end of the day our roads are in terrible condition in western Victoria. It is not just me who says it; it is not just my constituents who say it. The RACV have undertaken extensive research that shows that western Victoria has the worst roads in the state. The Auditor- General’s report of 2017, Maintaining State-Controlled Roadways, reaffirmed that western Victoria and south-west Victoria have some of the worst roads in the state. Further, this report did have a number of recommendations, particularly in relation to VicRoads adopting a road maintenance strategy, revising program guidelines to include pavement condition data in preventive maintenance programs and revising data management requirements and data collection. Astonishingly, there was a recommendation to develop statewide key contract outcomes and KPIs to measure contractor performance—I cannot believe that that is not in place already; it must be implemented immediately— and also to provide meaningful reports and data on road conditions and performance to ensure the public is fully informed of the road pavement maintenance program. It is not just about this issue. We need to make sure that we manage our assets appropriately. While it is prosecuted that the wire rope barriers are saving lives, we are not seeing them on dangerous corners where we have actually seen cars and trucks come off the road. We have not seen an additional injection of funds that would enable these wire rope barriers to be properly maintained. I still find it astonishing that the road quality and pavement quality is not taken into account when it comes to maintaining our roads and having safe roads. So while I can see some positives around this legislation, I do call on the government to provide a greater weighting of funds for the maintenance of our rural and regional roads, because if we fix our country roads we will save country lives, and surely the people of country Victoria deserve to drive on safe roads. Ms THOMAS (Macedon) (15:59): It really is my pleasure to rise this afternoon to speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. This bill is a very important piece of legislation. It implements our government’s commitment as part of Project 10 000 to develop the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. The beauty of the bill is that it ensures that the compulsory payment of an amount equivalent to traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fine revenue is paid into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account and it sets fixed minimum proportions of 33 per cent for the repair and upgrade of roads in outer suburban and diverse communities and 33 per cent for the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities, with the remaining 34 per cent to be allocated for the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings anywhere in the state. This is a fantastic initiative, and of course it was one of the key commitments we took to the Victorian people back in 2014. In fact Project 10 000 was part of the Andrews Labor opposition’s key policy announcements. It was announced in November of 2013. It really is a signature Labor Party policy, because what Project 10 000 said was: ‘Not only will we commence the building of the Melbourne Metro, not only will we work to widen the Tulla, not only will we build the West Gate Tunnel, not
BILLS 682 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 only will we do the works to improve Hoddle Street, but we will remove 50 of the most dangerous level crossings here in Victoria’. As everyone knows, this is now an iconic policy of this government and, at the last election, with more than 29 level crossings removed, we said, ‘We’re not going to stop at 50; we’re going for 75’. So we went to the people of Victoria and we said, ‘You can see what we’ve been doing. Re-elect us and we will commit to a further 25 level crossings being removed’. The thing about Project 10 000 is that not only was it about these major infrastructure projects—all of which are well underway—but we said we would do this because it would create 10 000 jobs. That is what Labor governments do. That is one of the things that very, very clearly distinguishes us from those on the other side. We are always thinking about what we can do to ensure good-quality job opportunities for the people of Victoria, because only Labor governments know that a good and secure job is the key to a prosperous, happy and successful life. So when I think back now, there we were in November 2013: the member for Mulgrave, the then opposition leader, was saying, ‘We have a plan to create 10 000 jobs’. Well, we took that plan and we implemented it, and at last count under our previous term of government I think we delivered more than 350 000 jobs here in Victoria. Mr Edbrooke: And counting. Ms THOMAS: ‘And counting’, says the member for Frankston. Because at every step of the way of our infrastructure projects we have been at pains to ensure that we are delivering job opportunities and training opportunities. We are making sure that we are bringing on trainees, apprentices and cadets. We are ensuring that young people who are disadvantaged in the labour market are having opportunities through all of our construction projects to develop skills and to have good-quality jobs. So this legislation before us today was part of that fabulous signature policy that we took to the people back in November of 2013, and it really gives me great pleasure and pride to speak on it today. Of course as I am a member for a regional seat, roads are very much part of my everyday work. Not a day goes by that I do not have a conversation with a constituent about roads in the seat of Macedon. I am sure, Deputy Speaker, you are probably in the same boat. What I can tell you now—I welcome all of you to drive through Macedon any time you like—is that what you will notice is that it is pretty difficult to drive through Macedon right now without encountering roadworks, because we are investing record amounts of money in road maintenance on our country roads. We have our fixing country roads program, and we are getting on with delivering the roads that the people in my community need to travel from town to town for employment, for education and for health care. I am going to, with your indulgence, talk to you about quite a number of the projects that are currently underway in my electorate. I am really proud—and if the member for Sunbury were here too, I am sure he would join with me—of the work that this government is undertaking to totally transform the Melbourne-Lancefield Road. We are investing $20 million in that road to ensure that it is upgraded and is made safe. It was identified as one of the 20 most dangerous roads in regional Victoria, but with that information we have taken real action. Stage 1 of that project is due to be completed in April of this year, and I take this opportunity to thank my community for their patience. Roadworks can be annoying because there is disruption, but people are feeling very confident that the end product will be well worth it. We are also working to upgrade the main road in the Romsey township—in fact this work is underway—and High Street in Kyneton. So a whole bunch of projects have been funded under the fixing country roads program that are ensuring that the high streets in our country towns are getting the work that they need to ensure that they can continue to service our communities. Kilmore-Lancefield Road is another road. Now, one of the challenges with Kilmore-Lancefield Road has been that there have been some delays in that project because we are transporting so much material from Kilmore through to Lancefield to fix Melbourne-Lancefield Road that the decision had to be taken that we could not actually commence the work to fix Kilmore-Lancefield Road until we finished Melbourne-Lancefield Road. So again I thank my community for their patience, but there is a
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 683 challenge, no doubt, for Regional Roads Victoria in mapping out all of the work that has to be done, because there is so much work underway. Other projects that I have been very proud to see delivered in my community include roadworks to ensure pedestrian safety. Not only have we delivered a new pedestrian crossing in Gisborne and not only have we delivered a new school crossing in Lancefield, but we also have plans well underway for new pedestrian crossings in both Riddells Creek and Romsey. So pedestrian safety is certainly very high on our agenda as well. We went to this election with some significant commitments to the people of Gisborne in terms of fixing some notorious intersections in that township. Whilst there is funding already available and plans are underway for the Kilmore–Pierce roads intersection, I am pleased to say that we took to the people of Gisborne a commitment that we would fix the Melbourne Road–Kilmore Road intersection and that we would fix the notorious Station Road–Saunders Road intersection. So that means that the three most notorious intersections in Gisborne will be fixed by an Andrews Labor government. So the point of my contribution today is to point out how this legislation, our commitment to roads, is unsurpassed, and what we are delivering for the people of regional Victoria is like nothing that has ever been seen before. I am very proud of this work. It goes back to work that was done by many in this chamber back when they were in opposition, as I said, in November 2013. I have to say, looking back, that Project 10 000 was the tipping point in my mind. I think the people of this state thought, ‘Well, here is a government that has a real plan—a real plan for the infrastructure our state needs and a real plan to create real jobs’. That is why they elected us in November 2014, and that is why the people of this great state re-elected us back in November 2018 with an increased majority—and, I might happily say, with more regional members here on this side of the house. Because the people of this great state— (Time expired) Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (16:09): I am very pleased to add my contribution to the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. This bill was introduced in August 2018 during the previous Parliament. It passed the Legislative Assembly, but it was not debated in the Legislative Council before the Parliament was dissolved. In summary, the bill has three objectives: to implement the government’s commitment as part of Project 10 000 to develop legislation for the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account, to reduce the burden on the courts and free up court resources by transferring responsibility for managing alcohol interlocks from the courts to VicRoads and thirdly, to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and operation of transport legislation by making further road, road safety and public transport amendments. In regard to the first objective, the bill delivers on yet another commitment in Project 10 000, which we have heard a fair bit about this afternoon. Project 10 000, as we know, is the Andrews Labor government’s transport plan for Victoria that includes transforming public transport, removing the worst traffic bottlenecks, boosting economic growth and creating 10 000 jobs. Project 10 000 recognises the important role for the state government to plan and deliver transport projects for the economic prosperity and safety of all Victorian communities. This bill provides for the creation of the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account to deliver on these Project 10 000 commitments. It is worth noting that the government exceeded its commitment to allocate $2 billion over eight years to outer suburban and regional roads in only four years. In doing that over $3 billion has so far been allocated to upgrade and repair roads across the state. Over $1.9 billion of that was for outer suburban and interface communities, and over $1.1 billion was for rural and regional communities. This much- needed investment in regional areas is not only about improving conditions and safety for rural and regional motorists but also about fostering thriving regional economies that are creating jobs and providing for the future. As a member representing an outer-suburban interface community in the Hume City municipality—like you, Acting Speaker McGuire—I know that investment in these areas was also greatly needed.
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As we know, the population in Melbourne’s outer suburban areas is continuing to grow, and with that comes additional demand on the road network. Without proper investment in roads—investment for now but also for the long term—people in these communities will spend longer in traffic and will need to travel further to get to and from work. I am thrilled that this bill provides for the ongoing investment in improving safety and congestion on these roads and that it requires all future governments spend a proportion of the Better Roads Victoria funding on outer suburban and regional roads. To do this the bill provides fixed minimum proportions of funding, with 33 per cent of the Better Roads funding to go to the repair and upgrade of roads in outer suburban and interface communities, and 33 per cent to go to the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities. This will provide a consistent and guaranteed level of road funding to growth areas and to the rural and regional communities for the years to come. To achieve this guaranteed funding the bill provides for the compulsory payment of an amount equivalent to traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fines revenue into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. Whilst other road-related moneys can still go into that account regardless of the source, the hypothecating of this revenue to that trust account will ensure that there is a minimum level of funding going into the account. Whilst others have spoken a lot today about what this means for regional and rural Victorians, what I would like to mention is what this means for outer suburban interface communities such as mine. Put simply, this really is a game changer. To have a dedicated stream of funding to address the challenges in these areas will allow for a number of priority issues to get the attention that they need as well as planning in regard to the many emerging issues that we have in these communities. When I say ‘these communities’, there are quite a lot of them. They include Cardinia Shire Council, Casey City Council, Hume City Council, Melton City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Whittlesea City Council, Wyndham City Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council, all of which will have a range of priorities now and emerging issues into the future. Some of these communities, like the one that I represent—and you too, Acting Speaker McGuire—are also in growth corridors. This can make ongoing investment in those areas even more important. Let me give an example of the effect of growth in those outer suburban interface communities. In my electorate the population of Craigieburn has tripled over the past decade. It has gone from around 20 000 people in 2006 to around 60 000 residents now. And that is just in the suburb of Craigieburn, not the entire electorate. This puts an enormous amount of pressure on our roads and in particular on our arterial roads. Craigieburn Road, which is the main east–west arterial that I know you would be familiar with, Acting Speaker McGuire, has endured a massive increase in daily vehicle movements, creeping up to an average of 29 000 vehicle movements per day. This road is a single lane in parts, and whilst it has served a community of 20 000 people, I am sure we can all appreciate that it no longer serves a community of around 60 000 residents. So we are doing something about that. I am very pleased that we are doing something about that. We are doing the duplication works that are required to bring this road up to the standard that is required for this massive population growth. These works really cannot happen soon enough. The local community is very keen to see this transformation take place. When something has not happened for so long there is obviously concern about when it will happen, and people really want to see it materialise. That is something that everyone is very keen to see progress quickly. Similarly the population of Greenvale has doubled over the past decade from around 10 000 to 20 000 residents. Similarly this area has one main arterial road—Mickleham Road—and has also seen a rapid growth in daily vehicle movements, including around a 19 per cent increase in the past year alone. That is a massive increase in just one year that has taken vehicle movements on that road from just over 24 000 vehicle movements per day to now around 28 000 vehicle movements per day. Like Craigieburn Road I fully support the duplication of Mickleham Road, and I am really pleased that we are doing the preplanning work that is required for the development of a business case to fund the required duplication works. On that road, as with most arterial roads in our suburban interface areas, you have a major school on a major road which obviously compounds the problems that we experience
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 685 there, and so I am very much looking forward to that also progressing. The importance of this consistent and guaranteed level of roads funding cannot be understated for regional roads and for our outer suburban and interface areas, particularly for the community that I represent and you represent, Acting Speaker, that are also in growth areas and home to not only growth suburbs, but home to the fastest growing suburbs not just in the state but in the entire country. The bill of course has other measures in regard to the administration of alcohol interlocks. I think it is incredibly positive, freeing up the significant court resources that the Magistrates Court has to currently allocate to this task with over 5000 applications per year. I am sure that will be very warmly welcomed by those who need those resources allocated to other matters. There are a number of other amendments that go to the commitments in the Towards Zero action plan, such as the fitting of alcohol interlock devices to all drink-drivers’ vehicles when they are relicensed. There are a number of other public transport related amendments, but essentially what this bill does is deliver on our commitment to fund roads in outer suburban and interface areas and in rural and regional areas, and it transfers the responsibility for managing interlock devices and makes a number of other road safety and public transport related amendments. I commend the bill to the house. Ms GREEN (Yan Yean) (16:20): It gives me great pleasure to join the debate on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. It is disappointing to see the opposition have not seen the error of their ways from the proposed amendments they made when a similar bill was before the house last year and that they are still proposing to amend it. I say that as someone who has represented an interface area now for 16 years in this Parliament, next to the fabulous member for Yuroke, who is quite correct that we represent some of the fastest growing areas in the country. I compare the last four years of action with those four before and there was not one dollar of state funding allocated for any road project in the Yan Yean electorate, which was the largest, most populous electorate at the time. So we had a lot to make up for. I think what the opposition has failed to understand here is that the funding for Better Roads Victoria will be the hypothecation from fine revenue. This is a baseline and of course we will be spending more than this. It is a bottom line that actually gives the allocated range for interface and regional roads. I am glad I have not seen this occurring, but there could be reasons why other members in the inner city might say, ‘Well, why is there not an allocation for roads there?’. What it is, is recognition that there are specific needs in growth areas and also in more sparsely populated areas. Having the allocation that is not tagged means that when there are major projects that are undertaken in the outer suburbs or in the regions—and I know that member for South-West Coast has a great interest in things like the upgrade of the Princes Highway—and if that were a future project, then that could mean regional roads could get a greater share that year. I would suggest that if we were fortunate enough to get a federal government boost of infrastructure funding, and if we were able to get to the point of starting to build the four Hume Freeway interchanges that are very much needed in the areas in my electorate and the member for Yuroke’s electorate, that would mean that during those circumstances there could actually be a greater allocation from the fund. I find it interesting that the opposition find their voices on a bill like this, but do we ever hear them advocating for a greater share of infrastructure funds—that is, road funds—to be spent here in Victoria? They are trying to make a useless political point here, and they are failing to actually use that voice to Canberra. I think I heard earlier the member for Eildon speaking about a particular road project where the federal government had come to the rescue and provided funding. Well, whatever it was for, it was too little, too late. To actually be the fastest growing city in the country, to have regional areas that are booming and have the best employment growth, it beggars belief that the coalition are silent to their political masters in Canberra and are not standing up to them and saying, ‘We are 25 per cent of the population, how dare you find funding for roads and infrastructure for only 10 per cent?’.
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And then they try to play with figures and speak mistruths about what the Andrews Labor government record has been in funding roads. Under Labor, for metro and regional road maintenance, for example, there was $1.149 billion compared to, for the coalition period, $607.1 million. In overall funding, in our preceding four years, we spent $9.426 billion, compared to $5.72 billion. The figures do not lie. I know it is convenient for those fellow travellers of the coalition—those that like to get the benefit of the white cars, the National Party in government, but who are completely silent about the time they failed to deliver when they were in government and delivered cuts generally—to try to run a fiction in regional Victoria that there has been a funding cut for road maintenance. What this government has been doing has been because of their inadequate funding during that period—that is why the roads are in such disrepair now—and because of the failure of the federal government. What we are doing is setting up a system that will provide monitoring and provide an actual program of how these things are to be done. This has never before been done in this state. During the preceding four years there was $2.2 billion for a suburban roads upgrade program to upgrade 13 arterial roads across the northern and south-eastern suburbs, and my communities will stand to benefit significantly from this. We are completing stage 1 of a very difficult and complex road build, the Yan Yean Road upgrade and duplication project. I am pleased to see that the arterial roads northern roads package, which is out to tender and shortlisting, includes stage 2 of the Yan Yean Road duplication project, which is much needed, all the way to Bridge Inn Road, which will include signalisation of that intersection with Bridge Inn Road and duplication all the way back to Plenty Road. We are also seeing the upgrade of Sunbury Road, of Craigieburn Road west and of Childs Road—so many roads in the northern suburbs that were completely ignored and are always ignored by those opposite. We get that there is population growth, so we are actually tackling that problem. There are other major road projects of course. We are 100 days into our government, and we are already out to the marketplace for the north-east link project. That will just be an absolute game changer, and it is something that those opposite never had the courage to do. I would say that I am disappointed that the bill that was previously before the house was frustrated and was not progressed in the previous Parliament. I note that the member for Lowan was saying that she supported the changes that mean that alcohol interlock device administration would be dealt with by VicRoads, which would free up resources in our courts so that family violence matters could be dealt with more expeditiously. So I think it beggars belief that someone representing a regional community with high rates of family violence would be part of a coalition that seeks to obfuscate and frustrate this bill yet again. We will not be silent on the roads that need to be fixed the most. We will not play politics about it. I think it is a very, very fair proposal that is before the house that has a third for regional roads, a third for outer suburban roads and then the rest to be done on a case-by-case basis. I think that the community will have a great deal more confidence with fine revenue being hypothecated to Better Roads Victoria. I think that none of us should ever speed or disobey road rules, but when that occurs I think people will feel better that the fine for their misdemeanour is going to improve the road services. I urge the coalition to withdraw their amendment, and I commend the bill to the house. Mr J BULL (Sunbury) (16:29): I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. This government, the Andrews Labor government, stands for high-quality, safe and well-maintained roads across the state, no matter where you live. We know of course that roads are critically important to the way Victorian communities live, work and travel, and we have certainly heard from both the member for Yan Yean and the member for Yuroke about the importance of local roads in their communities. Certainly within the Sunbury electorate—a growing electorate and an electorate that is experiencing more and more people moving into its fabulous community every day—we know the importance of investing in, maintaining, supporting and designing good local roads that enable our community to go about its daily business.
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This government also understands of course that roads form part of a broader network of transport infrastructure that Victorian communities rely on each and every day. The Andrews Labor government understands that as those communities that I just mentioned before, communities like mine, grow and experience more and more people each and every day we need to be continually investing in new roads, new freeways and major infrastructure that allow people within our community to have the very best opportunities to get to work safely and to travel safely to see family and friends right across the state. As other speakers have mentioned this afternoon, much of the work that is being talked about today— many of those major infrastructure projects—were set very early on in the first term of the Andrews Labor government. In fact work began even before we on this side of the house came to government from opposition. Certainly, Acting Speaker McGuire, you were part of some of that work in designing and creating Project 10 000, a very important piece of work that sets the agenda—that sets the course—for infrastructure for the future. There is no secret—and other honourable members have mentioned it this afternoon—that we are experiencing considerable growth right across outer metropolitan Melbourne in communities like mine of Sunbury, like Craigieburn, like Broadmeadows, like Yan Yean and like those out in the west, where there is significant growth. What we need to be doing, and what this government is doing, is investing in those key arterial outer suburban roads to ensure that growth is maintained. On top of that—and I will go to this point later on—investment in rural and regional roads is fundamentally important. We know of course that our rural and regional communities do some fantastic work and are made up of many wonderful individuals and families that this government values incredibly highly. We need to be investing in rural and regional communities, supporting those people to get to and from work and supporting those people who work in the agricultural sector right across the state. As we know, Project 10 000 was a Labor election commitment to transform public transport, to remove the worst bottlenecks, to boost economic growth and to create 10 000 jobs. Part of this work was a minimum spend of $1 billion over eight years that was to be allocated to repair and upgrade roads in Melbourne’s outer suburban and interface communities—those communities that I have mentioned. On top of that, $1 billion over eight years was to be allocated to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities—those that I have just mentioned. Of course the Victorian government did confirm in the legislation the compulsory payment of traffic camera and speeding fines into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account, and here we are this afternoon. What must be noted and what is in many ways extraordinary to think is that those opposite, who cut $100 million and sacked 450 VicRoads staff, would be coming into this place to move amendments to this bill. Victorian communities know—Victorian communities understand—that this government builds, builds and builds more. They understand that in those long, lonely, dark years from 2010 to 2014 major projects, outer suburban roads and regional and rural roads were put out to pasture. They were disregarded. I compare that to the significantly positive and optimistic record of the previous term of the Andrews Labor government. Nearly $9.5 billion was allocated across the term: $6.1 million for those major road improvements that I have mentioned; $1.2 million for metropolitan and regional road maintenance; and a significant investment in those suburban roads. I heard the member for Yuroke talk about the importance of Craigieburn Road, which is a road I think many people in my community would know. Fundamentally important to my community is Sunbury Road, a key road that links my community. It runs north–south down into Bulla and is a significant arterial road that is used more and more each and every day by local residents. It is incredibly important to my community. We look at major road infrastructure, and the list is extensive: the West Gate Tunnel, north-east link, the CityLink Tulla widening project and the Monash Freeway upgrade, stage 1 and stage 2. There is also the western suburbs roads package, which I have mentioned. It includes Dunnings Road, Palmers Road, Derrimut Road, Leakes Road, Dohertys Road, the Princes Freeway, the Forsyth Road interchange in Hoppers Crossing and Duncans Road. There is also the M80 ring-road. These are
BILLS 688 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 significant projects that are working not just to alleviate congestion and improve safety but also to create those thousands of jobs that I mentioned earlier. These are significant and important upgrades that are being delivered by this government. The piece of legislation before the house this afternoon will see outer suburban and country Victorian roads each receiving a minimum of 33 per cent of the Better Roads Victoria funds, ensuring that those who drive the most will get better and safer roads. That is what this is all about. The remaining 34 per cent of the fund will be used for the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings anywhere in the state. That allows for some flexibility in the model. On the one hand you have got certainty and surety, and then you have got flexibility, which is also very important as various things change right across the state. There are a number of other changes and mechanisms within this bill. One relates specifically to the changes around alcohol interlocks by reducing the burden on courts and by transferring responsibility for managing those interlocks from the courts to VicRoads. A significant and important change, this will free up court resources to respond to other matters—something that I am sure all members of the house should agree on. As I have mentioned, having a funding model of certainty, having a model of surety and making sure there is a constant pipeline of projects and a constant pipeline of jobs importantly sets the state up not just for today and not just for tomorrow but for decades to come. Although they are not roads, projects such as Melbourne Metro, removing level crossings, the Suburban Rail Loop and the Melbourne Airport link are all significant projects that set this state up for today, for tomorrow and, most importantly, for generations to come. When those opposite had the chance, they cut roads funding. When this government had the chance, we invested. Having a defined, tangible, clear, definitive, locked-in funding model for rural, regional and suburban roads ensures that those roads receive the attention, the care and the quality of service that they deserve. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work done by the former minister and the current minister and her office. This is an important bill, a bill that I think goes to ensuring that we have better roads right across the state. I commend the bill to the house. Mr McGHIE (Melton) (16:40): I rise to offer my support for the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. There are many aspects of this bill that would benefit not only the district that I represent but the whole of Victoria. The allocation of funds from traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fine revenue to the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account with fixed proportions to suburban, interface, regional and rural communities, reducing the burden on the courts and applying mandatory minimum alcohol interlock conditions for serious driving offences, are all significant, positive steps forward. Firstly, I would like to speak specifically about the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account portion of this amendment. As the member for Melton, representing both interface and regional communities, I acknowledge the importance and significance of this bill to my community if it is passed. The proposed fixed allocation of 33 per cent for the repair and upgrade of roads in outer suburban and interface communities and 33 per cent for the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities would go a significant way to improving the road networks within my electorate. To put some context around how this bill could help my electorate, I would like to outline the following: the Melton district covers two council areas, Moorabool Shire Council and Melton City Council. Collectively these areas have road networks of over 2485 kilometres of roads, both sealed and unsealed. Currently the replacement value of these assets is in excess of $1 billion. Not only that, the population of these two council areas is over 170 000, and Melton city itself is projected to have a population of over 470 000 by 2051, making it almost as big as Canberra is today.
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A lack of quality public transport access, poor linkages to key employment areas and the need to travel outside the municipality for work results in high dependency on cars as a mode of ransport. More than 63 per cent of households in the City of Melton have access to two or more vehicles compared to 51 per cent of Greater Melbourne. This means that 93 per cent of residents in my electorate travel by car. This amendment would allow contributions to be made to the repair and upgrade of many of the roads in my district that require attention and cater for the growth that we are experiencing. Furthermore, my district has two major roads that require repair and upgrades, and I would like to talk about them specifically and how this bill might improve the standard of them. The roads are the Melton Highway and the Western Freeway. The Melton Highway connects the Western Freeway and Calder Freeway and provides the most direct route between Ballarat and Melbourne’s northern airports, Tullamarine and Essendon, and surrounding suburbs. The part of the road that falls into my electorate has over 30 000 commuters travelling on it each day, with several new suburbs being developed alongside it, and it is only a dual carriageway. There are also other roads and businesses which directly access the freeway and it causes serious safety concerns for commuters. The Western Highway is the second-busiest national highway in Australia in terms of freight movements, with over 5 million tonnes annually. It provides the link between the eastern seaboard and South Australia and Western Australia. The Western Highway is characterised by aged and rural-standard freeway infrastructure and is in critical need of an upgrade to urban freeway standard from Melton to Deer Park. Planning approval for six additional residential estates directly adjacent to the Western Highway will see the construction of 55 000 new dwellings to house an estimated 153 000 residents, all of whom will require access to the highway, resulting in significant increases in congestion over the next two years. The Western Highway currently accommodates approximately 60 000 vehicles per day. However, this is projected to increase to 85 000 vehicles per day by 2021 and 113 000 vehicles per day by 2031. The freeway requires improvements including an interchange at Bulmans Road, an interchange at Mount Cottrell Road, a pedestrian overpass bridge at Arnolds Creek, removal of at- grade access to the freeway, an overpass at Paynes Road and an interchange at Harkness Road. Funds from this bill could be directed to these roads to improve safety, specifically to reduce the risk and severity of head-on crashes, reduce road trauma, reduce the risk and severity of intersection crashes, cater for growth along the corridor and improve access to local communities and businesses. Not only that, but it will also go a long way to improving the health and wellbeing not only of my constituents but of all commuters that use these roads. As a former paramedic I know how important it is to invest in our roads. It is essential not only that ambulances are able to arrive at an incident in a timely manner but that our paramedics have the road infrastructure that enables them to access patients. And I know it is not only our paramedics but all of our emergency services that require an up-to- standard road network to enable them to do their best work for our communities. The other part of the bill that I am supportive of is the remaining 34 per cent that can be allocated for level crossings anywhere in the state. For many years growth has been occurring at a significant rate in my electorate. The level crossings on Station Road and Coburns Road are already at a stage that requires attention. A trip that used to take 5 minutes for parents dropping their kids off at schools like Coburn Primary School can now take up to 25 minutes. Level crossings are a major concern in many electorates, and the provisions in this bill would see them rectified within a timely manner. I have spoken a lot about how the Better Roads Victoria trust will benefit our communities. I would now like to turn my attention to the other aspects of this amendment bill. I have attended far too many incidents on our roads and witnessed firsthand the devastating effects that poor road conditions and drink-driving can have on families and communities. This bill not only directs funds from on-the-spot fines and traffic cameras to where the money should be spent, but it is also ensuring that drivers that drink and drive have mandatory minimum alcohol interlock conditions for serious driving offences and that these offenders engage with the new mandatory behaviour change program for all drink-
BILLS 690 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 driving and drug-driving offenders. These proposed changes will also support our judicial system to focus on other matters, as VicRoads will manage the majority of alcohol interlock matters. I would like to note that the Andrews Labor government has already done much in this area. As part of Project 10 000 there was a commitment to spend a minimum of $1 billion over eight years to repair and upgrade roads in Melbourne’s outer suburban and interface communities and also a minimum of $1 billion over eight years to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities. In only four years this government has exceeded its commitment to allocate $2 billion over eight years to outer suburban and regional roads. In excess of $3 billion has so far been allocated: in excess of $1.9 billion for outer suburban and interface communities and over $1.1 billion for rural and regional communities. This amendment is essential to ensure that our roads are kept safe and that those using vehicles on our roads are doing so responsibly and consciously. I support this bill. Mr CHEESEMAN (South Barwon) (16:47): It is always a delight to follow the member for Melton. Victoria is changing significantly. We are experiencing a massive amount of population growth, and as a consequence of that we need to make significant reforms to how we fund our road network. Regional and rural Victorians, and indeed those that live in suburbia, have been telling me for a long time that we need a new funding model that distributes funding in a fair way that recognises the challenges of those particular communities. Like the member for Melton’s seat, my seat—the seat of South Barwon—is changing dramatically. We have rural and regional areas around the Surf Coast and we have of course the City of Greater Geelong, which is experiencing massive population growth, particularly in and around the suburb of Armstrong Creek. We need a new funding model that distributes funding to our regional and rural road networks and our suburban networks to ensure that our communities can get around, can travel safely to school, can travel safely to work or indeed can get their agriculture or manufactured products to market in a safe, efficient and effective way. South- west Victoria as a broader region generates significant economic activity for our state. Geelong as a major population centre is experiencing massive population growth. We as a state need a new funding model that will distribute funding to those communities experiencing population growth or indeed a rural road network that needs significant attention. What I think does very clearly need to be stated is that before the Andrews Labor government was elected we had the Baillieu and Napthine governments that for a very significant period of their time in office made substantial cuts to VicRoads and many other authorities. That of course saw an underinvestment, and when you underinvest in your assets the consequence is that those assets decline. The Andrews government, on the other hand, is pumping enormous amounts of money into our road networks. This in due course will see many road projects developed and delivered that will make a meaningful difference to our communities. As I stated earlier, the seat of South Barwon is a seat that is experiencing massive population growth. Roads in established suburbs that once used to carry 15 000 or 20 000 vehicles a day and had done so for many years are now carrying much more traffic than they were designed to transport. We need a new funding model, and this bill delivers that. This bill ensures that when we as Victorians commit a road offence and cop a fine that money is distributed via a funding formula that recognises the challenges of each and every part of our state. We must have fairness in terms of delivering for our suburban communities, for our regional communities and indeed for our rural communities. We need a funding formula that is sustainable, and this bill indeed details how that will be achieved. When I look at the challenges around population growth within the community that I represent, not only do we have Armstrong Creek, which will deliver an additional 40 000 or 50 000 new residents to the southern growth corridor of Geelong, but we also have a substantial regional and rural country road network. We need to see a model that delivers for those communities, and I am pleased to speak in terms of that. This bill allocates a funding formula for distribution to our state that will ensure we see a minimum of 33 per cent of the revenue generated from fines spent in our rural communities. It
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 691 will also see 33 per cent delivered to our interface communities and a further 34 per cent as needed across the state. When I look at the lack of action delivered by the Baillieu and Napthine governments and compare it to the plan of action that we have for our region, it is impressive. Not only do we have a strong plan to duplicate Barwon Heads Road but we also are making substantial investments in Mt Duneed Road, we are making substantial investments in Anglesea Road and we are making substantial investments in the Great Ocean Road. We have a very strong plan to deliver the infrastructure that our state needs as we grow. When I compare what we are doing as a government and what the commonwealth government is doing, there could not be a clearer difference. We have a plan that will deliver funding to our communities. When we look at the commonwealth, they are not interested in regional or rural Victoria or in Victoria as a whole. All of their investments are going to the north of the Murray River. They are letting down Victorians. On the other hand, we are building this state, we are putting in place the long- term financial plans to deliver the infrastructure we need and, importantly, we are putting in place the financial model that we need to ensure that Victorians have the best road network in this nation. This bill also makes a number of other amendments that I think need touching on. Firstly, with the unprecedented investment, particularly in terms of level crossing removals, the number of conversations that will now take place between VicRoads and VicTrack will be unprecedented. We need to make it clearer and easier to manage those relationships so that we can see those level crossings that create congestion and injury removed as quickly as possible, and this bill indeed addresses that. Further, this bill makes it much clearer for our state to manage the consequences of alcohol-related driving offences. This bill, I believe, will free up significant resources within our court system to ensure that our justice system can continue to deliver justice in a timely way for all Victorians, and I think that is important, particularly given the work that our government is doing—the work that we have initiated—around things such as family violence and the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. This bill will free up resources for us as a state to administer from a legal perspective the additional workload burdens that the Magistrates Court will face. As a consequence of that, I also commend this bill to the house because I think those reforms are important. Mr PEARSON (Essendon) (16:57): I am delighted to join the debate on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. As someone who has tried to understand the forms of this place, to understand the way in which the standing orders operate and to understand the way the sessional orders operate, I want to commend the member for South-West Coast for, in her first contribution as a shadow minister, moving a reasoned amendment. There are probably not too many shadows who in their first contribution on a bill move a reasoned amendment. Having said that, there are a few things I do want to pick up from the member’s contribution earlier today, and I did listen to part of the member’s contribution— Ms Britnell: Why am I not surprised? Mr PEARSON: Member, I am at least acknowledging the fact that you have gone to the effort of moving a reasoned amendment. Anyhow, I am happy to leave it at that. The issue here is that the member has moved a reasoned amendment. For new members in this place, what a reasoned amendment means is that you withdraw a bill and you do not pass that bill until further work has been done. That is the nature of a reasoned amendment. So if the reasoned amendment on this bill were to pass this place, then effectively this bill would be sent back to the drawing board. I think this is a really important point to make, because I listened to the member for South-West Coast’s contribution and the member talked at length about roads in her community and about some of the challenges that her community were experiencing in relation to the quality of road infrastructure. I do note that her predecessor was in fact the Premier of the state and those roads were in his electorate, yet for whatever
BILLS 692 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 reason those investments which the member has identified were not made at that time. Now, perhaps it could be that it just so happened in November 2014 the roads deteriorated or it might be that there were issues that preceded the arrival of the Andrews Labor government on the Treasury benches. I just want to make the point that when you move a reasoned amendment, effectively what you are saying to the government is, ‘We don’t think you have got this right; we think you should go back to the drawing board and do further work’. The point I wish to make is that if that is what the member is saying, that is at odds with the narrative that she gave to this place earlier today when she talked about the fact that there is a crisis in south-west Victoria and that urgent action needed to be taken. Ms Britnell: Thirty-three per cent is not enough. Mr PEARSON: The member says that 33 per cent is not enough. The member for South-West Coast would appear to be channelling the member for Melbourne, who seems to come into this place regularly and is of the view that you sacrifice the good while you await the arrival of the perfect. It never works. This is a really good piece of legislation that is before this house. It mandates that there is a 33 per cent contribution that goes to regional and rural Victoria for the roads. What the member for South-West Coast in her contribution is effectively saying is, ‘We have got an urgent problem, we need urgent action but go back to the drawing board and come back at a later stage with something better’. I am not quite sure that will deliver on some of the issues that the member for South-West Coast has identified. The member for South-West Coast also talked at length in her contribution about the fact that government should be run as a business. It was a very interesting observation the member for South- West Coast made, that government must be run as a business. I would agree with the member for South-West Coast that there are instances where you can—as my good friend the member for Mordialloc pointed out in his contribution—get best practice from the private sector and you can try and bring that to bear in terms of public administration. But let us tease out the member for South-West Coast’s point in more detail. We are in the business of roads, right? We are in the business of roads so we should run roads like a business. Well, let us suppose the roads in the member for South-West Coast’s electorate were a business. This is a capital- intensive business—it is demanding of capital from its equity holders, the good people of the state of Victoria—and you keep pumping in that money because it is an important investment. We want to make sure that we have really good quality investment so the equity participants keep pouring in the money because we are shareholders and there is a requirement to invest more in terms of capital expenditure. But there is no revenue because there are no toll roads in the south-west of Victoria the last time I checked. So effectively what the member for South-West Coast is saying is, ‘You need to run this like a business. You need to invest money into your infrastructure because that is what you do in a business, and you need to run this efficiently as a business’. But guess what? There is no revenue, so it is not a business. This is the whole point; this is the thing that those opposite do not understand. You can have this narrative that you parrot in this place. I heard it when I was on this side of the chamber and I used to hear it when I was in the cheap seats in the advisers box when the Kennett government sat on this side of the house. It does not work. Ms Britnell interjected. Mr PEARSON: The member says that I have never been anything other than a politician. No, I spent close to 15 years in the private sector working as a consultant. I took out a second mortgage against my property to run a business, so I know about reading a balance sheet. I know how to run a business. I understand revenue, I understand yield, I understand capital expenditure and I understand the discipline that is required to run a successful business. That is what I bring to this place. My point
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 693 is that when you talk about running government as a business, it is a very narrow, myopic, two- dimensional view of the world because it is not a business—these are services. Similarly, if you looked at a school, a school would have to be the worst business you could ever invest in because it takes a huge amount of capital to build a school, there is a huge drain on the public purse to staff it and run it from a recurrent perspective and you get no revenue from it. But of course when you look at the contribution that a school is making to the next generation of Victorians it is a very good investment, because we all benefit from having a very strong education system and making sure that young people get the very best start in life regardless of the size of their parents’ bank balance and regardless of where they come from. The point I am trying to make is that when the member for South-West Coast comes into this place and in her contribution talks about government being run as a business, it is a very narrow, two- dimensional view of the world. You have got to take a whole approach to the way public administration is delivered in this place. Yes, I do agree, there are instances where you have got good practices in the private sector that can be applied to the public sector, that can create greater levels of efficiencies and that can provide a better quality of experience for those who are the recipient of public services. But this notion that you can just say ‘You should be running the show like it is a business’ is just flawed—it is just a flawed argument. It does not do the member for South-West Coast any justice when she brings that argument to this place, nor does it help her cause when she is highlighting the supposed urgency in her community about road maintenance, yet she is seeking to defer a bill that is actually going to ensure funding to fund her roads. Talking about efficiency, I am delighted that this bill will look at referring the implementation of alcohol interlock devices away from the courts and to VicRoads. I think this will be a very welcome initiative, because it will see about 5000 matters diverted each year from the Magistrates Court. I think that is a very good initiative. Again, if we can try and find a more efficient way to deliver these punitive measures, which are indeed appropriate to ensure people comply with the law, and if we can do so in a more cost-effective manner by delegating it to VicRoads as opposed to having the Magistrates Court deal with it, then I think these initiatives are indeed welcome. It is a very good bill. I listened with interest to the member for Melton’s contribution. He is no longer in the chamber. He talked about his experience as a paramedic and, can I say, those of us on this side of the house are incredibly fortunate to have such a rich and diverse caucus in the 59th Parliament. We are fortunate to have people like the member for Melton, who has made an outstanding contribution to the way in which public services are delivered in this state over many decades. It was pleasing to hear the member’s contribution, which was from the point of view of a first responder talking about the impact that road trauma has had on him and what he has seen. We are all the richer for having people like the member for Melton in our ranks, among the many other fine new members who are surrounding me on all sides of the chamber. I have to give a big shout-out to the member for South Barwon and the member for Box Hill. It is a very important bill. I oppose the reasoned amendment moved by the member for South-West Coast. Indeed I think the member for South-West Coast would even oppose her own reasoned amendment. Ms HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (17:08): I also rise to speak in favour of and support this legislation, the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. This bill makes amendments to a number of pieces of legislation, and it was discussed in this place in the previous Parliament. I want to mainly concentrate on the roads aspect of this legislation, but I should of course make a few comments about other aspects too because I think the other aspects are a good example of how society changes, the world changes, technology changes and our attitudes change so of course legislation must change to reflect the views held in the community and how things are organised. For example, one of the changes in this legislation looks at the way alcohol locks in cars are being overseen.
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In the past it was the courts that had responsibility for managing alcohol interlocks. The proposal here is to transfer that responsibility to VicRoads, which will free up more time in the courts to deal with other more important issues when it comes to people’s safety, such as issues around family violence. While of course alcohol interlocks are very important, it is really not necessary for the responsibility for and management of them to be in the hands of the courts rather than in the hands of a government body such as VicRoads. We hope there will be more opportunity for VicRoads to do this work because there have been changes to the VicRoads organisation, with the setting up of authorities such as the Major Road Projects Authority to oversee and manage some of the huge infrastructure projects that we are seeing across the state as a result of and thanks to the Andrews Labor government, both in this term of government and also in the previous term of government—really from 2014. That brings me to the roads aspect of this legislation. The main change in this bill delivers on Project 10 000, a commitment that Labor made, under the heading ‘Better roads for more communities’. The idea behind this is that revenue from traffic cameras and on-the-spot speeding fines and so on ought to go into a fund, where it is mandated what proportions will be spent on various areas of road. For example, I come from an area that is now a growth area, the seat of Thomastown, which covers North Epping and Wollert, which are growing at astronomical speed, and the roads are just not keeping up with this growth. This fund will provide for certain allocations to be made to outer suburban and interface areas as well as rural and regional communities, and this will be ongoing. I think it is strange that one of the things the opposition have been talking about is the idea that there should be a set amount of money allocated to rural and regional roads and so on. That is a matter for budgets. That is fiscal policy. It is not general policy about how funds should be distributed. This puts a lot of fairness into funding and acknowledges that there are areas that should have ongoing funding in them because of the growth in those areas or because of the length and breadth of the roads that are in, say, some of the rural and regional areas. In Thomastown, for example, there was a 2014 election commitment from the Andrews Labor government to do a major O’Herns Road project in the area. This allowed for the duplication of O’Herns Road and a connection to the Hume Freeway to try to take some of the traffic off the local roads so that local residents could use those roads for short trips to sports facilities, schools and so on, and so that that traffic is not mixed with work traffic which can then shuttle off onto the Hume Freeway and into the city or perhaps over to the employment precincts in the west, such as the airport. The Thomastown area will greatly benefit from this legislation because it means that there will be an ongoing commitment, which I believe is already there, from the Labor government to fund roads that are needed in the growth corridors. Another really good example of the care and interest that Labor is showing in one of the safest seats in Victoria is the commitment to the outer northern road projects. The residents of the Thomastown electorate will see the duplication of Epping Road, which is something that is really needed, and it will be done. We have just recently removed a number of roundabouts that had well and truly lived past their time and replaced them with traffic signals, which make the traffic flow much better than it did before. It is really quite amazing how replacing roundabouts with traffic signals can make such a huge difference to the commute time and the way that traffic is getting around the area. That is the second major change that this legislation will bring about. There are also the public transport amendments. Because the Andrews Labor government wants to get on with things as quickly as possible and wants to make sure that facilities and infrastructure are going at a cracking pace, which I think we have demonstrated when you look at the Melbourne Metro Tunnel and the speed at which that is developing, the time lines on the West Gate Tunnel and the upgrades to all the rail lines and tram and bus networks, this sort of infrastructure really does not need to be tied down by regulations and unnecessary things when it comes to doing things such as land transactions— for example, where VicTrack has land that it wants to transfer its interest in to, say, VicRoads or Transport for Victoria. This legislation will enable that to occur in a much better and more organised way so we are not bogged down in layers and layers and layers of bureaucracy. We will have legislation that starts to unravel some of that and allow these things to happen more quickly.
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In terms of rural and regional roads, I do not live in rural and regional Victoria but of course we all use those roads at some stage. When I used to travel to Shepparton for work, for example, there were a lot of issues with even some of the major roads, but of course that was under Liberal governments. All of these roads need work to be done that cannot be done by just a state government. There really needs to be a commitment from federal governments, and of course we have not seen that sort of commitment when it comes to the—what are they?—the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison governments. They have really been dudding Victoria. It would be great to see the opposition talking about this bill, standing up for Victoria, rather than carrying on about things that this bill really cannot address such as budget considerations and arguing that the federal Liberal government really should come to the party, do a good service for Victorians and start providing its fair share of money or funding for infrastructure that is so much needed in the community in Victoria. So again I finish by commending the bill, and I look forward to seeing it pass this week. Ms SETTLE (Buninyong) (17:18): I too rise to speak in favour of the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. This government has set new standards in improving roads and road safety. Years of neglect have been replaced with years of delivery since the 2014 state election. Anyone who has ventured out past the suburbs will have seen the huge rollout of wire rope safety barriers. Last year the number of people killed on Victoria’s roads was 108. That is 108 too many, but more than that it is a record low figure. In fact it is approximately 22 per cent lower than the previous record low and is 47 per cent less than 2017’s figure. Upon the release of these figures, Transport Accident Commission chief executive officer Joe Calafiore stated: These stats show that our unprecedented investment into road safety infrastructure is heading in the right direction, but there is still a long way for us to go in reaching zero lives lost and serious injuries on our roads. As a government we must remain vigilant in relation to our Towards Zero goal. This is one of the reasons why I welcome the Andrews government’s commitment in creating the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account as part of the Project 10 000 election commitment. This legislation will greatly improve the efficiency of how our transport legislation operates and delivers on our promise that guarantees all revenue from traffic cameras and on-the-spot speeding fines will be used to fix suburban and country roads. These are the things that matter to Victorian taxpayers. While I am sure there are many drivers across this state that may have complained when they have received a fine, I have no doubt that there will be no complaints about the vast number of improvements being made on our roads. As we know, the Andrews government has set new records in infrastructure spending and improved roads, and the election result last year shows that the public appreciate a government that is getting things done. As the member for Macedon told the house earlier, the Andrews government has embarked on a massive commitment of level crossing removals. These projects were desperately needed; however, it took a Labor government to commit to taking action and delivering for the state. This is precisely why the guaranteed funding model provided by this legislation is crucial—so that more vital projects can be committed to. This legislation ensures that revenue raised by traffic cameras and speeding fines is permanently directed to the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. At least 33 per cent of these funds will go to regional roads, 33 per cent will go to the outer suburbs and the remainder will be based on where further funding is required. My electorate of Buninyong is a regional one. It makes up part of the Ballarat region. We understand the difference that increased funding for roads makes to communities like ours. I know as well as the next person in my electorate that driving on some rural roads can shake the fillings right out of your teeth. For years the Ballarat region suffered through the savage cuts to regional roads inflicted on our communities by the coalition. Those opposite should hang their heads in shame, particularly The Nationals, who have sold out their communities and constituents. The Andrews government, by contrast, has locked in guaranteed extra funding for Victoria’s regional roads. In the last term of government the Andrews government created Regional Roads Victoria. This has streamlined work in regional areas, given the public a say in what work is carried out and put regional roads on an even playing field with those in the suburbs. It took a Labor government to make this happen. In the Ballarat
BILLS 696 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 region there are currently 32 projects in place from Regional Roads Victoria. These range from roundabouts—or the removal of roundabouts, like the Hertford Street roundabout in Sebastopol—to resurfacing and widening, and there is the addition of safety barriers on the Midland Highway. It is not only commuters that see the benefits of increased investment in roads; business also benefits from more efficient freight services, leading to reduced costs. In regional areas improved roads are also beneficial for tourism. Emergency service response times are something the public are always concerned about. The Andrews government improved response times significantly during its first term; however, we must never be complacent when lives are at stake, and improved roads means faster responses from police, fire services and paramedics. In the just shy of six months since Regional Roads Victoria commenced operation, they have laid more than 160 000 tonnes of asphalt and made more than 600 kilometres of road improvements, and to improve the visibility along rural roads they have mowed more than 25 000 kilometres of grass—that is like riding a mower to Los Angeles and back. It is not only road users that will benefit from this legislation; there will be a massive positive impact on our legal system resulting from changes to the management of alcohol interlocks. There are currently 5000 applications per year for the removal of alcohol interlock conditions that go through our court system. This is 5000 applications needlessly clogging up our courts. The shifting of these applications to VicRoads will remove a huge burden from our court system. VicRoads have staff already experienced in dealing with alcohol-related matters, so it is common sense that we should utilise their expertise to alleviate case loads clogging up our courts. This change will make a huge difference to regional and rural courts in particular. Regional courts often have large case loads, and the removal of these applications will mean faster case turnaround. One group in particular will benefit from this reduction in case load, and that is those dealing with domestic violence court matters. These matters all too often involve the personal safety of women and children, and for that reason the matters need to be dealt with promptly. This legislation assists in making that happen. As the public are well aware, we on this side of the house will leave no stone unturned when it comes to family violence. We are committed to finding better ways to deal with it. This is why the Andrews government initiated the Royal Commission into Family Violence in its first term. Freeing up our court time to allow the faster approval and processing of intervention orders is just one way in which we are delivering on that commitment; however, we believe it is an important one. Serious drink-driving offences, manslaughter, culpable driving and police pursuits will still be dealt with by the court system, as the public would expect. The public not only support this legislation; it is the kind of legislation that they expect from government, legislation that improves people’s day- to-day living, helps improve infrastructure, streamlines processes and frees up our legal system— legislation that delivers for Victoria. Ms KAIROUZ (Kororoit—Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Suburban Development) (17:25): I rise to also speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. I have heard a lot of members on this side of the house speak on this important piece of legislation and the benefits that it will have on the communities and electorates that they represent. The overall objective of this bill is to implement the government’s commitment, as part of Project 10 000, to develop legislation for the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account, known as BRV; to reduce the burden on the courts and free up court resources by transferring responsibility for managing alcohol interlocks from courts to VicRoads; and also to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and operation of transport legislation by making miscellaneous, minor and technical amendments to the bill. As I said, the bill pledges traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fines revenue to the BRV, and it guarantees a minimum proportion of the BRV funding to be allocated to outer suburban, interface and rural and regional communities in perpetuity. This bill also amends the Business Franchise (Petroleum Products) Act 1979 to require the compulsory payment of an amount equivalent to traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fines into the BRV, as I just mentioned, and allocate a fixed minimum proportion
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 697 of 33 per cent for the repair and upgrade of roads in outer suburban and interface communities. That is something that I welcome, representing one of the fastest growing electorates out in the western suburbs, the seat of Kororoit, where this legislation will benefit my community, but also in my capacity as the Minister for Suburban Development, where I will also see the benefits that suburbs across metropolitan Melbourne will see. The Victorian government has already exceeded its commitment to allocate $2 billion over eight years to outer suburban and regional roads by allocating $3 billion to upgrading and repairing roads across the state. You can just see the amount of work that is being done across the state. People at the moment are complaining about the congestion as a result of the major upgrades and, in some cases, minor upgrades, but they are indeed upgrades. We see the huge benefits across electorates, particularly in the western suburbs and the northern suburbs if you have a look, for example, at the Tullamarine Freeway, where you see major upgrades there, or if you look at parts of the Western Highway, parts of the Calder Highway and also the works that are commencing as part of the West Gate Tunnel, and there will be huge benefits for communities across there. The government came in with the Project 10 000 promise, and it has already met its eight-year targets in the first term. The Victorian government has moved to lock roads funding into legislation, delivering on our promise to build better roads for our outer suburban and regional communities. This bill requires all future governments to spend a proportion of funding on outer suburban and regional roads. We have locked the funding into legislation to ensure that for communities that live in the outer suburban areas or in country Victoria, their roads will receive a 66 per cent minimum as part of the Better Roads Victoria fund, equating to almost $2 billion over the next eight years. This will ensure that those who drive the most will get to use our better and safer roads. This government will also legislate the compulsory payment of an amount equivalent to traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fines revenue into this trust account. The bill will also require an amount equivalent to traffic camera on-the-spot speeding fines revenue to be paid into that account, which puts money back into the community where those fines are raised. Communities will also see roads and level crossing upgrades. Talking about level crossing upgrades, in the western suburbs there has been lots of work happening with grade separations if we look at the St Albans level crossing and works in Melton. In fact we also made some wonderful election commitments in my own electorate for Station Road, Derrimut Road, Robinsons Road and Fitzgerald Road, and the community is waiting with bated breath for these upgrades, and they are something I am extremely proud of. Indeed we have seen in other electorates across the state other level crossings being removed. There have been huge benefits for communities. People are travelling on safer roads and are getting to work and back home more quickly and more safely, rather than spending time at boom gates. In some cases boom gates were down for 45 minutes. People are able to get home and see their family and spend more time with their family. So far the fund has received around $380 million—that is according to 2017 figures—and this funding represents just part of our funding commitment to the roads, whether it is regional or suburban roads. We will monitor that amount coming in and consider other budget bids for major projects. As part of this issue, lots of members on this side of the house have an opportunity to put their budget bids forward, and so do members on the other side as well, but we will also require the support of our federal colleagues. We know that at the moment the commonwealth Liberal government has been quite silent on what they intend to do for Victoria on improving our roads. I certainly look forward to working with my federal local member, Brendan O’Connor, and other federal MPs in the western suburbs, who have a keen interest in improving our arterial roads. There is a lot of work to do in that space. I am doing that with the support of my wonderful colleagues across the west, and we are hoping to get some positive outcomes from our federal colleagues. The silence from the federal Liberal government, the Morrison government, is quite deafening. We are certainly awaiting what announcements they will be making about improving roads not only in the western suburbs but of course across the state.
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Project 10 000 is something, I recall, that we announced when we were in opposition, and it was part of our election commitment to transform public transport, remove our worst transport bottlenecks, boost economic growth and create 10 000 jobs. These commitments included a minimum commitment of $1 billion over eight years that would be allocated to repair and upgrade roads in our outer suburban and interface communities. There was also a minimum commitment of $1 billion over eight years, which was to be allocated to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities. Also, legislative changes would be made to lock in a guaranteed proportion of funding to these communities in perpetuity, and the Victorian government would also confirm in legislation the compulsory payment of traffic camera speeding fines. I am very pleased to stand here today and say—and I do so with much pride—that we have already exceeded a couple of those targets, and one of them was Project 10 000, with the creation of 10 000 jobs. In fact over the last four years we reached over 400 000 jobs, not just in terms of Project 10 000 but of course across the board. This is something that I am extremely proud of, particularly when you consider the closure of Ford, Holden and Toyota when the automotive industry closed down. Thankfully, for the people in the communities that we represent—whether in the northern suburbs, the western suburbs, the south-eastern suburbs or across the state—there was not much pain as a result of this closure because of the amount of work that this government did and the jobs that this government created, particularly for building road networks and public transport networks, and for building hospitals and schools. We reached 400 000 jobs. That is something that I am extremely proud of, and I know that in the electorate that I represent this certainly has not gone unnoticed, and they are forever grateful for the amount of work that this government has created. Certainly on 24 November Victorians spoke very loudly not only in my community but across the state in relation to the number of jobs that this government has created. Without making any other comments, I would like to wish this legislation a speedy passage. I do not know what the position of the other side is— (Time expired) Ms WARD (Eltham) (17:35): As I rise to speak on this bill it is fantastic to see the member for Box Hill in this place, who I know as an engineer gets quite excited about bills on infrastructure, public transport and roads. It is very good to have an engineer on this side of the house who cares as much as we do about infrastructure and who I know will contribute a great deal to this government. I also see that the member for Burwood is in the house. I have to say that when on Saturday Mark and I drove down to Oakleigh to have dinner with some friends of ours it was fantastic to drive down through those suburbs, through the seats of Burwood and Box Hill, and sadly through the seat of Bulleen as well. It was an almost uninterrupted flow of Labor seats from the seat of Eltham, and it was a very, very nice drive. This is important legislation in many ways, but I really want to focus on its importance to the outer suburbs. I know that a number of my colleagues have spoken about the importance of this bill to rural communities and what that means, and it does mean a lot. But it is the outer suburbs that can also feel just as disadvantaged in terms of transport infrastructure and connectivity as the rural communities do, and we should never underestimate that. In Eltham transport is incredibly important. Up to 80 per cent of the people who live in the Shire of Nillumbik move out of the municipality to go to work, and in the City of Banyule it is around 70 per cent. This is a lot of movement out of these two communities. When you consider that we are bordered on one side by the Yarra River and that the suburb of Eltham itself is bordered by many creeks and rivers, there are limited ways of getting out of my community. So investment in roads is very important. Our train line is the only real public transport infrastructure that we have got that can get us out that does not rely on roads. To have a commitment, as we had in 2014 to Project 10 000, and that real blue-sky dreaming and that far vision of what we can do with public transport and transport infrastructure overall, is incredibly important. My community has already seen that benefit through stage 1 of the Hurstbridge line upgrade, which duplicated the train line between Rosanna and Heidelberg and also got rid of the level crossing at Rosanna. This has been a great, transformative infrastructure investment, and we are about to see the same thing with Hurstbridge stage 2, which also
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 699 falls under the Project 10 000 vision. It will duplicate the line from Greensborough to Eltham and also put in a passing channel between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen. This will transform my community. To have transport options that are enhanced and developed will be just fantastic, and I know that my community is incredibly eager for this project to get started. I thank the Premier, the Treasurer and the former Minister for Public Transport for this commitment to Hurstbridge stage 2. To have 33 per cent of the Better Roads Victoria Fund dedicated to the repair and upgrade of roads in outer-suburban and interface communities such as Banyule and Nillumbik is very important. It is very interesting, Acting Speaker Spence, that we saw in last year’s budget the government allocate money from which your community will benefit—the northern roads upgrade. It will transform a number of our arterial roads across the north and the north-east, and this includes Fitzsimons Lane. Many people in this house may have heard me speak before about traffic and transport issues along Fitzsimons Lane. It is fantastic that we have spent money and time investing in a proposal for how we want that road to be transformed, for the changes that we want to make and for the community consultation that has already happened along this road. In fact the government has been humming along quite well in developing this road plan and how we can improve it, so imagine my surprise to find in my letterbox a notice from the member for Menzies, whose seat I will find myself redistributed into, saying they are going to give $10 million for Fitzsimons Lane. But there is no detail. I do not understand what this money is for. I do not think anyone in my community understands what this money is for, and I do not think that the state government knows what the federal government wants to do with this money either. The mapping and planning for Fitzsimons Lane has already been undertaken. We have already gone out and done community consultation. I am not sure whether they want to save us money or they are going to give this money to the Victorian government for this project or whether they have got a side project of their own which they have not really discussed with us or spent any time with us on. Interestingly the Labor candidate for Menzies, Stella Yee—a fantastic woman who is working incredibly hard in that seat to win it from the recalcitrant, anti-social justice current member—went to Manningham council and asked, ‘Do you know about this $10 million? What’s the federal government’s plan for this? Most of Fitzsimons Lane is actually in the city of Manningham. What are they going to do with it?’. At the council meeting they turned around and said, ‘We don’t know; we don’t know anything about it’. Someone rang Kevin Andrews’s office and asked, ‘What’s this money for? What are you going to do with it?’, and the response they got was, ‘The local councils will do that’. Manningham council knows nothing about it. Not only are we seeing a deficit of infrastructure investment in this state from the federal government—we are still hovering at around the 9 per cent mark—we are also seeing a federal government that is in such a panic and that is freaking out so much because it has underinvested in this state and it knows that the people of this state do not like that and are going to retaliate. The people of this state are going to tell the Liberal-Nationals government how much they dislike the neglect that they have experienced at their hands. They are spending $10 million, and they are saying, ‘We are giving you $10 million, but we do not know what it is for. It is for that road, but we do not know what it is going to do for that road—but it is for that road, so please vote for us. Even though we do not know what we are going to spend the money on, we have got $10 million for you. Here we are’. Now that is the worst case of pork-barrelling that I have ever seen, and I think that the current member for Menzies is so disengaged with his community that he cannot actually articulate what $10 million could be spent on for Fitzsimons Lane. I have to tell you, Acting Speaker: $10.5 million got us the upgrade to Bolton Street. That was $10.5 million for 1.6 kilometres of road that included new footpaths which already exist on Fitzsimons Lane, that included curbs and drainage which also exist on Fitzsimons Lane and that included turning lanes—but Fitzsimons Lane is two lanes one way and two lanes the other. That cost $10.5 million, but I do not actually know what you can get for $10 million. It is a lot of money, but when you are talking about road infrastructure and when you are talking about a road as big as Fitzsimons Lane, I do not know that $10 million is actually going to get you that far.
BILLS 700 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
If they want to come and join with us and help us fund the upgrade to that road, that would be fantastic, but what would also be fantastic would be the federal government actually engaging with this government and talking to us about how we could work to improve that work together. Unfortunately they do not know how to have that conversation. They do not know how to have that conversation because the whole time they have been in government they have barely had one meaningful conversation with the people of this state. They have underinvested in infrastructure in this state so appallingly that I suspect that possibly they are actually embarrassed to talk to us about their $10 million for Fitzsimons Lane. They really should do better. I tell you what: I reckon everybody on this side of the house and pretty much everybody in the state is saying bring on the federal election, because we want to get rid of this mob. We actually want to get a party in that is just like that in Victoria, where we have a government that has gone out there and done everything they can to help people with their day-to-day lives, everything they can to invest in infrastructure to create jobs and everything to create opportunities to invest in schools and to invest in health care. This is exactly what Labor governments do, and that is what the federal government will do when it is a Labor government—unlike the current government, which has neglected this state terribly. This is good legislation that shows the state, yet again, how important infrastructure is to us and how much money we want to invest in it. We want to make sure that successive governments will keep investing money into roads infrastructure and into public transport. We want to make sure that these areas are looked after, because they are important. They are important not only for jobs and they are important not only for our economy but they are actually important for our families. They are important to make sure people can get home from work as quickly as possible and so that they are leaving as late as they need to to get to work so that they do not have to spend hours commuting, because nobody wants to do that. Nobody wants to spend hours on a train, just as nobody wants to spend hours in their car. They have got better things to do with their lives, which is exactly what this government understands. This is why we are investing in our communities, why we are investing in our roads and why we are investing in public transport. I commend this bill. Mr FOWLES (Burwood) (17:45): I rise to speak on the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018. There can be no doubt about the tragic and serious link between the consumption of alcohol and driving and the deaths and injuries that follow. In 2017, 17 per cent or nearly one in five of all drivers killed and 13 per cent of all drivers seriously injured in a road crash had a blood or breath alcohol concentration reading of .05 or more. They are staggering figures because they speak to the importance of governments always being vigilant about absolutely minimising the amount of drink-driving that goes on, sadly, still in our community. This bill importantly helps with the administration of all of the measures that the government has put in place in relation to drink-driving minimisation. I think it is important to recognise from the outset that when we talk about hypothecation of revenue it is not a step that any government ought to take lightly, but in this particular circumstance the arguments for it are incredibly strong. We make it absolutely clear under this bill and with the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account that all traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fine revenue goes into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account. That makes it absolutely clear that this revenue is not about, as some have accused us of, padding the government wallet and it is not about providing general revenue for the purposes of pork-barrelling or otherwise. It is actually targeted revenue which is then deployed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is the repair and upgrade of roads and level crossings. What better purpose for these funds is there? This is a government that clearly has a very strong record on the upgrade of roads and level crossings, particularly level crossing removals. The upgrades of roads in outer suburban and interface communities and in rural and regional areas is very important work. It is work that is not just about amenity and convenience; it is about road safety. So when we talk about speeding fines, they are about
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 701 road safety. When we talk about hypothecating that revenue to road and rail improvements, that is about road safety as well. When we talk about the need for interlock devices and the need for this range of measures to deter drivers from drink-driving, that too is about road safety. It is important to recognise that this bill does not change judicial discretion and it does not change the ability of the courts around sentencing to determine what those measures are; it changes what happens once an interlock ban has been served. This is an administrative matter. The family violence royal commission recommended that we free up the courts to allow them to deal far more efficiently with the very important work of family violence prevention orders and related matters. In freeing up the courts for that work, we take away from them this frankly administrative function of when an interlock device has been utilised according to the criteria prescribed in the act. People can apply for its removal, and that can be administered more efficiently, better and more cheaply by VicRoads rather than coming back and clogging up court days. It is not an insignificant number of court days; it is 175 court days a year. We know that a court day does not just rely on a magistrate; it does not just rely on a registrar. Court days are very, very expensive days. They are resource-intensive days where we have a facility deployed for what is ultimately, in this case, an administrative function. I absolutely support making sure that we use the courts for their very best purpose, making sure that that high-value, high- resource activity is employed for a high-value outcome. Frankly, the issuing and the management of family violence prevention orders ought to rank far higher than the administrative function of determining what happens once an interlock period has been served by a driver. Taking away 7500 applications for a licence eligibility order and 5000 applications to have an interlock condition removed is a significant workload removed from the courts, and it can be handled more efficiently in any event by VicRoads, but it will also allow VicRoads—who have seen the data anyway—to actually improve the administration of that system. It is important to note that the money in the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account is employed for really good purposes. It is fascinating to me that the opposition are seeking to amend this bill to provide for de minimis conditions for a budget that they once pillaged when in government. This sub- hypothecation, if you like, with a third of the money going to the outer suburban and interface communities and a third going to roads and level crossings in rural and regional communities, is an important measure within this bill to ensure that we continue to develop, as we should, the quality of road and rail infrastructure outside the immediate metropolitan area. That is an important measure, and I am staggered that those opposite—or in my case to my right—would seek to tinker with a measure that is delivering so much for rural and regional communities. Many in the opposition would say that their political raison d’être is in fact to represent those communities. It is important to also note that in this bill there will be mandatory minimum alcohol interlock conditions for serious driving offences. That is because, while mandatory conditions are something of a blunt instrument, we know that there has been some inconsistency in the application and so it is appropriate in this category of offences. We are not talking about offences where people get incarcerated. The alcohol interlock conditions—not the other conditions that might attach to the particular offence or offences committed, and not the other conditions that might attach to a sentence given in relation to other aspects, but conditions for the alcohol interlock that are part of the sentence— are enshrined, mandated and made very clear under these rules. There is of course an important tidying up where the driver education program has now been changed to a mandatory behaviour change program. When we think about behaviour change, we know that we have come a long way. It has been a long, long time since, as was announced on the front page of the paper way back then—I think it was the 1970s—we had to ‘Declare War on 1034’. It has been a long time since we have had to endure, as a community, the appalling tragedy of more than 1000 people dying on the road in any given year. Frankly, a great many of the gains have come from our management, our education and the huge advances made in relation to drink-driving.
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Once upon a time it was sort of seen as sport to be able to get in the car and as long as you could get your key in the ignition, you were right to drive. I know that in my parents’ generation that was something of an accepted wisdom. Wise it is not. Wise it is most certainly not, and as a community we have come a long, long way to remedying the sort of presumption that once existed—that you could drink and drive safely or, worse, that once upon a time people said that they drove better when they were drunk. Nothing could be further from the truth. In concluding, it is important to know that Victoria has the toughest drink-driving laws in Australia, as we should. Every driver who blows over .05 loses their licence. They must complete a behaviour change program. They must use an interlock. These are appropriate measures to address what remains the staggering statistic that 17 per cent of drivers killed in a motor vehicle collision are over .05. That is a staggering statistic. You are taking not just your own life but the lives of others into your own hands when you contemplate this sort of destructive, dangerous and antisocial conduct. It is appropriate that the sanctions measure up to that. I commend this bill to the house. I would like to see it make speedy passage through this place because it is very important that we continue to be vigilant and that we continue to be strong in our rejection of those who would say that anything other than tough measures on drink-driving matter. Mr DONNELLAN (Narre Warren North—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers) (17:55): This is another bill which continues Labor’s commitment to regional and outer suburban roads. As we know, over the previous four years—the first term of this government— there was a major commitment to road funding and road maintenance. If you look at the figures, over the four-year period $400 million-plus more was put forward than what the previous Liberal-National government put forward. After many years of having the opportunity to actually do something, the Liberal and National parties failed to do so. I do note that an amendment has been put forward today that suggests a specific amount of money actually be put in the bill, which I find quite hysterical considering that when that lot had the opportunity to actually do something, they failed comprehensively and actually cut funding for roads. By the time they had actually left government, we were actually growing at 0.8 per cent. You have got to work pretty hard to actually drop the economy down to 0.8 per cent. You have virtually got to effectively take out all capital spending to get that low in the very sophisticated economy that Victoria is. I guess this just reinforces that we are very strongly committed to outer suburban roads. You have only got to look at the south-east, where today $1 billion was committed to suburban duplications. We have got $1.8 billion which has been committed to the west and I think another $1.2 billion or $1.3 billion, from memory, allocated to the north. In many ways we have far exceeded the commitments we suggested we would make to road funding, in terms of both outer suburban and regional roads. I think at the time we made a commitment of $1 billion each, and we far exceeded that. You have only got to look at the last budget, not this budget, in terms of regional roads. We made a $333 million commitment to road maintenance, which was the biggest commitment ever, and it will start to repair or resurface about 8 per cent of our roads, which is about the level we should be at. I think it was previously around 4 per cent, so we have certainly pushed and boosted that along. I was very grateful to get that extra commitment to road maintenance from the Treasurer at that time. We also put an extra $100 million into fixing country roads, which I know was very welcome. Then there was $229 million specifically put into road safety. I had a very interesting email today from a gentleman who lives up in Macedon and who had been what you would call an opponent of the wire rope barriers, like some people on the other side. Funnily enough there was an incident two days ago where his son was saved by a wire rope barrier while driving a car. This motorbike rider, who had previously been absolutely and utterly against the rollout of the wire rope barriers, which is the biggest commitment ever made to road safety in that space, wrote me an email this morning saying, ‘I am so
BILLS Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 703 grateful you put out the wire rope barrier that I did not support, because, guess what, my son is actually here today because he was saved by it’. Also in the last budget, which continues to reinforce our commitment to ensuring that we improve the roads across the state, was $261 million of road upgrades across the state. I have recently been travelling through regional Victoria up to Horsham and places like that. There is a lot of road maintenance spending going on presently. You have only got to drive across this state to see it, whether it be on the Western Highway, the Hume Freeway or the Midland Highway. We have put in extra passing lanes. This government has an incredibly strong record of delivering for regional and rural Victoria. Also last year we established Regional Roads Victoria, run by CEO Paul Northey. He is doing a marvellous job of engaging directly with communities out there in the regions to ensure that they are aware of what is actually going on. This is all online now, so those communities that want to look at the road spend over the September to March period will be able to see which parts of the state are having resurfacing and which parts of the state are having rebuilds and the like. They can see what is actually occurring. For many years that information was not available unless you wrote in. If it was quick enough, you might have gotten a response from the minister to indicate what was happening on that particular road, but now you can go online. I know that has been very much welcomed by the community. This bill locks in for many years to come that 33 per cent for outer suburban roads and 33 per cent for regional and rural roads. It very much highlights the importance of ensuring that there is a bare minimum of spending. I think that is coming from traffic camera and on-the-spot speeding fines, and that is a bare minimum. As I have indicated, we have far exceeded what the commitment was at the time, which I think was $2 billion over eight years on outer suburban and regional roads. To date we have far exceeded that. I think it is $1.917 billion for outer suburban roads and interface communities and $1.184 billion for regional and rural communities. In other words, it did not take us eight years. It only took us four years to get there. That just highlights the level of commitment that we made. We said we would do it, and we ensured it. You can look at some of the work that has been done on Foxhow Road and other places in south-west Victoria—roads that were not fit for the purposes they were being used for, whether it be for the dairy industry, the forestry industry and the like. You have only got to look at the narrow seal widening which is being done with the commonwealth government, which is work that we had committed to doing on a 50-50 basis to ensure these roads could accommodate the economic growth in those particular areas, such as dairy and forestry and the like. You have only got to look down to Portland, for argument’s sake, where the thickness of the road that accommodates what is coming in and out of the port of Portland was increased with all this road funding. This bill will do many other things along the way, including providing for variations regarding interlock devices. In one way it will take the burden of managing interlock devices from the Magistrates Court and get VicRoads to administer that process, which will certainly, if nothing else, be a very welcome move for the people who manage the justice system and the courts. It will make it more of an administrative process. Once people have undertaken their anti-drink-driving courses, they can go back and seek the removal of their interlock devices. This bill is a commitment. It just reinforces what this government has actually done over the last four years and will continue to do over the next four years in terms of improving our roads across the whole state. I will note that the idea of amending the bill to put in a specific amount is a bit hysterical. The last lot had their chance when they were in government, and they allocated $400 million to $500 million less over four years than we have spent on regional and country roads. It does not matter what amount you put in, you have actually got to deliver. This bill will deliver for the community and will ensure that there is a specific minimum amount of money to spend on regional and outer suburban roads.
JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT 704 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019
Mr TAK (Clarinda) (18:04): I move: That the debate be now adjourned. Motion agreed to and debate adjourned. Ordered that debate be adjourned until later this day. Joint sitting of Parliament SENATE VACANCY The ACTING SPEAKER (Ms Ward) (18:05): I have received the following message from the Legislative Council:
The Legislative Council acquaint the Legislative Assembly that they have agreed to the following resolution: That this house meets with the Legislative Assembly for the purpose of sitting and voting together to choose a person to hold the place in the Senate rendered vacant by the resignation of Senator the Honourable Jacinta Collins and, as proposed by the Assembly, the time and place of such meeting be the Legislative Assembly chamber on Wednesday, 6 March 2019, at 6.15 p.m. Address to Parliament GOVERNOR’S SPEECH Address-in-reply Debate resumed on motion of Mr BRAYNE: That the following address, in reply to the speech of Her Excellency the Governor to both houses of Parliament, be agreed to by this house: Governor: We, the Legislative Assembly of Victoria assembled in Parliament, wish to express our loyalty to our Sovereign and to thank you for the speech which you have made to the Parliament. And Mr HIBBINS’s amendment: That the following words be added to the end of the motion: ‘but respectfully regret that the speech fails to outline effective measures to protect Victoria’s natural environment and endangered plants and animals, nor address the urgent water, climate and extinction crises that affect all Victorians’. Ms RYAN (Euroa) (18:06): It gives me great pleasure to rise today to give my address-in-reply to the Governor’s speech. I must say it is a real honour to be returned by the people of Euroa to serve them in this place. This is a job that is very much about service. We come here as one of thousands of people to represent our community—in my case, one of 49 251 electors. It is our job, I believe, to make sure that we are listening to the needs of our communities. In a rural electorate like mine that often means very diverse communities. From one end of the electorate to the other my communities are vastly different, ranging from almost Melbourne interface to small country towns and communities. I think it is very much our job to make sure that we are listening to all of their needs and responding accordingly as their elected members of Parliament. I am often reminded when I am in this place that I am but one of those almost 50 000 people and that whilst my opinion is important and valid, fundamentally my opinion should be reflective of the community which I represent. I do wish from the outset to congratulate the other candidates who put their hands up to contest the seat of Euroa. I think our democracy is much stronger for other people putting up their hand to participate. We had Fionna Deppeler-Morton from the Labor Party, who was standing for the seat of Euroa. Don Firth, the former mayor of Benalla, put up his hand, and Keppel Cassidy stood on behalf of the Greens. It was a relatively small race but one that I think for the most part was run in good spirit. There were a few moments along the way where there were a few little dirty tricks being played here and there, particularly around pre-poll, but by and large I think those three candidates and I all put up our hands to contest the seat in good faith, and I think that was ultimately borne out on the day.
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I would like to make particular mention of the Greens candidate, who, even though our platforms might wildly differ and our views wildly differ on the vast majority of things, I found to be an absolutely charming person. He had to travel quite some way in order to make it to candidate forums, but he really made the effort to put forward his case. He lived outside of the electorate, but he was a lovely person. I wish him the very best in the future, because I think he was somebody who was genuinely motivated by his belief and his view of the world and his wish to present that to the wider electorate. The ultimate outcome was that I received 58.95 per cent of the vote, Ms Deppeler-Morton won 28.59 per cent, Mr Firth attracted 7.23 per cent and Mr Cassidy received 5.24 per cent. Ultimately the two-party preferred vote was 65.44 per cent to The Nationals and 34.56 per cent of the vote to Labor. I think that is actually important to note, because it does actually represent a decline in Labor’s vote from the 2014 election. I think that is particularly important to note, because those opposite, I have noticed, have come into this place and have certainly claimed that their increased numbers in the house give them an increased mandate. They seem to be presenting this view that Victorians everywhere chose them as their first preference, and that is just quite simply not true and it certainly was not true in Euroa. I think it also underlines the fact that this narrative that the government has been trying to sell that it governs for all Victorians is just quite simply not true, because the voters in Euroa certainly recognised that those opposite were not presenting a plan that we bought in my electorate and that there was in fact very, very little money committed to my electorate, which again goes to show that this narrative that Labor governs for all Victorians just is not true. That particularly was in stark contrast to the billions of dollars that were being poured into metropolitan Melbourne. I think people certainly recognised the great disparity that existed there, particularly when you look at things like our trains and the fundamental infrastructure that underpins communities in my electorate, which has been ignored for years upon years upon years now. It is of course relevant to note that Labor has been in government for some 15 of the past 19 years, so they very much bear the legacy of the fact that there has been drastic underinvestment in our train line. Ms Green interjected. Ms RYAN: I would also certainly note that I think it is disappointing that the member for Yan Yean, who is in the chamber and is throwing interjections, has done very little to advocate to improve that line, the Seymour train line. In fact she forgot to actually move the petition that she tabled last week, which I think was greatly disappointing. There is no doubt that there is a real dearth of investment across my electorate. The Kilmore-Wallan bypass, for example— Members interjecting. The ACTING SPEAKER (Ms Ward): Order! Ms RYAN: Thank you, Acting Speaker. I appreciate you making the effort to call some of the unruly members on the other side of the house to order. I should point out that the Kilmore-Wallan bypass, which is a project that the coalition committed to in 2014 and which was on the cusp of being delivered when we lost government, is still very much in the never-never. There has been very little commitment made to that project. That was another election commitment that unfortunately we had to recommit to at the last election. Yet again we saw no corresponding commitment whatsoever from those opposite, and I think people are bitterly disappointed by that. There are 1600 trucks a day going through Kilmore. The town is absolutely choked. I note the Premier is in the chamber, and after we have just had this debate around the Transport Legislation Amendment (Better Roads Victoria and Other Amendments) Bill 2018, where the government said that it is going to commit additional funds to regional Victoria—we will wait to see whether that actually happens—I would nominate the Kilmore-Wallan bypass as being a project that he might perhaps finally consider after having ignored it for the last five years and paying it nothing but lip-service. It is an incredibly important project to Kilmore. It is of course beyond the city boundary, which might mean that he is a little less interested in it, but I would certainly urge the government to look at that project.
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We also made a commitment to invest in funding to revitalise the town heart of Kilmore, because that project was about so much more than just building a road; it was about actually putting the life and the heart and the soul back into the Kilmore community, which are so desperately needed. So we made a $5 million commitment through Regional Development Victoria to actually revitalise that town and do up the main street to make sure that it is actually a destination and not a thoroughfare. The other thing that I very much wanted to mention was the CFA. I think volunteers across my electorate are incredibly worried. I was talking to some who had gathered to fight the Tarcombe fire just a couple of days ago. They were asking me the status of the government’s legislation in the last Parliament, when they sought to tear the CFA apart. People are really, really worried about Labor’s intention around that bill and whether they will reintroduce it. We of course all suspect that the Premier has been given some instructions from the federal Leader of the Opposition not to introduce that bill until after the federal election to make sure that he does not create the same chaos that occurred before the last federal election, which certainly had ramifications across a number of seats. But it really, really is a concern of volunteers across my electorate. It is particularly a concern that those opposite will not introduce presumptive rights legislation, as we saw last week, unless that legislation is tied to tearing apart the CFA. It is a great concern. As we have CFA volunteers out there right now on firegrounds across Victoria, it is something that I wish the Premier would rule out, but quite simply he is not going to do that. The government was quite clear about its agenda before the last election that it would proceed with caving into those demands from the secretary of the United Firefighters Union. One project I certainly did want to mention in the time remaining to me is a wonderful organisation in my electorate called the Tomorrow Today Foundation, which devotes almost all of its time to lifting education standards in Benalla. It has run a really, really successful program called Peep, which started in the UK and is all about lifting the literacy and numeracy standards of children before they actually reach school and improving early childhood outcomes. A lot of the anecdotal evidence coming back from schools in Benalla now—Benalla College in particular—is that as the first children who started the program are starting to hit primary school, they are showing a far greater sense of concentration and they are able to sit down and take instruction. They are far more receptive to learning. That is because of the work that has been done around literacy and numeracy programs early on through Peep. I made the commitment that we would fund Peep to the tune of $1 million—$250 000 each year over the next four years. Unfortunately Tomorrow Today are close to running out of funding for Peep. They have put in a bid through Regional Development Victoria for $500 000 to try and secure that program in the future, but they have not received much joy through the Minister for Education or the Minister for Regional Development yet. I would strongly urge the government to consider the strength of that program and just how successful that program has been. When you look at the Australian early development census results, Benalla is one of the most disadvantaged communities in Victoria for children who are entering primary school, which is what that census measures. The disadvantage that was measured in Benalla by that census is quite extreme. It is one of the worst in the state. I do hope that the government can actually find its way clear to putting politics aside and recognising the value in that community, because by doing so they will be helping to break the cycle of disadvantage that exists within the Benalla community. I do think it is important that the youngest children in that community are given the opportunity to achieve great things. There are far too many commitments that we made to the electorate to go through in the time remaining to me. We pledged to invest $2.4 million to ensure there are public beds in Euroa. That is an issue I have raised many times before in this place. Strathbogie shire is the only shire in all of Victoria that does not have ongoing access to public beds. I think that is a great disparity and one that should be addressed. It does not seem appropriate to me that people should have to travel 45 minutes or 50 minutes for basic services. That puts a huge strain on that community, particularly given the number of people who do not actually have private health insurance in that community and who, as a result of that, cannot access a wonderful hospital that is located in their own community. But because that hospital evolved from a not-for-profit community-based hospital it is not recognised by the state. That
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 707 needs to change, and it needs to change through a significant and ongoing partnership between the state health system and Euroa Health. In short, I want to conclude by thanking the many, many volunteers from not only the National Party but also external to that, and my family, who were an amazing support not only over the last four years but also in assisting in my re-election campaign for the 2018 election. Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries) (18:21): It gives me great pleasure to join this particular debate, the address-in- reply. I take the opportunity to begin by thanking the people of Albert Park for showing confidence in the Andrews Labor government and returning us with an increased majority in this place for a second term. In short, it is all about getting things done. What we were able to demonstrate in that election campaign were the benefits of a positive, progressive and bold government plan in our first four years, as clearly delivered and now built on with a very exciting agenda for continued reform and continued delivery in our second term. In that regard, as to how that plays out locally in my own community, I take great pleasure in highlighting first and foremost the wonderful achievements of our state public primary and secondary schools and the recovery that we have seen in those spaces, not just under the Andrews government, leaving aside the four dark years of the failed Baillieu-Napthine regime, but before that through the rebuilding of public education that took place following—and it needs to be said—the devastation of public education under the Kennett government, which saw five public schools closed in my electorate. I am very pleased that the government’s commitments in that space go to programs in the next term that include the upgrading of St Kilda Primary School, the final stage of the rebuilding of Port Melbourne Primary School, a new secondary school in Fishermans Bend and a particularly exciting project, which is a three-way partnership between Albert Park College, the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and Gasworks Arts Park for a combined community performance and education facility to meet the growing needs of the creative, secondary school and wider communities in my electorate and of course the wider inner south. We could add to that the commitment to the integration of a kindergarten and a primary school facility in Docklands, as one of the many committed to by the Minister for Education in the state election. Whilst Docklands touches my electorate in part, that facility would be just on the corner of my electorate. Of course that school is one of the 100 new schools that the government committed to in the very successful and very well supported November 2018 election campaign. Whilst education is a real touchstone issue for our government, it is far from the only issue. Particularly in the infrastructure area, the people of Albert Park had a really positive alternative before them quick whistlestop of other milestone commitments in my community included a partnership with the Port Melbourne Football Club, and I am pleased that the member for Williamstown is at the table because of course everyone knows that there are only two foundation clubs left from the Victorian Football Association in Victoria in the VFL—those squibs from Williamstown and the one true club, the Port Melbourne Football Club, which, for the record, has never missed a single year since its foundation in 1873, unlike the Williamstown Football Club, which squibbed it in 1919 on the basis of some really poor excuse called the Spanish flu. I really do look forward to that joint project with the Port Melbourne Football Club, the City of Port Phillip and the VFL to upgrade, particularly for women’s sport and for women’s footy, the North Port Oval. Then of course we could continue on with the commitment for a community hospital in Fishermans Bend to be delivered by Alfred Health. We could point to the commitment about shared facilities for the Port Melbourne scouts group—a scouts group which went into recess for over 15 long years but has now rebuilt itself in more recent times with the great support of Scouts Victoria and the Andrews government. We could look to the upgrading of disability access for golfers at Albert Park Reserve, or we could point to the commitment for a $2 million investment in new courts for local netballers,
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT 708 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 the commitment to two new pocket parks as part of the need for more urban open space in the increasingly densely populated areas of the district of Albert Park or perhaps, even more excitingly, the $50 million commitment to rebuilding the St Kilda Pier, which is of course on the most popular and visited beach in Victoria, St Kilda Beach. I take this opportunity to draw everyone’s attention to St Kilda Beach. Despite the fact that over summer we might have had visiting Neo-Fascists come to St Kilda to claim the most democratic of beaches as theirs, St Kilda is a warm, welcoming, diverse community that rejected those Neo-Nazis and their message of hate and anti-Semitism coming to my community, and it stands yet again as a welcoming beacon. I want to give a special shout-out to the St Kilda Life Saving Club for their groundbreaking work with the South Sudanese community to make sure that we have young South Sudanese and others in our community participating in the great Australian democratic tradition of what it is to be equal regardless of who you are on our beaches, rather than bringing hate and discord to those beaches. We reject those approaches from those Nazis. I could also point to the commitment between—and I see the member for Prahran here—the electorate of Albert Park and the electorate of Prahran down St Kilda Road, with a $26 million commitment to build dedicated bike lanes from Carlisle Street in St Kilda to the city along the river. This is a great proposition that only Labor is capable of delivering. It will make cycling, which is increasingly popular, safe whilst making sure also that those other road users have their dedicated sites. We know that is an important project. Whilst I do not have many non-government schools in my electorate, I do have the fantastic Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School. It is in fact the only other-educational school in my electorate, and I was very pleased to join with that community and the Catholic education office to commit to a joint capital project in that community. Whilst those were local commitments, we are also, courtesy of the fact of where we are in inner Melbourne, the home of great investments committed to by this government, such as the arts precinct of Melbourne, which is a reimagining of that entire area. It is already the arts capital of this part of the world, let alone Australia, with the greatest concentration of state cultural institutions and small, medium and independent companies in that space from Sturt Street through to the Arts Centre—Hamer Hall—in Melbourne. That project, into which over $220 million has already been invested in its reimagining to make it accessible, democratic and dynamic, is a project that I really do look forward to. St Kilda Road is also the home of the Metro Tunnel Domain station, and how important that is to the public transport future of all of Melbourne but equally to that particular St Kilda Road and surrounding precinct of the district of Albert Park. Then of course there is the commitment that my good friend the Minister for Planning and the former Minister for Major Projects made in regard to Fishermans Bend. The planning scheme amendments have now, after a consultative process, been locked in and have undone the damage that the former Minister for Planning under the failed Napthine-Baillieu governments had wreaked on that area, which had made it a free-for-all for the investors and the Liberal mates to clean up without a single brick being laid and with no investment and no planning in public infrastructure. It is only Labor, through the hard work of the Minister for Planning in consultation with both the City of Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne and the local community, that now have in place a planning scheme amendment that has removed the worst elements of that failed regime and gives planning certainty and confidence that a much better outcome will be delivered there, starting with the significant investment that the University of Melbourne have made in delivering the education and innovation precinct on the former GM site, which of course the Andrews Labor government bought after the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison governments chased Australia’s vehicle manufacturing industry out of the country.
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So we really are on the verge of a significant era of reform and investment in my own community, but equally having the privilege of being a minister in the second Andrews government gives me the opportunity to reflect ever so briefly on some of the challenges that lie ahead. I will start with the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. One in two of us during our lives is going to have a treatable mental health condition. One in five of us in any year is going to be in the position of seeking treatment and support for a mental health condition. Over 600 Victorians are expected to take their own life this year. That is twice the road toll, and it reflects a similar set of figures across the country. We know that our mental health system has not kept pace with the demands on it despite the great efforts of many dedicated professionals, volunteers and consumers in the sector and carers that look after those people. What our mental health system now needs is a complete root-and-branch assessment, an honest assessment, keeping in mind that things have to change, and a commitment that the funding and delivery of those reforms will be accepted. That is why the Andrews Labor government has announced a royal commission. The terms of reference, which have been the subject of wide community consultation and wide sector consultation, are now out there. The commissioners have been appointed, and I want to thank those commissioners for their leadership. The four are now in place. We look forward to their important work. That of course is directly related in the mental health portfolio to the important work that is being done in the alcohol and other drugs sector. An important trial is underway for the medically supervised injecting facility, and the growth of harm minimisation strategies and processes right across all of that portfolio is a real priority for us. In the creative industries area, as I have already touched on, is the arts precinct work that is being done. I could point to the significant programs underway at the State Library of Victoria and at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and a very strong commitment to the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, where $126 million of capital for stage 3 of the GPAC rebuild has been delivered by the government in this term. We look forward to that significant area being taken as the most important regional performing arts community in Victoria. Then of course there is a $3 million commitment to partnering with the film and screen sector of the Bollywood and the north and south Asian communities, which will maximise our links to what screen and film can bring to our cultural soft diplomacy as well as the creativity that that will bring with it. More importantly, I really do look forward during this term of government to the opportunity to work with our state cultural institutions, the seven of them, to not just invest in important program and infrastructure delivery but equally look at how that can be democratised and shared with all Victorians, in programs, in outreach efforts and in touring. These are important and exciting times. In the equality portfolio I look forward to building on the great work to make sure that LGBTI Victorians are cared for, are welcomed and are celebrated. All in all, this second Andrews government is going to be a significant, progressive, reforming government that has still the best years ahead of it. Mr ANGUS (Forest Hill) (18:36): I am very pleased to rise today to make my contribution to the address-in-reply to the Governor’s speech from December last year. I want to start by placing on record my sincere thanks to the residents of the district of Forest Hill for once again putting their trust in me and showing me their ongoing support. It is certainly a great honour and privilege to hold this office, and I can assure the Forest Hill residents that I do not take this role for granted and will continue to work as hard as I can for them and to assist the residents in any way that I can. I also want to thank all the volunteers that worked during the Forest Hill campaign, in particular the hardworking members of my campaign team led by the campaign manager, Myles King. All our volunteers worked tirelessly during the course of the campaign. I also thank the electorate conference executive and members as well as send a special thanks to my regular volunteers who assist in my office with a range of tasks on an ongoing basis—namely Loris, Neil, Ena and Carol. We have a very busy electorate office, and the voluntary work that these people do is of enormous benefit to not only me and my staff but also the broader Forest Hill community.
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I thank the Liberal Party staff at both 104 and CHQ, as well as my branch members and other volunteers—volunteers who undertook very important tasks, such as letterboxing, doorknocking, attending mobile offices with me, clerical duties, attending polling booths and of course handing out how-to-vote cards and scrutineering. I thank my hardworking staff for their work over the last four years—Tina, Anna, Anne and Allison. They all do a fantastic job in my very busy electorate office attending to the needs of not only individual constituents but also schools, community groups, sporting clubs and other local organisations day in and day out, year in and year out. I especially want to place on record my thanks to my family—my wife, Andrea, who works tirelessly to support me; my children and their spouses; and my parents and other relatives, who have given me such outstanding support on an ongoing basis. One of the things we all know in relation to this role is that it is a team effort, and that is certainly what I have had during my last four years at Forest Hill. I also commend my opponents on their campaigns and thank them for conducting a civil and good- natured campaign in Forest Hill. I thank the Victorian Electoral Commission staff for their professionalism and assistance. I also acknowledge my former eastern suburbs colleagues and neighbours who worked so hard for their electorates but who were unfortunately unsuccessful last year: Robert Clark, Michael Gidley, Graham Watt, Dee Ryall and Heidi Victoria. I now want to take a few minutes to reflect on some issues in the Forest Hill district. Firstly, I want to look at education infrastructure. In the Forest Hill district there are 21 schools. They are all served by dedicated and hardworking staff and principals and are also supported by diligent school councils. However, many of my schools are in desperate need of urgent infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. As a result of these needs, at the 2018 election the coalition committed to the following schools funding: first of all, at Vermont Primary School we committed $4.8 million towards the much- needed rebuilding of the central administrative and classrooms building at the school; secondly, at Orchard Grove Primary School we committed $2.3 million to upgrade staff and administrative facilities at the school as well as improve the toilet facilities for students and staff; thirdly, at Livingstone Primary School we committed $250 000 to construct a much-needed off-street car park; and finally there was funding to various other schools that were in desperate need of upgrades and improvements, including one school that has had an 84 per cent increase in the number of students over the last 14 years, which equates to more than 350 extra students, but has had only a meagre 11 per cent increase in toilet facilities over that time. Despite my having raised all these issue with the Minister for Education in Parliament on multiple occasions, as well as petitioning for various infrastructure improvements, the Andrews Labor government has not addressed the needs of these schools and again has chosen to neglect the residents of the Forest Hill district. To me and to my community it just shows that the numberplate logo of ‘The Education State’ is nothing more than a cheap, meaningless slogan. I can assure my constituents that I will continue to fight for my local community in Forest Hill to obtain the funding needed for these and other facilities. I will also continue to advocate for other much-needed infrastructure funding, such as for urgently needed improvements at my sporting clubs. There are many examples I can cite in relation to that, but one I will cite is the Forest Hill Football Netball Club. That is a club where again there was a commitment made by the coalition in the 2018 election campaign in relation to the refurbishment of the pavilion there. It is in desperate need of improvement for the use of the broader community. It is disappointing that we were unable to deliver on that, so I will be seeking to hold the Andrews government accountable and to get them to deliver on this important community infrastructure in the Forest Hill district. I also note that at the 2014 state election the then opposition made grand promises in relation to an important tract of local land known as the Healesville freeway reserve (HFR). In part those promises included retaining all of this land as public open space and building a shared walking and cycling path along the entire length of the reserve. Sadly for our local community, four years later
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 711 virtually nothing has been done to improve this reserve or construct the promised walking and cycling path. However, what has happened is that the government has broken its very clear promise not to sell any of the HFR land by in fact selling certain parts of it. Local residents have been kept in the dark about what has actually gone on with this land, and to that end I asked a question of the Premier about this very issue on 24 May 2018. I asked him why he had told untruths to my community about not selling this land. So here we are many, many months later and I am still waiting for an answer, but I can assure you and the residents of the Forest Hill district that I am not holding my breath, because I am not expecting an answer from the Premier. That is a very sad indictment of the government, and I can assure all residents that this is an issue that I will continue to follow up with the government on behalf of my constituents, because it is a very, very important local issue. I now want to turn to some economic matters. I have only got limited time, so I will have to restrict my comments to just a few, but a number of things have come to my attention that are of particular concern to me in relation to my regular discussions with constituents, and one of them is that they tell me about their concern regarding their finances. They are concerned about keeping their jobs, and they also lament the cost-of-living pressures that they face on a daily basis. When I have had residents telling me, as I have had in the last 12 months, that they can no longer afford to put on their lights and their heaters after dark in winter I know we have got a real problem in our community, and I am certain that the Forest Hill community is not isolated in that regard. That is a very serious concern to my community, but it is a far more serious concern for other areas and other communities in Victoria, and it should be a significant concern for this government. The government’s mismanagement of Victoria’s electricity supply, especially manifest in the effective taxing of the Hazelwood power station out of business, has resulted in enormous increases in electricity and gas prices in Victoria, which is hurting my constituents, especially those on fixed incomes. The related issue of not even being able to ensure reliable electricity supply in our great state shows just how out of control things have become here in Victoria. I particularly cite the example where I had someone call me during one of the recent hot days we have had—hot weather is not unusual here in Victoria and certainly not in Melbourne—and say, ‘I’m here in my house in the dark with no electricity. I’m very concerned that I’m not being able to keep cool and I’m very concerned that my supplies in the fridge may not last all that long given it is a particularly hot day’. What a joke that situation has become for our state. It is a total indictment of this government and their mismanagement of the electricity supply situation here in Victoria. Another major local issue for my constituents is the issue of inappropriate development. I regularly receive numerous inquiries from constituents regarding this important issue. As we have heard recently in question time, we know what the government’s intention is, and it is to squash as many people as they can into the inner and middle-ring suburbs, and of course they include suburbs that fall within the Forest Hill district. The Andrews Labor government want to force 70 per cent of the city’s population growth into these areas, and that is going to come at great expense to the amenity of those residents already living in those particular areas. During the last sitting week in question time the Treasurer boasted that existing Melbourne suburbs would be required to accept a disproportionate share of population growth under Labor’s new policy. He was unable to explain how the amenity, livability and neighbourhood character of these areas would cope with this massive population influx. We all know that Victoria’s population is growing by nearly 150 000 people every year, and the government has no plans for decentralisation. Consequently most of this new population growth is being directed to Melbourne’s established suburbs, putting them under enormous pressure in every area, including public transport, traffic congestion, schools and hospitals. This is a matter, as I said, that I am continually contacted about by my residents. They are extremely concerned about this loss of amenity and this gross overcrowding in established middle-ring suburbs, such as the ones I represent. Another important issue that people are regularly contacting me about is the issue of law and order. I think there is no doubt—there is certainly no doubt in my community—that people are feeling less safe now than they used to. The prevalence of home invasions and carjackings—they are crimes that
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT 712 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 5 March 2019 were virtually never heard of in Victoria until in recent years—again is an indictment of the Andrews Labor government. There are a whole range of other concerning financial issues for the state, some of which we will be debating on a particular bill later on this week, but when I think about the inequity of residents in the east having to fund projects in the west by paying for a further 10-year extension on CityLink tolls on the Monash Freeway, that is a real financial impost and a con on the residents in the east. They would not have been clear about the government’s position when they went to the election. In terms of other financial matters, we have got record levels of taxation, we have got record levels of debt and we have got reckless spending, and we can see that that is evidenced in a whole range of examples. If the government think there is a problem, they just throw money at it regardless of what the outcomes may or may not be. One of the matters that has been coming to my attention and probably that of many members of this house and indeed the other house very recently is the whole issue of land tax and the incredible impost that has been put on hardworking ordinary residents of the eastern suburbs and certainly of the electorate of Forest Hill. I have cited this example before, but I have got a constituent whose land tax bill for this year is $32 000, and it is up 400 per cent over the previous two years. It is an extraordinary impost for him, and I will be talking more about that in future contributions. Many, many people have contacted me in relation to this and they are particularly concerned with what they are going to do to pay this ever-increasing land tax bill. Most of these people are self-funded. They have worked hard all their lives and they have got a bit of a nest egg so they do not have to get on the public purse, and they are being punished by the state Labor government here in Victoria. In conclusion, once again I thank the residents of the Forest Hill district. I thank my campaign team. I thank the many volunteers and particularly my family. I am very grateful that I have had the opportunity to continue working with the community to make the Forest Hill electorate an even better place to live and raise a family. I will continue to fight on behalf of local residents to ensure that my electorate receives the funding we need to create jobs, build local infrastructure and improve schools, community facilities and other services. I will also work very hard to hold the state government to account, to ensure it delivers on its promises made during the election and to ensure it is held accountable to the Victorian people. Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe) (18:50): I am very pleased to make an address-in-reply in relation to the Governor’s speech. Can I say from the outset that in the Ivanhoe electorate we made some very significant commitments at the election that were reaffirmed in huge numbers by my constituents. Kew High School is not even in my electorate, but we understand the value of that project for people who live in Ivanhoe and catch a bus from East Ivanhoe and Ivanhoe primary schools to Kew High School, which has a $10.8 million capital reinvestment. For the upgrade of Macleod College there is $4.9 million. It is a school that is doing great work but does not have the facilities it needs based on the massive enrolments that it is attracting because of the quality education program that it is offering. There will be a pedestrian safety upgrade at Livingstone Street in Ivanhoe, along Donaldsons Creek Reserve. It is a way in which people travel to Ivanhoe Primary School in particular. If anyone has ever hugged the little sign on the traffic island there on Livingstone Street, they would understand that that sign is not acceptable. We are going to put pedestrian lights in there. I was down there a week before the election with over 100 local residents demonstrating the absolute commitment of local residents but also the commitment of the Andrews Labor government to fund that project. For Ford Park there is a $2 million redevelopment project. The Ivanhoe Junior Football Club particularly do great work in our community. We have got some facilities down there that perhaps we will not knock over—they are almost heritage-listed, from the 1950s. Ford Park is a great local space, and we need to upgrade it for our football and cricket clubs and other local community clubs. I am really pleased we have been able to commit some $2 million down there. Viewbank Primary School—my brother went to school there—has $3.8 million to upgrade and knock over some old light timber construction buildings and put in some new facilities there. We are getting
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 713 rid of the asbestos-ridden broken-down classrooms—probably the same ones my brother was in back in the 1980s and early 90s. We are going to replace those, and we have made that commitment. To the principal, Bill Kersing, and to the school council committee, I thank them for their advocacy. There will be a pedestrian safety upgrade at Rosanna village, with $200 000 for those flashing 40- kilometre signs. It is really important to get that job done there since we have, of course, removed the level crossing on Lower Plenty Road in Rosanna. There is $5 million for a shared bicycle and active trail path between Heidelberg and Rosanna stations. That starts to pick up on the work that we have done from Rosanna through to Macleod. As someone who tries to catch up to the Speaker, the member for Bundoora, when we ride in from Rosanna—he barrels in from Greensborough; I meet him at River Gum Walk and we head in from there to Parliament—can I say this $5 million upgrade between Heidelberg and Rosanna might just give me the chance to take a few shortcuts to catch up with him. For the upgrade to Olympic Park in West Heidelberg there is $1.5 million, which includes the work we have already committed to—$2 million—and I reckon there might just be a bit more there from federal Labor in the coming weeks and days to contribute to the work that Steve Tsalikidis and the team down there at Heidelberg United Football Club are doing to revitalise Olympic Park in West Heidelberg. For the First Ivanhoe Sea Scouts there is $100 000. I am going to a 50th anniversary lunch to celebrate the long-term commitment of some of the committee members down there, and I know that is a great contribution to upgrade their clubrooms. For the Assisi Centre there is $625 000. I am not quite sure what the member for Mill Park said, but I trust it was well received when we went to the Assisi Centre on Rosanna Road to talk about that upgrade of services and facilities—a great local community aged-care facility—for the Italian community in particular. Of course there is the Ivanhoe Golf Course. I have not quite hit the score I would like, but it is certainly a club that has a public golf course open to everyone across the community. There is $130 000 to upgrade facilities there. We have also, of course, gone out to market within our first 100 days with the $16.6 billion north-east link. Can I say that the Premier touched on a couple of things on 25 November in the Age article ‘“People can pick nasty fakes”: Andrews pans Liberals after landslide’. I quote: ... Premier Daniel Andrews believes votes have recognised that ‘fear and division is not leadership’ following Labor’s landslide state election triumph on Saturday night, and that the federal Liberal Party’s Canberra ‘circus’ contributed to their heavy state defeat. Mr Andrews ... took aim at the Liberal Party’s Victorian president Michael Kroger, saying that people can spot ‘nasty fakes from a long way off’. The incumbent Andrews Labor government have won close to 60 seats in the 88-seat parliament after Saturday’s vote with the count ongoing, gaining a swag of seats including some in traditional conservative strongholds. Mr Fowles interjected. Mr CARBINES: I am not sure, member for Burwood, which conservative stronghold they are talking about, but I will continue. I quote: ‘The politics of fear and division is not a plan for the future,’ Mr Andrews told— of all outlets—
Sky News. ‘That is not leadership. Trying to scare people into voting for you is not leadership and that has been rejected comprehensively.
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... ‘I think Victorians are a good deal smarter and a good deal more generous than our opponents thought they were.’ I thought the Premier could have been channelling Ivanhoe constituents there. The article continues: Mr Andrews saved his most stinging assessment of a Liberal figure for Mr Kroger, who the night before clashed with former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett on live television. Mr Kennett called for Mr Kroger to resign, although that sentiment wasn’t shared by Mr Andrews. ‘I hope that he’s the Liberal Party president for life,’ Mr Andrews said. ‘Swanning around the suburbs that you’ve never been to in your Burberry trenchcoat lecturing people about the cost of living—people pick fakes and they pick nasty fakes from a long way off.’ The Labor leader has very rarely, if ever, sledged a political opponent so publicly. I will not name those young Liberals, who have since left their positions and lost their jobs in the Liberal Party for their very poor behaviour. They found themselves out in the Ivanhoe electorate trying to demonstrate why they thought people in my community should support a vote for their party. Can I say: you can bring people in and you can pay them to stand on polling booths, but having 20 people there haranguing and harassing my local constituents heading in to vote does nothing more than turn people off. It does nothing more than demonstrate that you are just talking to yourselves. It does nothing more than demonstrate that you want to bully, push around, belittle and harangue people instead of respecting them and showing value for what they contribute in a community. People are a lot smarter than that. Can I say that of the 15 booths in the Ivanhoe electorate, I was very pleased to see that Labor prevailed on primary votes in 14 of those 15 booths. Mr R Smith interjected. Mr CARBINES: We have got a little bit of work to do down there in East Ivanhoe, where we did lose on primary votes by 61 votes. But can I say that of those 14 out of 15 booths that we won on the primary vote, the vote is a very significant indication. Having picked up a swing of some 9 per cent on the primary vote, we have actually improved our vote across the Ivanhoe electorate—firstly, with a 9 per cent swing on a two-party preferred vote, which is a long way from where we were in 2010, can I tell you, and of course on the primary vote, with a swing of some 10.5 per cent. This goes a long way to explaining, I think, the absolutely comprehensive nature of the program which we offered locally in our community and the respect that people have for the work that we have done in the community. What is also important, I think, is to demonstrate that if you are going to walk the walk and talk the talk then you want to live in the local community that you represent. That is particularly important. If you are dishonest and if you say that you live in a particular electorate and that you are the representative of a local electorate but you do not pay any rates in that local electorate because you merely rent in that electorate or you perhaps are not honest that you are living across the river in another electorate, people are not stupid—and in the Ivanhoe electorate there are no stupid people. I can tell you: they are very smart and they are very clear when they spot dishonesty, and they spot meanness and trickiness a long way off. They sent people packing back across the river where they came from on the last Saturday in November. They made it very clear: they will not be bullied and pushed around by paid-for volunteers and blowhards who come into the Ivanhoe electorate and try and lecture people about what is good for them. Ivanhoe people made it very clear what they stand for and what they think they need, and that is caring for other people in their electorate, making sure people have a job and making sure people are respected in their professions in health and education— the jobs that they want to do. (Time expired) Business interrupted under sessional orders.
ADJOURNMENT Tuesday, 5 March 2019 Legislative Assembly 715
Adjournment The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is:
That the house now adjourns. Mr Wakeling: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I just wish to draw to the house’s attention that questions on notice 9 and 10 for the Minister for Industrial Relations and question 11 for the Minister for Child Protection, which were given on 19 December, are yet to be answered, and I ask for you to refer those matters to the ministers. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will refer those matters to the Speaker. WARRANDYTE ELECTORATE BUS SERVICES Mr R SMITH (Warrandyte) (19:00): (193) My adjournment matter tonight is directed to the Minister for Public Transport, and my request to her is for her to ensure that an additional bus service is provided for the students of Donvale Christian College in my electorate. Donvale Christian College has enrolments of more than 1200 students from prep right through to year 12 and is a great-performing school with a very engaged school community. The newly minted minister may not know this, but the Warrandyte electorate is not serviced by Melbourne’s train network, with the sole public transport option being the bus network, meaning that students and families from Donvale Christian College are restricted in their transport choices. A local family whose children recently started at Donvale Christian College has contacted me with concerns that the 271 route from Nunawading station to Donvale Christian College is constantly at or over capacity. This is not the first time that this matter has been raised, with a number of other families having approached me some months ago, causing me to raise concerns in this house with the previous transport minister in August of last year. The previous Minister for Public Transport in her response to me stated that she had asked Transport for Victoria to consider the request for additional services, but seven months later there seems to be no movement at all to address this problem. Not only are students regularly being left at the school unable to even get on the bus, but it is also becoming a safety issue for not only the students but the general public who also use this service. This concern around safety has led Donvale Christian College to contact Public Transport Victoria directly to request an additional bus, but there is still no solution that has been offered by PTV. To the minister, it is clear that this issue is now putting student safety at risk, and I know families at the school have contacted the minister directly with no response at all. So I ask the minister: can she please have Transport for Victoria intervene in this situation immediately, to have them work with Donvale Christian College and to add an additional bus service to ensure that all passengers, including the students of Donvale Christian College, can arrive at their destination safely? HILLSMEADE PRIMARY SCHOOL Mr MAAS (Narre Warren South) (19:02): (194) The matter I wish to raise is for the attention of the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and concerns Hillsmeade Primary School. The action I seek is that the minister join me for the opening of the brand-new Hillsmeade Primary School amphitheatre. Hillsmeade primary is one of the largest schools in Narre Warren South, with a school community of about 900 children in grades prep to year 6 and a staffing profile of over 80 teachers, educators and support staff. Earlier last year as part of the Andrews Labor government’s School Pride and Sports Fund, Hillsmeade primary was granted $150 000 in funding to see work begin on a brand- new outdoor amphitheatre. The amphitheatre incorporates design features such as synthetic turf in a number of colours and a timber stage. Comfortable seating and landscaping complete the amphitheatre to make this an attractive and functional place for the school and the greater Narre Warren South community to use.
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The construction of the new amphitheatre has now entered the last phase and is expected to be completed within days, paving the way for its much-anticipated opening. I was fortunate to have a sneak peek at the amphitheatre early last week. I cannot wait to see it completed and filled with the sights and sounds of happy students. It would be wonderful for the minister to see this new facility firsthand that has been created for the school and the wider community, so I ask the minister to join me at the amphitheatre’s opening. I know all of Hillsmeade Primary School will make him feel welcome. GIPPSLAND SOUTH ELECTORATE WIND FARMS Mr D O'BRIEN (Gippsland South) (19:04): (195) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Planning, and the action I seek is for the Minister for Planning to meet with a group of residents in the Alberton, Gelliondale and Hedley area who are opposed to the application currently before him for a wind farm by Synergy Wind. Ideally we would invite the minister to come to the Alberton area to see firsthand the area that is proposed for the Synergy wind farm and to meet with some of the residents who are concerned. They have established an informal group to oppose this particular wind farm, and I might add that every person I have spoken to, myself included, is not opposed to renewable energy. Indeed we are all very supportive of the Star of the South wind farm proposal that is proposed for offshore, but there is significant concern in the community about the Synergy Wind proposal. It proposes thirty-two 200-metre wind turbines, and to put that in context for the house, a 200-metre turbine is over twice the size of the light towers at the MCG. The MCG light towers are 85 metres high. So for those in the room who are looking around thinking, ‘Why are they opposed to this?’, it is over twice the size of the light towers at the MCG that these turbines will be—32 of them spread across the area of Alberton, Alberton West, Gelliondale, Hedley and that area, which is a beautiful rural area. My particular concern with this proposal is that the area is relatively closely settled, even compared to the other two wind farms in my electorate, at Bald Hills and Toora—Bald Hills is relatively sparsely settled—and that is the concern that I have. I know my constituents have other concerns, particularly about noise, about impacts on birdlife—given the Ramsar-listed Corner Inlet and the Nooramunga coastal reserve very nearby—and about a range of other impacts. I attended a meeting at Yarram last week where there were about 70 people who came along to a public meeting concerned about the wind farm, and this was actually one of the suggestions from the floor. We have written to the minister numerous times, and there have been petitions going to him as he considers this permit application. But I think it is only fair—particularly given the minister’s statement today that has been put out with respect to powerline approvals for renewable energy developments, both wind and solar, where he talked about the importance of the local community having its say; I respect that and I agree with it—that I therefore invite the minister to come down and meet with those residents before he makes a decision on this permit. SUNBURY RAILWAY STATION CAR PARKING Mr J BULL (Sunbury) (19:07): (196) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport. The action I seek is for the minister to visit Sunbury train station to discuss plans for an additional 300 new car parking spaces, a commitment by this government. Last year I was thrilled to be able to announce that the Andrews Labor government would fund and build more than 300 new commuter car parking spaces at Sunbury station, providing of course much-needed relief. Parking spots near the station are in high demand, and the current 600 spaces get filled from very early on in the morning. This important and significant upgrade is part of the Andrews Labor government’s $60 million investment to deliver more than 2000 new car parks at busy metropolitan stations. Importantly this new car park will also provide accessible parking for people with disabilities, secure storage facilities for cyclists and better access for pedestrians. Only the Andrews Labor government will continue to invest in my community. I look forward to the minister’s visit, and I thank her for her ongoing support of my community.
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WEST GIPPSLAND HOSPITAL Mr BLACKWOOD (Narracan) (19:08): (197) I wish to raise a matter for the Minister for Health. The action I seek is that she release the details of the feasibility study and business case that has been developed for the West Gippsland Hospital. The West Gippsland Hospital has a reputation in my electorate and more broadly of providing high-quality health care. Currently it is really struggling to cope with the enormous increase in demand for its services. This demand is being fuelled not just by population growth; it is also a direct reflection of the professionalism of the staff and the excellent outcomes that are achieved because of their dedication and commitment. The population of the Baw Baw shire is around 45 000 and is predicted to double by 2050. Currently the West Gippsland Hospital is located on a site that is 27 acres in size and fully occupied. It is also on the side of a hill, and access from the car park to the hospital and consulting suites is difficult, especially for the elderly patients. The hospital’s board of management purchased 60 acres of land using the proceeds of a significant bequest back in 2006. This land is perfectly located between Drouin and Warragul, with good access to the Princes Freeway and both Warragul and Drouin. The population of these two major towns is currently at almost 30 000 and is predicted to hit 40 000 by 2025 or earlier. The number of babies being born each year at the hospital has been steadily increasing way beyond predictions and this year will hit 1300. It is a no-brainer that planning must begin to relocate the hospital from the current site of 27 acres to a greenfield site of 60 acres, given the current demand and predicted population growth of the area. The Andrews government this week announced plans for community consultation committees to be established in growth areas such as Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Phillip Island, Sunbury and Torquay but not West Gippsland. That is to ensure that each hospital in those areas meets the health needs of its community, but what about West Gippsland? If I were a cynical man, I could take this to mean, ‘Let’s look at the option of closing West Gippsland Hospital and placing all the resources into other areas’. I call on the minister to release the findings of the business case and feasibility study so that the future of health services provision in West Gippsland can be based on achieving the best possible outcome for the people of Narracan. VICTORIA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE WEST HEIDELBERG UNIT Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe) (19:10): (198) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing. The action I seek is the transfer of land to the Department of Justice and Community Safety from the Office of Housing to facilitate the construction of the $3 million SES facility on Altona Street, West Heidelberg. This was a great contribution and commitment made by the Andrews Labor government in the previous term—a new $3 million headquarters for the SES to cover the Darebin, Nillumbik and Banyule local government areas and replace a not-fit-for-purpose service operating out of Alphington. The old police station site from the 1950s in Altona Street, West Heidelberg, is a fantastic location. Such is the size and nature of the SES headquarters which we would like to build that we need some more space, and there is some vacant land owned by the Office of Housing at the rear and to the north of the site in West Heidelberg. There is the opportunity for the Office of Housing to provide that land to the department of justice so that we can expand the footprint of the new $3 million SES headquarters. It is something that just makes sense for the community. It is great to see public land still seeing investment in new facilities. In 1950 they built a police station; in 2019–20 what we want to see is a $3 million SES headquarters built for the local community. It is an opportunity for locals to get involved, to volunteer and to engage with the SES volunteer service. This investment from our Labor government in West Heidelberg is a very clear signal to the community that they matter and a very clear signal to the community that investing in West Heidelberg matters to us. Across West Heidelberg we are investing in new public housing at the Bell Bardia estate, the Tarakan estate and many others just down the road in Altona Street. We have already seen, across from St Pius
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X, a new double-storey public housing project of some 18 units completed under the then Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing. What that says is there is a lot going on in West Heidelberg. Getting on with a new and expanded $3 million headquarters for the SES is important. The Office of Housing have a role to play in this. The then minister for housing worked hard, and his investment in public housing and planning ensured that these projects were made possible. This is a great opportunity to ensure that there is a hand-in-glove approach here between the Office of Housing and the department of justice to fast-track the development and work that is required to ensure that this new SES facility gets built in West Heidelberg as soon as possible. The community are hungry to see it happen, and so is the local SES. I commend the work of both the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and the Minister for— (Time expired) PUBLIC INTOXICATION STRATEGY Dr READ (Brunswick) (19:13): (199) My adjournment matter is for the Attorney-General. The action I seek is for the minister to form a working group to establish a process to care for people found to be intoxicated in public and to establish appropriate facilities, such as sobering-up centres, instead of relying on police cells. On 22 December 2017 Tanya Day, a Yorta Yorta Aboriginal rights campaigner, died after repeatedly falling and hitting her head in the cells of Castlemaine police station. Ms Day, a mother of five, was arrested while asleep on a train for the offence of being drunk in a public place and was put in the cells to sober up. Twenty-eight years ago the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody recommended that governments abolish the offence of public drunkenness and instead create and fund sobering-up centres. Tanya Day’s uncle, Harrison Day, died in custody, and his case was one of those examined by the royal commission. Victoria is one of only two states in the country that have not implemented this particular recommendation. More Aboriginal people are now going to prison in Victoria. In fact the Sentencing Advisory Council reports that the proportion of Aboriginal people in Victoria who were in jail almost doubled over the decade between 2007 and 2017—from 950 to 1830 per 100 000 people. Prison should be a last resort. We must properly resource alternatives to police cells for those charged with minor offences such as public drunkenness. In past decades Labor governments, Attorneys-General, parliamentary committees, the Ombudsman and IBAC have all at various times called for changes to the rules for dealing with public drunkenness, but nothing has actually changed. In December the State Coroner took the unprecedented step of announcing that she too would be making a recommendation to the Attorney-General to abolish the offence of public drunkenness. After almost 28 years of political inertia, enough is enough. The government must commit to a safer option than putting drunk people in police cells. We need a working group representing Aboriginal groups, police, hospitals and drug and alcohol services to develop an alternative model. Tanya should never have died in custody, and her family deserve the peace of mind of knowing that her death led to change for the better. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITIES Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (19:16): (200) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide me with an update on the Andrews Labor government’s investment in additional early childhood education facilities and programs in my electorate. As the minister is aware, the Yuroke electorate is a community of choice for many young families. Indeed over 1700 children started prep across the Yuroke electorate in 2019. Prior to the last election the Andrews Labor government promised to introduce universal three-year- old kinder and build or upgrade almost 1000 kinders across the state. This massive commitment will help families in the Yuroke electorate save thousands of dollars every year and give every child the opportunity that they deserve to get a great start in life and be ready for school. Importantly, it will also ensure that there are great facilities for our kids to learn in. This is particularly vital in Melbourne’s outer north where our suburbs are experiencing very substantial population growth.
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I thank the minister for his work in this space, and I am sure there are many local mums and dads in my electorate who will be very interested in hearing his response. EVELYN ELECTORATE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (19:17): (201) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and the action I seek is for the minister to outline in detail the plans the government has to invest adequately in infrastructure in and around the Kinley residential development in Lilydale in my electorate of Evelyn, particularly the surrounding road network and in regard to the need for a new train station. The $2 billion, 163-hectare development at the former Lilydale quarry is set to create a new suburb with around 3200 new homes housing 8000 people, increasing Lilydale’s population by 70 per cent. This will see an estimated 6500 more cars on local roads and a greater need to access public transport in the vicinity. I am not against the development and acknowledge Kinley presents an exciting opportunity for new housing in our local area. What I do wish to emphasise is the need for infrastructure to be sufficiently planned for and delivered up-front for Mooroolbark and Lilydale residents. I doorknocked thousands of homes in Mooroolbark during the state election campaign, and more than anything else local residents continually told me about the traffic gridlock they experience now on a daily basis. Residents on Hull Road, which borders Kinley, said they struggled to get out of their driveways in the morning to get to work, and they were understandably concerned about what it will be like with another 8000 people living locally. Mooroolbark Road also borders the estate. It winds its way from Maroondah Highway to become a shared single-lane road under the railway bridge at Hull Road, creating significant traffic congestion throughout the day. The railway bridge itself is also an infrastructure concern with its limited height and being constrained to a single track. More recently I have been contacted by several constituents expressing concerns about the lack of commitment from the government for infrastructure, specifically identifying the need for a new train station. Proximity of new residents to a train station is an important point to note. The distance between the Lilydale and Mooroolbark train stations today is 4.7 kilometres, and whilst the developers have indicated a proposed train station within the estate, it is noted that there is no commitment from the Labor government that this will occur. On this, as highlighted by David and Maree Johnson of Lilydale, the developer’s proposed train station does not appear to include any car parking on the plan and is not on a main road that would enable reasonable bus and commuter access. Additionally the president of the Mooroolbark traders association, Geoff Earney, has stated that the area will not cope with the anticipated population increase, with nearby train stations already under pressure. Janice and Cedric Horden of Chirnside Park have simply asked: when will a new train station be built? With the road and public transport infrastructure in Lilydale and Mooroolbark already at breaking point, existing infrastructure will simply not withstand the pressure of 8000 new residents. I call on the minister to advise me and my constituents in Evelyn on plans to invest in the local road network, the Hull Road rail bridge upgrade and a new train station at Kinley. OAKLEIGH RAILWAY STATION INFRASTRUCTURE Mr DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh) (19:20): (202) I wish to raise a matter for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Oakleigh to look at the new amazing open space created by the removal of the level crossings and also to look at further options for development around Oakleigh station. A member interjected.
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Mr DIMOPOULOS: That is right. As the minister said, it is an excellent safety initiative. Firstly I would like to thank the minister for her work during the past four years. Under her watch we have removed the most level crossings ever in the history of Victoria: 29 over four years—and 75 by 2025, so more to come. The minister knows from my community that the space has been used from day one: the basketball ring, the basketball court, the soccer pitches and the table tennis tables. It is an extraordinary community facility that is heavily, heavily used. We are not a government that just builds something and walks away; we continue to invest. In that context I would like the minister to come to the electorate and look at the options around Oakleigh station. We have got a $20 million commitment to Oakleigh station, which is extraordinary, but I want her to have a look at some of the shared user paths and how you transition from the south of the railway line to the north. I look forward to the visit, and I look forward to both of us witnessing the enormous community use that this project has achieved. RESPONSES Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine—Minister for Water, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (19:22): A number of matters were raised by a range of members, and I will pass those matters on to those ministers. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The house now stands adjourned until tomorrow. House adjourned 7.22 p.m.