FINN IN THE HOUSE Speeches August to December 2013 Published by Bernie Finn MP Member for Western Metropolitan Region Acting President of the Legislative Council Chairman, Joint Parliamentary Electoral Matters Committee 277 Hampshire Road, Sunshine Victoria 3020 Telephone (03) 9312 1212 • Fax (03) 9312 4598 Email [email protected] Web www.berniefinn.com FINN IN THE HOUSE Speeches August to December 2013 CONTENTS Local government referendum ................................ 3 Open Courts Bill 2013 ................................................21 Volunteer West: funding .............................................. 3 Western suburbs air pollution ................................22 Buses: Sanctuary Lakes ................................................. 3 Victoria State Emergency Service: report Rail: St Albans level crossing ..................................... 4 2012-13 ...........................................................................23 Carbon tax: schools ...................................................... 4 Production Of Documents .......................................23 Planning: city of Maribyrnong .................................. 4 Carbon tax ......................................................................26 St Albans level crossing ............................................... 4 Climate change ............................................................27 Places Victoria ................................................................. 5 Road Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 ..............27 Fringe benefits tax ........................................................ 5 Prison smoking ban ....................................................28 Major Transport Projects Facilitation Australian Training Awards ......................................29 Amendment (East West Link And Other Sunbury municipality ................................................29 Projects) Bill 2013 .......................................................... 6 Family and Community Development Minister For Planning ................................................... 7 Committee: Betrayal of Trust ...................................30 Federal election ...........................................................11 Government Performance .......................................30 Foodbank Victoria .......................................................11 Western suburbs government Ravenhall prison ..........................................................12 achievements ...............................................................34 Hon. James Halford Ramsay ....................................12 Emergency Management Bill 2013 .......................35 Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Disability Amendment Bill 2013 ............................36 Rights Commission: Protecting Us All ...................13 ICT sector growth ........................................................37 Waterways planning controls .................................13 Little Saigon, Footscray .............................................37 Warren Mundine ..........................................................14 Police protest response .............................................38 Caroline Chisholm Society .......................................14 Caroline Chisholm Society .......................................38 Children, Youth And Families Amendment Planning: Maribyrnong development .................38 Bill 2013 ...........................................................................15 Abortion legislation ....................................................39 Wyndham Planning Scheme (C156 Climate Change ...........................................................39 Wyndham Harbour development) .......................16 Commissioner for Environmental Foodbank Victoria .......................................................18 Sustainability: state of the environment Fringe benefits tax ......................................................18 report ...............................................................................45 Carers Week ...................................................................18 Western suburbs government Tourism Victoria: report 2012-13 ...........................18 achievements ...............................................................45 Police protest response .............................................19 Victoria Police Bill 2013 .............................................45 Succession To The Crown (Request) Bill 2013 ...19 277 Hampshire Road, Sunshine Victoria 3020 • Telephone (03) 9312 1212 • Fax (03) 9312 4598 Email [email protected] • Web www.berniefinn.com IN 2 AUGUST 2013 - DECEMBER 2013 FINN THE HOUSE COUNCIL | Adjournment the western suburbs, it is certainly and 497 give passengers the option 21 August 2013 something I am not prepared to of connection to trains (and other stand by and watch happen. I ask the buses) at either Laverton or Williams minister to use whatever influence Landing stations. she has to ensure that the money Instead of one route every 40 Local is returned to the councils that minutes, the revised network features contributed it. two routes operating every 22 minutes government during peak times, more than tripling referendum COUNCIL | Adjournment (Reply) the existing service and providing Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) 21 August 2013 improved train connections. At other — I wish to raise a matter for the times (including weekends) service attention of the Minister for Local levels are doubled, with both routes Government. It concerns the now operating every 40 minutes. These deceased referendum which was Volunteer West: changes benefit residents within called for some months ago by the walking or cycling distance of the now departed former Prime Minister, funding Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre. Raised with the Minister for Public Transport Victoria’s service Julia Gillard. The local government Community Services on 27 June 2013 industry got very excited about planners carefully considered the REPLY: this particular referendum. My merits of operating a route into the understanding is that the Australian The Coalition Government Sanctuary Lakes estate, looping Local Government Association appreciates the vital role of volunteers via Sanctuary Lakes Boulevard, to (ALGA) and the Victorian Local in the delivery of important services serve more residents. However, the Governance Association (VLGA) put to Victorian communities. extra distance would have required out feelers for a good deal of money In the 2011-12 State Budget, an additional bus plus allowances and that a good deal of money was government announced $5.2 million for extra driver hours, fuel and forthcoming from cash-strapped over four years for strategies to maintenance. For this to occur, councils. I have to say it mystifies me strengthen volunteering in Victoria given the available resources, the how these councils that keep telling including through the development wider Point Cook network would me how broke they are could have of a range of online resources and have operated to reduced frequency, kicked in thousands and thousands programs. coverage or directness. As Sanctuary of dollars to this campaign, which is The Victorian Government Lakes lacks a number of factors which now obsolete. As I said, it concerns also provides ongoing support to determine the success of a bus route, me that the contributions were made, Volunteering Victoria — the peak improvements to the wider Point but my concern tonight is that those agency for volunteering in the state Cook network were prioritised. contributions need to be returned to — to support organisations to recruit, Factors that determine the success those councils. retain and support volunteers. (i.e. patronage) of a bus route include I have heard some rumblings that Volunteer Resource Centres such its directness and the population the ALGA and the VLGA might have as Volunteer West also provide an density along the length of the route. some intention of keeping the money important intermediary service to Direct routes are only possible in for a future referendum, which it has connect volunteers with the not- areas with straight road networks, to be said is drawing a fairly long bow. for-profit community sector. The preferably forming a grid-style They might have another go in three Department of Human Services works network. Population density means years time, just like Whitlam, Keating with these organisations to address having a continuous line of shops, and Hawke all had a go, and perhaps issues in volunteering through schools and homes 400 to 800 metres so will the next Labor Prime Minister. its involvement in the Victorian either side of the route. I do not know who is going to be the Volunteer Resource Centre Network. Most of Point Cook is fortunate to next Labor Prime Minister. He or she My department met with the have a road network that allowed may not even be born yet, but it will Managing Director Volunteer West the planning and implementation of happen in some future generation. on 31 July 2013 and discussed a range more direct routes. Development has I think it is a bit rough to suggest on of ways that the organisation could also been planned to be reasonably spec that these organisations keep the diversify its funding and resources. continuous along these routes. This money they have taken from various has allowed the implementation of councils around the state, including efficient and direct routes. some councils