FINN IN THE HOUSE Speeches February to June 2020 Published by Bernie Finn MP Member for Western Metropolitan Region Shadow Assistant Minister for Small Business Shadow Assistant Minister for Autism Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council Suite 101, 19 Lacy Street, Braybrook Vic 3019 Telephone (03) 9317 5900 • Fax (03) 9317 5911 Email [email protected] Web www.berniefinn.com Authorised and printed by Bernie Finn MP, Suite 101, 19 Lacy Street, Braybrook. This material was funded from the Parliament Electorate Office & Communications Budget. FINN IN THE HOUSE Speeches February to June 2020 CONTENTS Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment Activism on Victorian Agriculture ............................. 3 Bill 2020 ............................................................................15 West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 3 West Gate Tunnel ..........................................................16 Bulla bypass ...................................................................... 3 Werribee freeway noise ..............................................16 West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 3 Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 4 Commission ....................................................................16 West Gate Tunnel secret discussions ....................... 4 Wyndham City Council ...............................................19 West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 4 Adjournment (Business of the House) ..................19 West Gate Tunnel ........................................................... 4 Local Government (Whittlesea City Council) Bill 2020 ..........................................................19 Toxic soil protections .................................................... 4 Local Government (Whittlesea City West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 5 Council) Bill 2020 ..........................................................20 Jasvinder Sidhu ............................................................... 5 Bulla tip stench ..............................................................20 Environment and Planning Committee ................. 5 Riddell Road, Sunbury, pedestrian crossing .......20 Truganina CFA construction ....................................... 8 Toxic soil dumping .......................................................20 St Albans Leisure Centre .............................................. 8 State Taxation Acts Amendment (Relief Werribee freeway noise ................................................ 9 Measures) Bill 2020 ......................................................20 West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 9 Bulla tip asbestos inquiry ..........................................21 Sunshine-based medical research ........................... 9 Member conduct ..........................................................21 West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 9 West Gate Tunnel ..........................................................21 West Gate Tunnel ............................................................ 9 Sunbury Road toxic soil application ......................22 Casey planning ..............................................................12 West Gate Tunnel ..........................................................22 Laverton roadworks impact .....................................12 Western Metropolitan Region police Women’s Health West .................................................12 resources .........................................................................24 Casey planning ..............................................................12 Adjournment (Business of the House) ..................24 Beattys Road, Plumpton ............................................12 Toxic soil health implications ...................................24 Local Government Bill 2019 ......................................13 President ..........................................................................24 Road Safety And Other Legislation Justice Legislation Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2019 .................................................13 Amendments Bill 2019 ...............................................25 Werribee Open Range Zoo .......................................14 Cardinal George Pell ....................................................26 Toxic soil dumping locations....................................14 West Gate Tunnel ..........................................................15 Suite 101, 19 Lacy Street, Braybrook Vic 3019 • Telephone (03) 9317 5900 • Fax (03) 9317 5911 Email [email protected] • Web www.berniefinn.com IN 2 FEBRUARY TO JUNE 2020 FINN THE HOUSE COUNCIL | Economy & Infrastruc- COUNCIL | Members statements bypass for decades. Will you be the ture Committee, 05 February 2020 05 February 2020 minister who actually builds this long- overdue piece of infrastructure? COUNCIL | Adjournment Inquiry into the West Gate Tunnel 05 February 2020 Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) Impact of Animal — There are two things the Andrews government absolutely excels in: its Rights Activism corrupt activities are only shaded West Gate Tunnel by its incompetence. The West Gate Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) Tunnel debacle brings both together — I wish to raise a matter this evening on Victorian beautifully. The stench of dodginess for the attention of the Premier, and it has hung over this project since day concerns his comments in the media Agriculture one. Questions surrounding the role of recent days where he has said that Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) — I of the Treasurer, a shareholder in the issue of contaminated soil and rise to support the minority report that Transurban, in awarding the contract the dumping of contaminated soil has been put forward, and in doing so of the tunnel project were only added from the West Gate Tunnel Project may I commend Patrick O’Brien and to prior to Christmas, when we will soon be resolved. Now, I cannot his team on putting together a program discovered that discussions on the tell you, President, of the horror that which was quite impressive. current project were being held with people in the western suburbs have I think it is safe to say the Economy Transurban before the 2014 election. felt at the prospect that this toxic and Infrastructure Committee is one At the very time then opposition soil will be dumped at Ravenhall or of the busiest committees that the leader Daniel Andrews was touting indeed will be dumped at Bulla, as has Parliament has ever seen or is ever his $550 million shovel-ready western been previously suggested. It is truly likely to see in 100 years. They worked distributor, he was in discussions with horrendous to think that governments exceedingly hard to put together a Transurban about this multibillion- automatically regard the west of program that had us meeting night dollar monstrosity Victorians now have Melbourne as the dumping ground for and day. I am surprised that we did not to deal with. What sort of shysterism is all manner of unfortunate substances. actually get a call to meet on Christmas this? Now, we already have the situation morning. Nonetheless, I thank Patrick The West Gate Tunnel Project where we have a tip that is being for his work. now faces a dodgy future—entirely expanded by the government, which I support the minority report largely appropriate, given that everything will be probably the biggest tip in the because there was a fair section of about it so far has also been incredibly Southern Hemisphere. Already the tip this report that did not actually fit the dodgy. Even by Labor’s standards that is there now is creating no end of terms of reference that we were given. the West Gate Tunnel Project is a trouble for local residents. The current I sat during a large portion of the monumental stuff-up. Once again the tip is most unwanted; the expansion hearings thinking to myself, ‘Why are people of Melbourne’s west suffer, but is definitely unwanted. I know that we listening to this?’, because it was not ultimately every Victorian will pay for right through Caroline Springs, Deer actually in the terms of reference. That years to come for this stuff-up. The Park, right down through to Werribee confused me a little bit, but I did go Andrews government continues the there is a huge amount of opposition into this with an open mind because long tradition of Labor governments to the expansion of this tip. The there were views being expressed that in this state: one great stuff-up after prospect of having toxic soil dumped I had not been exposed to before, and I another. at that tip or in the surrounds of that was certainly very interested in hearing tip has absolutely outraged the local what people had to say. COUNCIL | Constituency questions residents, and I cannot blame them But at the end of the day I came to 05 February 2020 one little bit, because we are not just the view that I had to get up in the going to have this soil dumped in our house today and issue a warning to midst if this plan goes ahead but of farmers in the agricultural industry course it will be on our roads. We will throughout this nation, and that is Bulla bypass have dust flying left, right and centre that their livelihoods