Thursday, 4 August 2022

Responses

Ms BLANDTHORN (Pascoe Vale—Leader of the House, Minister for Planning) (17:32): Thank you to the member for Gembrook for his adjournment matter regarding the Rosemaur Gallery at Harkaway. I am advised that in June 2022 the former Minister for Planning approved this gallery, that this followed extensive community consultation as well as careful consideration by an independent advisory committee and that a report was provided as such. The decision has been made. I am advised that it was made carefully, and the decision will not be revisited in that context.

I am advised that the gallery will display an internationally significant collection of artworks valued at more than half a billion dollars and will establish onsite accommodation for visiting artists and gallery staff. I am also advised that approximately 100 jobs are expected to be created during construction of the project, with another 150 ongoing jobs once it is operational, and I am sure that will also be of great interest to the member for Gembrook and his community. I am also told that in relation to some of the concerns that the member for Gembrook raised in relation to traffic in and out of the area and other such types of concerns that strict requirements have been imposed on the development to mitigate against any potential impacts on the surrounding community as well as the green wedge area. I thank the member for his adjournment matter and hope that that can clarify some of the issues for his community.

The member for Murray Plains raised a matter for the Minister for Health.

The SPEAKER: Member for Footscray, you need to acknowledge the Chair when you are crossing backwards and forwards in the front of the chamber.

Ms Hall: Sorry.

Ms BLANDTHORN: Thank you, Speaker. The member for Murray Plains raised a matter for the Minister for Health regarding the healthcare worker retention payments in winter and specifically an issue that he has been advised of in his community, particularly in Echuca, regarding those who are eligible for the payments, between contracted workers and permanent workers. I will ask the Minister for Health to consider that matter.

The member for Northcote raised a matter for the Minister for Energy and Minister for Environment and Climate Action regarding the riverfrontage at the old Alphington paper mill site. It is a site that I am particularly familiar with because my now husband lived just near that site so I used to drive past it all the time and look at those old buildings there. The member has asked for a briefing regarding that and says in particular that Yarra council appear to be sitting on their hands and not working constructively with the developer to ensure that this land can be retained in public ownership for the betterment of the community.

The member for Polwarth raised a matter for the Minister for Agriculture regarding meeting with the private vet industry regarding foot-and-mouth disease, and I will pass that on to the minister, who I know is busily consulting with many people about this important issue at this time.

The member for Mount Waverley asked the Minister for Police to visit the police academy in Glen Waverley. Similarly, the member for Mordialloc asked for the police minister to join him in Mordialloc to meet with our dedicated police force. I am sure the Minister for Police will be more than happy—particularly regarding the 3000 or more new police that have been appointed and employed—to take that on.

The member for Tarneit raised a matter for the Minister for Public Transport regarding buses in Melbourne’s west and FlexiRide and asked for an update on those services. I am sure the Minister for Public Transport will be more than willing to provide that.

The member for Brunswick raised the issue of whether or not there should be a sustainable health care unit set up within the Department of Health, and I will refer that to the Minister for Health. The member for Forest Hill also raised a matter for the Minister for Health, regarding the daily breakdown of statistics of people hospitalised with COVID who have been vaccinated versus those who have not been vaccinated, and I will ask that the minister consider that.

The member for Nepean asked that the Minister for Education visit the new Rosebud Primary School—a $13.7 million investment, I believe, including a new gym—and I am sure that the Minister for Education will be more than willing to visit these world-class facilities.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Minister. The house now stands adjourned.

House adjourned 5.37 pm until Tuesday, 16 August.