Tuesday, 7 February 2023

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Creative Industries) (15:48): It is with deep sadness I pay tribute to Michael Boland – a strong leader of the union movement, a lifelong Labor supporter and a devoted husband and father. Michael was ‘Mick’ to his Irish friends, ‘Mike’ to his union mates, but to us all he is an inspiring migrant tale. Born in 1931 in Ireland on a small farm near a small town with no electricity and limited access to education, Michael rose to become a leader of the largest trade union in Australia and to found a fund with over $100 billion in investments. But it is more than the founding of Hostplus or leading of the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union that gives music to this migrant’s tale.

Michael helped establish the Gaelic Club and was also secretary of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He loved the Irish game of hurling as much as he loved the Aussie game of football. He lived here for 70 years. He loved and served Australia and never lost his accent. Like Mick, may we all never lose our accent. Like Mick, may we understand that to give is not to give up and that we are better off if we share both profits and perspective.

Michael had a gentle nature, a natural intelligence, a clever altruism and a generous spirit. It is these traits that saw him become a towering figure in the labour movement and in the Irish community, a man with many friends and a hero to his family. I thank Michael Boland for all he has done for the labour movement, for his community and for his beautiful family. He was a loving husband to Maureen, beloved father to Michelle, Liam and Kieran, and adored grandfather to James and Connal. Vale, Michael Boland.

Woodchop events

 Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (15:50): One hundred and fifty years of woodchopping history will end this year unless there is a change to the Andrews government policy on the provision of logs for woodchopping. Since 1870 there has been woodchopping in Victoria. There are between 80 and 100 woodchopping events held every year. They were guaranteed timber back in 2006 by the Bracks government. That guarantee has continued up to this year. This year there may not be any woodchopping at the Melbourne show. There will not be any woodchopping at all the other events around Victoria because there are no logs to chop. Brad Meyer, the president of the Victoria Axemen’s Council, is really, really beside himself as to why this is. It is all about government policy, and I would urge the Andrews government to make sure that logs are made available at a reasonable price to the woodchoppers of Victoria.