Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Responses

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (19:24): I am pleased to follow up on several matters for members, including the honourable member for Bulleen, who addressed a matter to the Minister for Planning about apartment buildings in Bulleen, particularly defects at 168 Manningham Road on the corner of Thompsons Road, and flooding and drainage issues. He is seeking action from the minister in relation to the building commission investigating the status of those matters and complaints from residents, as well as investigations of the building surveyor and others. I will refer those matters to the Minister for Planning.

The member for Clarinda raised a matter for the Minister for Employment, particularly seeking that the minister join him on a visit to Afri-Aus Care in his district to see the work they do in the local community. I know the member for Clarinda is a strong advocate for that community work locally and will welcome a visit from the Minister for Employment.

The member for Euroa raised a matter for the Minister for Education, in particular seeking confirmation of funding for Tomorrow Today in Benalla and the great work that they do for young children and families in her community, including new CEO Jodi Fleming. I will request that of the Minister for Education.

The member for Narre Warren South did raise a matter for the Minister for Education, particularly around our schools, and the action he sought was around the conditions for school cleaners in his electorate and the high-quality cleaning work that is being done. The Allan Labor government has done much work around inquiries into labour-hire practices in supporting cleaners. As we all know, in our schools they are the hardest working people. They may not be teaching our kids, but they make sure that our students and our teachers have appropriate and clean facilities to work in. We need to make sure that our school cleaners are supported – not only that our principals are supported to be able to resource them to effectively do their job but that they also understand that the employment practices need to meet particular standards in the community. And we know that had been a struggle, until it was held accountable by the former minister and former Deputy Premier, the former member for Monbulk, who led a lot of this work previously. I will certainly raise those matters on behalf of the member for Narre Warren South, who has provided advocacy for both those union members and also the many cleaners in our community who do great work but need the support of the government and the Department of Education to be appropriately resourced to do that work, not just through their pay packets but through their rights in the workplace.

The member for Berwick raised a matter for the Premier, in particular about the reinstatement of the road and road safety committee here in the Parliament. He did go on to cite a matter that I am very familiar with in relation to Commissioner Grant Stevens, the Commissioner of Police in South Australia, and the very significant loss of his son Charlie. I do commend the heartfelt words as relayed by the member for Berwick.

We had a Police Ministers Council meeting last week and we did reflect also our condolences on behalf of the Parliament and the people of Victoria, not only to the South Australian chief commissioner for the loss of his son – and, as the member for Berwick mentioned, the road toll here in Victoria is heading toward 300, sadly, and that is nothing to be proud of – but also more broadly on the loss of a member in the line of duty in much the same week in South Australia. It has been a very tragic and difficult time. But it is a reflection too – as in the chief commissioner’s reflections on the loss of his son – that the road toll touches us all, regardless of state borders, and of the desire that we all have to bring everything to bear to reduce the trauma and the toll here in our own state.

The member for Monbulk raised a matter for the Minister for Environment, and the action that she sought was that the minister join her at the Chelsea Gardens in Olinda to look at further plans and investment that are possible there. I will commend this matter to the minister.

The member for Shepparton raised a matter for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure seeking in particular that the minister meet with her and the Greater Shepparton City Council in relation to the Shepp bypass, a very significant issue in her electorate, where government funds have been committed, and she will be keen to see how that matter can be progressed.

The member for Mordialloc raised a matter for the Minister for Health Infrastructure seeking that the minister join him at the Central Bayside Community Health Service for the opening of new building upgrades, which I am sure have been part of the great advocacy of the member for Mordialloc. He touched on what a great history of service the Central Bayside Community Health Service has provided to his community and the advocacy of those who have gone before him in Mordialloc, particularly former members the Honourable Peter Spyker and Janice Munt.

The member for South-West Coast raised a matter for the Minister for Outdoor Recreation in regard to the Warrnambool boat ramp – the renovations and infrastructure works that have been done there. There are some concerns from locals in relation to how those works have affected them and whether they are fit for purpose. I will be sure to pass on those matters to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation.

The member for Glen Waverley raised a matter for the Minister for Small Business seeking that the minister join him in the Glen Waverley electorate to see the great works of the Small Business Bus, providing services and support to small businesses in his electorate. I was pleased to join the member for Glen Waverley at the police academy just last Friday to welcome the new complement of recruits, our protective services officers that graduated last Friday in his electorate. It was great to join him there to congratulate and welcome those new PSOs, who serve and protect our community in Victoria, and we wish them well.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The house now stands adjourned until tomorrow morning. Stay classy, Victoria.

House adjourned 7:31 pm.