Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Statements on parliamentary committee reports

Public Accounts and Estimates Committee

Report on the 2023–24 Budget Estimates

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (10:48): I rise make some comments on the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee report on the 2023 budget estimates. For too many years, it is important to note, many projects in my electorate of Caulfield have missed out, and we are hoping certainly in the current budget that things will change. The report itself talks about $201 million committed in the last state budget towards community sport. The kinds of projects that missed out last time that we are hoping to see this time include Caulfield Grammarians Football Club and North Caulfield Glenhuntly Cricket Club, who use a ground on Booran Reserve. I used to play footy there many years ago, and cricket, and I have got to say the bathrooms have not seen an upgrade since then or even before then. They are not fit for purpose. The toilets are old, and they are horrible. To be able to have basic facilities like that is just so important. They also need lighting on that facility to ensure they get more participation, particularly with the growing women’s participation in sport. We need to ensure that we are using these grounds better, and that will help with all of that as well. It is an important activity with the Caulfield Grammarians Football Club and North Caulfield Glenhuntly Cricket Club, and the funding missed out in the last report. We hope the current budget is about to change.

In the $201 million in the last budget we did not see anything in regard to the Caulfield Park Sports Club. Again we are hoping in this budget that the Caulfield Park Sports Club will see funding for basic bathrooms. Just like I mentioned with the football club down the road, Caulfield Park Sports Club, a cherished facility running bowls and a whole lot of other sports there, does not have basic toilets to meet the needs of all with accessibility. They are not disability compliant. The club is doing a lot of stuff for all abilities, and this is a perfect opportunity for Caulfield Park Sports Club to upgrade their male and female toilets to become fully accessible for all abilities. I would be hoping that the Treasurer will see fit to be able to support the Caulfield Park Sports Club to ensure that they have facilities for everybody.

Finding 73 of the report highlights the need for community services. One of the areas that is doing some fantastic work is C Care. C Care is a lifeline to so many of those doing it tough in our local community, providing culturally appropriate meals and social support to members of the Jewish community experiencing food insecurity and social isolation. The cost-of-living crisis has seen the demand for these services skyrocket – from 250 people a week in 2019 to over 2000 a week today. It is absolutely huge. Again, in a cost-of-living crisis we are seeing far too many people that are more reliant on the kinds of food support programs from organisations like C Care just to be able to get by. What they need is government support for a fit-for-purpose facility to deliver large-scale high-quality meals for the local community. They are also seeking support for the Jewish Food Festival project to provide 1300 families with the important religious meals they need for Passover and Jewish high holidays. No person should ever be prevented from engaging within their community or with their faith simply because of their socio-economic status. I hope the state government will support this important project.

The report also talks about issues with schools. Page 51 outlines new school infrastructure spending, but again my schools have missed out. I particularly want to refer to Caulfield Junior College, led by the great Chris Chant, the principal there. Caulfield Junior College, an exceptional college doing bilingual – French and English – programs, has not had its facilities upgraded for 15 years. Floors are rotting, access ramps are noncompliant, playground access is compromised and families tell me it is almost impossible for the kids with special mobility requirements to safely get around. The school is under a funding entitlement and after years of making do with less, finally they need to get their fair share. As such, I would hope that the Treasurer will see fit to fund them as well in the upcoming budget.

Caulfield South Primary School did get funding but have not actually seen the funding. I hope they actually see that funding, so they can start their project of $9 million to get their school upgraded, in the upcoming budget.