Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Responses

Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts, Minister for Creative Industries) (19:24): The member for Bulleen raised a matter for the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, seeking that the minister contact the federal minister in relation to discrimination regarding Indians who seek to come to Australia. It may be an issue I did not want to raise at the time because of the genuine nature of the request, but there is a previous ruling that may well engage that member’s adjournment item, which might be worth taking to the Speaker to reflect on, given previous rulings around issues that have been raised in relation to federal matters. But I will leave that to your discretion, Deputy Speaker.

The member for Laverton raised a matter for the Minister for Public and Active Transport to join the member in her electorate at a forum on public transport, and I will ensure that matter is referred to the minister. The member for Gippsland South raised a matter for the Minister for Health to immediately rule out amalgamations in rural and regional Victoria. The member for Greenvale raised a matter with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs to meet and discuss a joint statement by faith leaders that is to be made by the Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac communities in the Greenvale area and across the northern suburbs, and I will ensure that that matter is passed on to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. The member for Croydon raised a matter for the Minister for Housing, seeking that the minister fix the priority public housing waiting list. He referred to his constituent Bronwyn and I think her desire, given some health issues, to move into some apartments that had been built in the Croydon area, which I am assuming have been built recently. I will pass that matter on to the minister.

The member for Monbulk – a hardworking local member of Parliament – raised a matter for the Minister for Health to join her at the Angliss Hospital to turn the sod for the stage 2 expansion of that wonderful hospital. I will definitely pass that matter on to the Minister for Health. The member for Polwarth raised a matter for the Minister for Emergency Services to allocate funds in this budget for Surf Life Saving Victoria. I think we would all agree surf lifesaving volunteers are hardworking and well-respected members of our community, and we thank them for their work. The member for Hastings – another hardworking member of this place and another stand-out performer in this place for his local community – raised a request for the Minister for Disability to meet with him and also staff at Kindred Clubhouse. It sounds like a wonderful organisation. They have received some grant funding recently, so I am sure the minister will be keen to engage with that group.

The member for Evelyn raised a matter for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, seeking that the minister allocate funds in the budget for a major upgrade at the Mooroolbark and Hull roads intersection in her electorate in the suburb of Mooroolbark. I will ensure that that matter is passed on to the minister. The member for Mordialloc, a hardworking, stand-out performer here and just an incredible representative for his community, is seeking that the Minister for Roads and Road Safety ensure that the department work with the local council – I think it was City of Greater Dandenong that he mentioned – to ensure the safety of local children in Keysborough South. It is a really important issue, and I absolutely will make sure that matter is passed on to the minister.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Minister. In regard to your point, the relevant ruling from the Chair relates to Speaker Maddigan from 2005, if I understand it correctly:

Matters raised during the adjournment debate must relate to Victorian government administration. It is in order therefore to ask a minister to raise an issue at the federal level which relates specifically to Victorian government administration.

However, it is not in order to request a state minister to lobby or refer matters to federal ministers that are not within the state minister’s … responsibility.

As the question was in regard to a multicultural group and also referred to nursing, which comes under the state administration, I will allow the question.

The house now stands adjourned.

House adjourned 7:28 pm.