Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Responses

Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (19:20): I would like to thank the member for Lara for her adjournment tonight and for her advocacy for neighbourhood houses in her community. We all know that neighbourhood houses are so very important. They provide that place-based social infrastructure where, as the member mentioned, people come to learn, to contribute and to connect with their community, and it sounds like this is especially the case at Norlane Community Centre, with those wonderful volunteers, including Esther and Bec, and the excellent programs on offer, including the food relief through community meals; English, tai chi and art classes; and the important toolshed and community garden. There is certainly a lot going on there. These programs and their importance are why the Allan Labor government provides really strong support for neighbourhood houses across the state, with $43 million in funding each year to support them through the neighbourhood house coordination program. I really want to thank the member for Lara for her invitation to visit Norlane Community Centre. I look forward to doing so to meet those wonderful volunteers and see firsthand those really important programs that they are offering. I look forward to the visit, and again I thank the member for her advocacy and her support for Norlane Community Centre and its volunteers.

Moving to other adjournment matters raised tonight, the member for Murray Plains raised a matter for the Premier. The action being sought was for the Premier to intervene and provide an extension of time for submissions for an electricity transmission licence, as these close on 21 October and given the current council elections this would give an opportunity for local councillors, once elected, to make submissions. The member for Mordialloc raised a matter for the Minister for Mental Health. The action being sought was for the minister to provide information to his community on the Victorian Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy and its implementation and impact on constituents in the Mordialloc electorate. The member for South-West Coast raised a matter for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. The action being sought was for the minister to formally publish how the previously allocated funding for Princes Highway West has been spent.

The member for Polwarth also raised a matter for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. The action being sought was for the minister to replace the temporary traffic lights on the Great Ocean Road at the Spout Creek bridge upgrade to improve traffic movement. The member for Laverton raised a matter for the Minister for Small Business. The action being sought was for the minister to join her for an introductory meeting with the new executive team at the Committee for Wyndham. The member for Shepparton raised a matter for the Minister for Ambulance Services. The action being sought was for the minister to establish a new MICA unit in the Shepparton region. The member for Albert Park raised a matter for the Deputy Premier in his capacity as Minister for Education. The action being sought was for the minister to join her to visit the South Melbourne Primary School and see how well they are doing in leading the way with phonics.

The member for Lowan raised a matter for the Minister for Mental Health, and the action being sought was for the minister to provide a revised timeframe for the rollout of mental health locals across the state, particularly in her community – those mental health locals that were recommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. And finally, the member for Cranbourne also raised a matter for the Deputy Premier in his capacity as Minister for Education, and the action being sought was for the minister to provide the member with an update on the benefits of the refurbishment at Marnebek School and to go over the wonderful benefits that this will have not only for the school but for the broader community. I will refer these matters to the appropriate ministers for action.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Go Hawks! The house stands adjourned until tomorrow morning.

House adjourned 7:24 pm.