Thursday, 13 November 2025

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (19:00): (1399) Say no to paid parking in Elsternwick village. That is my adjournment matter tonight. It is to the Premier, and the action that I seek from the Premier is to scrap the congestion levy that is costing our retailers a bomb. We know small businesses are really struggling. I want to give a big shout-out to all the small businesses in my electorate, but particularly those around Elsternwick village, which at the moment may potentially be hit with – nothing that you would call a Christmas present, but quite the opposite – a bill for paid parking. We all know that many people who go shopping have choice, and in a cost-of-living crisis they will decide whether they go and park in the village to do their shopping – and it is a fine array, whether it is food or whether it is health and beauty services, a whole range of goods. They can do it at their local shopping strip, or they can go to a shopping centre and park for free. This is a real call to action to the Premier to ensure that the City of Glen Eira does not hit our small businesses with another bill and ultimately enforce paid parking right through the shopping strip. I know that a number of small businesses have got a petition. The Elsternwick village traders have come together, and they have been working really hard. The Posh Opp Shoppe, a charity which raises a lot of money for the community and has volunteers working there, knows that that will deter many of the shoppers that go to their small business, which is a social enterprises, along with many of the other struggling businesses. I call on the government to ensure that we do not end up with paid parking that will destroy the village. It will destroy the great vibe there, and it is not the Christmas present that these retailers are looking for.