Wednesday, 19 November 2025

 Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (19:14): (1435) My adjournment matter tonight is to the Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts, and the action I am seeking is for the minister to cease the plans to evict two important local cultural institutions in my electorate: Victoria’s heritage fleet and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra. They are being evicted from government-owned buildings in locations in my electorate.

Victoria’s heritage fleet in Docklands is an invaluable community asset. The fleet contains consists of three ships: the Alma Doepel, the Enterprize and the steam tug Wattle. For more than a century these ships have played an iconic part in Victoria’s maritime history. The Alma Doepel has been a regular sight in Victoria Harbour in Docklands since 1916 and has had her home at port here since 1975 – 50 years; in fact people may not know that the height of the Bolte Bridge was determined due to the height of the Alma Doepel’s masts.

These ships have gone from being active trading vessels to training ships, offering transformative learning experiences for young Victorians. Not-for-profit operators have been restoring the Alma Doepel in Docklands for the past 16 years.

But the fleet faces an existential crisis. Earlier this year Development Victoria gave operators just four months notice to vacate the wharf to make way for Lendlease’s ongoing Collins Wharf development. They got a brief stay of execution, but now have only until 18 January to vacate their shared workshops. Development Victoria has provided next to nothing in the way of relocation and rent support. The next best location is Seaworks in Williamstown, which is not available until mid 2026, so they do not have a home until then, and is also not affordable. Labor cannot evict this fleet. It is an important part of Melbourne’s history, and it is time for the minister to step in.

Sadly, Labor stands to evict not just one but two iconic cultural institutions in my electorate. The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic choir and orchestra is one of the oldest continuously run cultural organisations in the entire world. Since launching in 1853, they have performed all sorts of historic events, including the Great Centennial Exhibition of 1888, the opening of the Australian Parliament in 1901 and the 1956 Olympic Games. And the fun fact? The RMP also holds the world record for the number of unbroken annual performances of Handel’s Messiah. It will be their 246th performance this year, but sadly it also might be their last unless the Labor government reconsiders an eviction notice, because this government wants to kick out the RMP and several other organisations from the Drill Hall in the CBD just so they can repurpose the venue.

RMP still has not found a new home or received any support from the government. In fact none of the groups know why they are being kicked out or what they are meant to do now. They want to know why the Labor government does not value these organisations in the same way it values the grand prix, greyhound racing or the Melbourne Cup. I call on the minister to stop the eviction of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic orchestra – (Time expired)