Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (11:26): I move:

That this house refers:

(1)   an inquiry into the accessibility of voting centres at Victorian state elections, with reference to:

(a) compliance with disability access standards, including physical access and wayfinding;

(b) signage, lighting and safety measures at polling places;

(c) the provision of information and assistance to voters with accessibility needs;

(d) examples of best practice from other jurisdictions; and

(e) recommendations to improve accessibility for voters at future Victorian state elections

to the Electoral Matters Committee for consideration and report no later than 30 September 2026;

(2)   an inquiry into enhancing Victorian university governance through:

(a) greater accountability, transparency, and elevated community, staff and student voice at the highest governance level; and

(b) implementing the principles of the Expert Council on University Governance; and the agreed priorities of the Commonwealth, state and territory ministers responsible for higher education; and

(c) when considering the distinctive objectives of each university, the committee will inquire into the ways by which universities are giving, and intend to give, effect, in a timely fashion, to the final report of the Expert Council on University Governance, with specific reference to how each university will:

(i) strengthen accountability for university performance and outcomes;

(ii) increase the transparency and representation of university council appointment processes, composition and decision-making;

(iii) support councils with greater higher education expertise and a range of staff, student and community perspectives and representation; and

(iv) ensure that university council decision-making is inclusive of and responsive to staff, students and other stakeholders

to the Economy and Infrastructure Standing Committee for consideration and report no later than 31 ‍May 2026;

(3)   an inquiry into how best to expand access to renewable and affordable electricity for Victorians in apartments and other multiunit dwellings, including consideration of:

(a) recent developments in energy supply and technology options for these dwellings over the last four years;

(b) barriers and inequities experienced by Victorians in such dwellings, including renters and social housing tenants, when accessing renewable and affordable electricity compared with other households;

(c) options to increase access to renewable and affordable electricity for these dwellings, including shared rooftop solar, balcony or facade solar, community batteries and virtual power plants;

(d) the likely impacts of those options on different groups of Victorians, including by tenure type, income, housing type and location, on the type, affordability and reliability of energy they receive; and

(e) any legislative, regulatory, planning or market reforms that could support the implementation of options, consistent with Victoria’s legislated emissions reduction and renewable energy targets

to the Environment and Planning Standing Committee for consideration and report no later than 30 ‍September 2026.

Motion agreed to.