Thursday, 19 February 2026

 Nick STAIKOS (Bentleigh – Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Local Government) (10:12): Work is beginning on the Highett Reserve pavilion. A few years ago I was over at the ground, and I bumped into Andrew Robinson, who is a well-known figure at the club. He has got a few nicknames, but in Parliament I will refer to him as Andrew. He showed me the very substandard conditions that players and especially umpires had to put up with at the pavilion, so I got to work and secured a grant from the Allan government to fund an upgrade. The project includes two change rooms with amenities suitable for women and girls, an umpire change room with amenities also suitable for women and girls, a new first aid room and storage, a new covered service area, a canopy roof and ramp access and a new separate public toilet facility. With so much more female participation in sport, including women umpires, this upgrade is so vitally important.