Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Responses

Mr WYNNE (Richmond—Minister for Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Planning) (19:22): The member for Ripon raised a matter for the Minister for Public Transport requesting that the minister install Myki readers at Creswick, Talbot and Maryborough stations, and I will make sure that the minister is aware of that matter.

The member for Euroa raised a matter for the Premier seeking the Premier’s advocacy for a stimulus package for businesses that have been severely affected by the coronavirus—in the electorate of Benalla itself, or more generally?

Ms Ryan: Euroa.

Mr WYNNE: Sorry—the electorate of Euroa. I will make sure that the Premier is aware of that request.

The member for Bentleigh raised a matter for the Minister for Health seeking—not surprisingly, given the work that the minister is doing on coronavirus—that a proposed visit to the electorate be rescheduled to another time. I am sure that when the minister has that opportunity she will take up the invitation from the member for Bentleigh.

The member for Mordialloc raised a matter for the Minister for Education seeking an update on the Yarrabah specialist school project, which is a very significant investment in a specialist school in his electorate. I will make sure that the Minister for Education is aware of that.

The member for Polwarth raised a matter for the Premier seeking that the Premier implement a rationing program in supermarkets to avoid panic buying. I take that matter in good faith. It is a matter of concern, clearly, right across Victoria.

Mr Riordan: There’s no food left in a place as big as Colac today.

Mr WYNNE: I think we all understand this problem, and clearly that is a matter that the Premier will be discussing on a national basis anyway. Indeed I think in a short while the national cabinet is meeting again—tonight.

The member for Bayswater raised a matter for the Minister for Education seeking that the minister join with the member on a tour of Heathmont College, which obviously the member is particularly proud of. I will make sure that the minister is aware of that request.

The member for Croydon—

Mr Hodgett: Here!

Mr WYNNE: Indeed he is. He raised a matter for the Minister for Education seeking that the minister meet with the principal of Ainslie Parklands Primary School and visit the school to see some of the excellent work that is being done by our public schools.

The member for Yuroke raised a matter for the Minister for Public Transport seeking an update on a very important project, that being the provision of 700 car parking spaces at the Craigieburn station.

Ms Spence: More than.

Mr WYNNE: More than 700 in that rapidly growing area that the member for Yuroke has the honour of serving, and I thank her for that request.

The member for Essendon raised a matter for me seeking that I come and visit the Ascot Vale public housing estate and the Wingate Avenue Community Centre there, which I know particularly well. This is a site that is subject to really fantastic opportunities for urban renewal. We have now received a planning permit from the local council there, and we will certainly be taking the opportunity to talk with tenants about what is going to be, I think, a fantastic urban renewal of some of our worst public housing stock, beautifully located, as people who know the area well will agree, just opposite the showgrounds. This is a brilliant urban redevelopment opportunity, and I will certainly look forward to meeting with the member, who is just a massive advocate for the provision of public and social housing more generally.

The member for Caulfield raised a matter with me, a particularly significant matter, which is the work that he and I have been doing privately around the opportunity to put in place legislation to ban the Nazi swastika. As we know, this is a symbol of hate and this is a symbol that is deeply, deeply offensive to the Jewish community. It invokes, I think, some of the most appalling elements of human behaviour of the worst possible kind. All of us know members of the Jewish community who live with this burden every single day of their lives, having seen families decimated and having seen the most appalling of circumstances. To have the swastika flying in any context here in Victoria or indeed in Australia is utterly repugnant and is rejected absolutely by this Parliament in a bipartisan way. There is no question about that. I think all of us stand united in saying that this sort of behaviour is just of such a vile kind that we simply cannot accept it.

Can I say also that many of us have seen in the newspapers the coverage of other anti-Semitic actions that have been taken. If you did not respond in tears to that appalling photo of the young boy who was allegedly forced at a school to kiss the—I do not really want to say it, to be honest. It is just such a disgusting image. But this is the nature of anti-Semitism. This is the nature of mad, right-wing extremists. This swastika scenario simply feeds into this type of behaviour. We cannot tolerate this. We cannot accept this as a civilised community. We know what fundamental harm this does to the social fabric of our community and to the sense in which our community can come together and celebrate what is best about our community and the contribution, particularly, that the Jewish community has made over generations. We will always stand with them, and we will always support them in a bipartisan way as a Parliament here in Victoria. We are proud of that record.

In that context can I say that I am aware absolutely that the member for Caulfield has done some very good work in drafting a proposed bill. I indicated to the member for Caulfield that there are some processes that I will need to go through within government. Not surprisingly—I am sure the member for Caulfield will understand—the Premier and the leadership have obviously been consumed with other matters, but it is a priority of the government and it is a priority of mine. I look forward to the opportunity for us to get some clearance—and we all understand what those cabinet processes are—to have an exposure draft of the bill with which we could proudly go out together and say, ‘Here is an exposure draft of a really important bill which speaks to the commitment of government in a bipartisan way that we stand together and we stand against these filthy, nasty scenarios like the swastika flag and any attempt to divide our community by right-wing extremists and anybody who seeks to divide our community with anti-Semitic behaviour’.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The house now stands adjourned until tomorrow.

House adjourned 7.32 pm.