Thursday, 19 October 2023

Clause 1 further considered (14:09)

Melina BATH: Minister, your government has identified a number of locations where childcare centres are said to be put – the first 30. My interest lies with the Yallourn North–Glengarry statement. I am interested to understand what the government is intending. They are two separate towns about 20 minutes apart. What work has the government done to see if it is going to go in Glengarry township or Yallourn North township or if there will be one in each? Could you provide some clarity there, Minister?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: That is right. We have said that there will be a service in Yallourn–Glengarry. As we discussed a number of times earlier today, there are four sites, as you said, where we have very specifically said where those sites will be. There are 26 where we are looking at the areas, the communities and the townships, and Yallourn North–Glengarry is one of them. As we talked about earlier, the department is working with the local councils, the community, the data and the other information available to understand where the best place to have that service would be, and that work is currently underway.

Melina BATH: So just for clarity, there will be one childcare centre at either of those locations or at Tyers in between if Tyers is deemed to be the best location. Is that correct?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Yes, Ms Bath, that is right. It is within the statistical area level 2 that is identified as Yallourn–Glengarry and based on the factors that we have talked about previously.

Melina BATH: Just in relation to the township of Foster, does the minister have any parameters or time line for that childcare centre to be built? Is there anything slated on the development to a pathway time line?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: No, it is the same situation.

Clause agreed to; clauses 2 to 23 agreed to.

Reported to house without amendment.

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (14:13): I move:

That the report be now adopted.

Motion agreed to.

Report adopted.

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (14:13): I move:

That the bill be now read a third time.

Motion agreed to.

Read third time.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.28, the bill will be returned to the Assembly with a message informing them that the Council have agreed to the bill without amendment.