Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:04): (1109) My question is to the Minister for Skills and TAFE. Will the minister explain to the chamber and the community, including the Windsor community, why the government has been so hard-hearted as to allow its entity, Swinburne University, to pre-emptively close the Windsor community childcare centre despite it being on land gifted to Swinburne by the Baillieu government?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:05): I absolutely reject the premise of the member’s question. The fact of the matter is that, for the Windsor childcare centre, there is an offer on the table from the Commonwealth, and we expect that to be considered. I am writing to Swinburne University, and I am seeking that they extend the lease of the childcare centre whilst there are further discussions. I am requesting the university to seek exemption. I would expect a response from them because, as we know, there is Commonwealth money on the table. I understand that the local council is also interested in assisting. Of course we are expecting Swinburne also to take the necessary steps to resolve this matter.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:06): The minister has enormous powers under the Swinburne University of Technology Act to direct the university to revoke arrangements for the sale of the Windsor childcare centre land. I therefore ask her: when she writes, will she demand that they not only extend the lease but hand over the land to provide certainty and security into the future?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:06): In terms of the correspondence that I will enter into with Swinburne at this point in time, it will be asking them to promptly apply for the necessary exemptions to enable them to consider a below-market transfer of land to secure the Windsor children’s centre’s future at the site and also to promptly provide an interim extension of the childcare centre lease for a period of time that enables the exemption process to run its course. Again, I remind the member that there is Commonwealth money on the table. There is a council, I understand, that is interested in seeking a resolution to this matter, and I look forward to Swinburne taking the necessary steps to ensure that there is a speedy resolution to an issue that has been going on for some time.