Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

ADJOURNMENT
Wednesday, 1 June 2011 COUNCIL 1667
are developed. In particular I would like him to think
about two issues: first and foremost, the level and
process of consultation that is engaged in. I believe the
Planning and Environment Act 1987 needs to be
clarified — although I am mindful of the fact that I
cannot ask in an adjournment matter for legislative
change — particularly around the issue of consultation
where a plan affects abutting municipalities.
A number of activity centres around the state, certainly
in South Eastern Metropolitan Region, are bisected and
shared across two or three municipal boundaries. One is
actually outside my electorate, so I will not speak about
it at length, but Moorabbin is an interesting example
because it cuts in with the city of Kingston, where there
are a number of Kingston civic facilities that are
important to all residents of Kingston, as well as Glen
Eira and Bayside. Others involve Mentone and Highett,
and there are a number in the city of Casey.
Whether or not the local municipality engages the
abutting municipality in the development of its
structure plan is at the discretion of the individual
council. I do not believe that ought to be the case. If we
are going to achieve better outcomes for the
development of structure plans, they need to be
informed by a process of consultation and an
engagement with each other in order to achieve greater
coherence. I would like the minister to see what he can
do to assist councils to engage with each other, consult
each other and also allow the community to be
consulted on the development of structure plans which
abut a range of municipalities.
In addition I would like the minister to consider what
new technologies are available on the market,
particularly digital technologies, that would encourage
and enable local councils in the development of
structure plan concepts. They need to then be made
available to the members of the community, perhaps by
a log-in type of facility, so they can have a look at what
something may look like in order to provide opinion
and feedback on a draft structure plan.
A lot more can be done by local government to
improve the outcome of structure plans. They are very
important. Local communities should have an active
involvement in consultation on and development of the
design of their physical environment, which is going to
be a legacy for future generations. Local government in
particular could do a lot more to develop better
outcomes for local communities, and I call on the
minister to assist them in that process.
Gaming: revenue
Hon. M. P. PAKULA (Western Metropolitan) —
The matter I wish to raise is for the Minister for
Gaming. I should say how pleased I am to see
Mr O’Donohue looking at the ALP website while I am
making my contribution!
Mr Elsbury — Know thine enemy!
Hon. M. P. PAKULA — Don’t be like that,
Mr Elsbury!
The recent state budget revealed that the estimate for
2011–12 is that revenue from gambling taxes will rise
by $76 million. At the Public Accounts and Estimates
Committee hearings I asked the minister how much
more Victorians would need to gamble in order for the
state’s take to rise by $76 million. The minister was not
able to answer that, and frankly I do not have any issue
with the fact that he might not have had those exact
figures in his possession. He did, however, indicate that
some of the increase was as a consequence of a higher
tax rate being applied to Crown Casino. That is not
about increased gambling, that is just about a higher
rate, but it is only a small portion.
Nevertheless, the figure of $76 million cannot have
been plucked from thin air. In fact in the budget papers
the figure has to some extent been broken down: it
shows that the figure is made up of $31 million from
electronic gaming machines, $19 million from lotteries,
$18 million from the casino and $8 million from racing
and a few bits and bobs. There must be a methodology
to allow the department to make those estimates. For
instance, in regard to electronic gaming machines there
would be a formula that would allow the government to
make that estimate — for example, $200 million or
$300 million more in revenue divided by the relevant
tax rate equals $31 million extra for the state of
Victoria. The same would apply for each of the other
gambling forms.
The action I seek is that the minister provide me with
the details of that formula and methodology so
Victorians can understand the connection between
gambling turnover and the gambling tax take and we
can calculate the increase in gambling turnover that the
$76 million rise in taxes represents.
Dr Emil Popovic
Mr O’BRIEN (Western Victoria) — I have a matter
I wish to draw to the attention of the Minister for Health
and the health community for consideration, and that is
the need to honour the life and professional dedication
of Dr Emil Popovic and to place on the public record