Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

ADJOURNMENT
1670 COUNCIL Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Minister for Children and Early Childhood
Development, for her further comment.
However, I ask members to reflect on this when they
are raising the matter and while it is being considered
by the minister: is it the responsibility of the state
government to assume total funding for programs that
have been aborted by the federal government? One
ought to think about that as these matters are raised in
the house, because it is true that the Take a Break
program was predominantly funded by the federal
government — to the tune of 70 per cent of the costs of
that program.
When the federal government withdrew funding from
that program some 12 months ago, the state
government, as an interim measure, took over total
funding for a period of 12 months. While it is fine for
members to come in here and raise this matter with the
Victorian government, equally they should apportion
responsibility for this back onto the federal government,
and their representations to the federal government
should be as vigorous as they are to the state
government. Anyway, I am sure my ministerial
colleague Ms Lovell will reply to the members who
have raised the matter tonight.
The penultimate issue was raised by Mr Eideh for the
Minister for Health, and it concerns the provision of
health services in the west. Mr Pakula was very upset
that he was not mentioned in representations on this
particular matter. I suggest to Mr Eideh that he work
with his colleague in bringing these matters forward.
There is strength in numbers. I noticed that Mr Eideh
included Mr Finn but not his own colleague Mr Pakula,
nor Mr Elsbury. Working together is the best way of
achieving anything. The Minister for Health will surely
respond in a very positive way to the issue that
Mr Eideh raised.
Mr O’Brien used the new form for the adjournment
debate to make a statement rather than to seek any
direct assistance from the Minister for Health, and I
applaud him for doing so. The statement paid tribute to
the recent sad passing of a fine Victorian citizen in
Dr Popovic. I am sure we all join Mr O’Brien in
expressing our condolences to the family of
Dr Popovic.
Mr Pakula raised a matter for the Minister for Gaming
seeking details of how certain projected revenues in the
budget were arrived at. I will convey that request to the
Minister for Gaming.
Mrs Peulich raised a matter for the Minister for
Planning, and it concerns the development of structure
plans, particularly when those plans traverse a number
of local government boundaries. There is then a need
for consultation both with several local governments
and with the constituents of those local governments to
come up with decisions about structure plans.
Mrs Peulich also suggested that some of that
consultation may be enhanced by the use of digital
technology to convey information to constituents. I will
raise that matter on her behalf with the Minister for
Planning.
Ms Pennicuik also raised a matter for the Minister for
Planning. It concerns the importance of the
environmental attributes of Western Port. Ms Pennicuik
asked the Minister for Planning to give consideration to
those particular issues when any decisions are being
made about Western Port.
Ms Darveniza raised a matter for the Minister for
Public Transport, and it concerns reviews of bus routes
in her electorate and other electorates around Victoria. I
will happily convey that matter to the Minister for
Public Transport, but I will say in the interim, until such
time as she receives a response, that she should not get
too excited about this. Reviews of bus services have
been happening for ever, and more often than not
enhanced and more efficient bus services are an
outcome of those reviews. I am sure the Minister for
Public Transport will reply along the lines that there is
no intention to cut school bus services, but rather we are
looking to make them more efficient and to enhance the
services for students in Victorian schools.
Mr Ramsay raised a matter for the attention of the
Minister for Local Government. He was asking the
minister whether she would be able to work more
closely with local government to explore ways to save
administration costs, particularly as those
administration costs reflect on the rate levels set by
local government. I will pass that information on to the
Minister for Local Government.
My friend Mr Lenders, the Leader of the Opposition in
this chamber, raised a matter for the attention of the
Minister for Energy and Resources, and he spoke of
some of his visits — four in recent times — to the
Latrobe Valley. We welcome his visits there. I can
assure Mr Lenders that Mr O’Brien has exceeded that
number of visits to the Latrobe Valley. He has been
down there very frequently in the six months he has had
that position as minister, and I can also assure
Mr Lenders that I know for a fact that Mr O’Brien has
met with brown coal power station operators on a
number of those occasions.