Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

MEMBERS STATEMENTS
Thursday, 2 June 2011 COUNCIL 1677
For that reason I was particularly disappointed last
week when a resident of Melton entered my electorate
office with his tale of woe. Keep in mind that Melton is
not actually in Western Metropolitan Region. The
individual involved is not one of my constituents. The
gentleman to whom I refer is a father of five. He has
had a housing issue for some five years. He went to his
local MP in the Assembly seeking the member’s
assistance but was told, ‘I can’t help you. We’re not in
government any more. Go and see Bernie Finn’. The
door was slammed in his face.
The Melton resident took his local member’s advice
and caught the train to Sunshine, where my office is
now assisting him. To reject somebody’s plea for help
on the basis that ‘We’re no longer in government’ is a
total abrogation of an MP’s responsibility to those he
should represent. It stinks of Labor members’ ongoing
neglect of their electorates and is intolerable on any
measure. Sadly it is what we have come to expect from
Labor MPs from one end of Melbourne’s west to the
other. The bottom line is this: Labor just does not care
about those it should care about. Labor governments
come, and Labor governments go, but we know
contempt for the people of Melbourne’s west on the
part of the ALP goes on forever.
Republic of Cyprus: presidential visit
Mr ELASMAR (Northern Metropolitan) — On
Friday, 27 May, along with federal parliamentary
colleagues I attended the Grace of Mary Greek Cypriot
Elderly Hostel in Epping where a function was held in
the honour of the First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus,
Mrs Elsie Christofia. We were given a tour of the hostel
and spoke to the residents. Mrs Christofia planted an
olive tree in the garden. The afternoon ended with
afternoon tea. I thank the executive committee of the
Community of Cypriots of the Northern Suburbs of
Melbourne for arranging a delightful event.
On Friday, 27 May, I attended with parliamentary
colleagues and other community leaders a function held
by the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria
honouring the President of the Republic of Cyprus the
Right Honourable Demetris Christofias. Mr Christofias
addressed the Melbourne Greek Cypriot community,
whose members were very happy to meet and talk with
him after all the speeches. I congratulate the organisers
on a very well-run event.
Maronite community: ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’
Mr ELASMAR — On another matter, on Saturday
I was an honoured guest of the Victorian Maronite
community. The fundraiser this year was called ‘Puttin’
on the Ritz’. The occasion was a grand affair, with all
money raised going to the Our Lady of Lebanon
Church fund. Monsignor Joseph Takchi presided over
the event, which was, as always, a resounding success. I
congratulate the committee.
Southern Cross Care: Keon Park facility
Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan) — On
19 May I was pleased to attend with the Catholic
Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, the member for
Thomastown and board members of Southern Cross
Care the blessing of the land and sod-turning ceremony
to mark the start of construction of a $15 million
ageing-in-place residential facility in Keon Park. The
96-room building on Tunaley Parade will feature a
chapel, cafe, library and cinema, and a therapy centre
providing residents with access to on-site doctors and
physiotherapists. The Keon Park facility will replace
Southern Cross Care’s Macleod Village home, situated
adjacent to St Margaret’s Community Retirement
Village. The project is expected to be completed by
October next year. I commend Southern Cross Care on
its commitment to providing appropriate aged-care
accommodation to an ageing population in
Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Alphington Primary School: building program
Ms MIKAKOS — On 27 May I was pleased to
attend with the member for Northcote the official
opening of Alphington Primary School’s library and
classrooms, arts and resource centre project. This
project was delivered through the federal government’s
Building the Education Revolution (BER) program,
together with the Victorian government’s capital works
program. The project also involved linking the new
BER building to the state-funded arts discovery centre.
I particularly commend the member for Northcote for
playing a key role in delivering this project. I commend
principal Cheryl McCashney, her staff and school
council members, who worked in partnership with
federal Labor and the former state Labor government to
deliver a great outcome for students.
Anglesea Primary School: redevelopment
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — On Sunday,
22 May, I had the great pleasure of attending Anglesea
Primary School’s farewell to the old school and
welcome to the new school celebration. Beginning at
what is now termed ‘the old school’, hundreds of
students, parents, teachers and Anglesea residents
relived memories of their days at the school, browsing
through the classrooms filled with photographs and
memorabilia. The school principal, Pamela Sandlant,