Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AMENDMENT BILL 2011
1690 COUNCIL Thursday, 2 June 2011
Mr ONDARCHIE — We have smart meters from
a not-so-smart government, and there is the Victorian
Funds Management Corporation, which lost half a
billion hedging against pensions in the United States of
America. Talking about sinister, the previous
government wanted to put — wait for it — fairy lights
on the West Gate Bridge. This is one of the essentials
that rural Victorians are looking for — fairy lights on
the West Gate Bridge — and Mr Somyurek talks about
the bill being sinister!
I note that in her submission today Ms Pennicuik called
for an increase in public holidays. The Greens would
call for an increase in public holidays!
Ms Pennicuik — By one day.
Mr ONDARCHIE — They called for a 10 per cent
increase.
Ms Pulford talked about the current legislation and how
it is cumbersome and has no application process. This
bill will fix that. This bill is about supporting rural and
regional Victorians. Philip Davis called it a thin bill. I
agree — it is a thin bill. I think about being thin every
single day and it is not working, but I am getting there.
This bill will allow regional councils to declare
part-shire arrangements and substitute half-day holidays
for the Melbourne Cup Day holiday. Currently councils
can only apply for one full day. This bill will provide
flexibility and freedom to regional and rural Victorians.
Those opposite would benefit by taking note of the term
‘regional and rural Victorians’, because those people
were forgotten over the last 11 years. Non-metropolitan
councils can decide to substitute one full day or two
half-days. It is not too difficult. They can decide
whether the holiday will apply to the whole or parts of
their shire. This is a no-brainer. Councils can make
application to the minister 90 days before any
alternative arrangements are made. Now there is
flexibility — 90 days — and new arrangements will be
published on the Web once it is done. The bill allows
regional communities the flexibility to use those
half-day holidays for such events as agricultural shows
or regional cup days. It repeals an unnecessarily
restrictive and inflexible provision handed down by the
previous government in 2008 — a government that
forgot about regional and rural Victorians.
Under previous restrictions many regional race days
and festivals lost money and customers because people
could not attend them. Mr Davis talked about that very
well today. I compliment my colleague Mr Davis on his
submission to the house today because he gave an
accurate view. He is a great regional-rural member for
Victorians, who supports his constituents very well.
Mr P. Davis — Hear, hear!
Honourable members interjecting.
Mr Leane — Are you speaking just to suck up to
Mr Davis? Spare us all.
Mr ONDARCHIE — We are all friends on this
side; members of the opposition should take note of
that.
Local events are vital for tourism and for getting people
out to regional and rural Victoria. As Victorians go
about their holidays this year I urge them to think about
regional and rural Victoria. In the Easter break I went
down to Phillip Island, which is a great and wonderful
part of Victoria. Victorians should commit to travelling
within the state for their holidays.
Mr Leane — Did you see the penguins?
Mr ONDARCHIE — Interestingly I did see the
penguins. It was terrific. They were so tiny that they
looked like Dale Thomas of the Collingwood Football
Club.
Mr Somyurek talked about his recent holiday. What he
did not tell us was where he went. Did he stay in
Victoria? Did he visit regional-rural Victoria? I wonder
about that.
This bill is good for kids. This house has heard me talk
about children a lot. I think this bill is terrific for kids
because it will enable local schoolchildren to attend and
celebrate their own local events. That will create a
sense of community; they will be able to attend local
events and celebrate them with their classmates as a
local community. Here is an opportunity for regional
and rural Victoria to participate. As I said at the outset
of my contribution, this is a no-brainer. I expect the
house to completely support this bill, as I understand it
will.
This bill gives councils more control over what public
holidays are suitable to their local region. The Baillieu
government’s Victorian families statement talked about
supporting families and giving them opportunities in
their local area. It is not a sinister bill; it is a no-brainer.
It serves all Victorians and gives them an opportunity to
participate in their local community.
Mr Somyurek — As Mr Davis said, this is a very
thin bill. Add some meat to it.