Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
1534 COUNCIL Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Practice program. In the eastern suburbs recently I had
the pleasure of meeting 72 new teachers who are being
supported in the first year of their endeavours under this
program.
Housing: Richmond estate
Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan) — My
question without notice is for the Minister for Housing.
I too would like to refer to the minister’s announcement
on Sunday of the new police command post at the
Elizabeth Street housing estate in Richmond — and I
note it is less than 500 metres from the 24-hour
Richmond police station. I ask: what resources, in terms
of capital and police personnel within the housing
estate, will be dedicated to this proposal?
Hon. W. A. LOVELL (Minister for Housing) — If
the member is asking where the funding is coming
from, I can tell her the funding for this pilot program is
coming from the department’s existing budget. As I
said before, we have committed to installing four
closed-circuit television cameras and to allowing the
police to use one of our vacant properties as an outpost
on the estate.
Supplementary question
Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan) — The
minister completely ignored my question, which was
around issues of capital and police personnel. My
supplementary is: can the minister advise the house
when the new command post will be open?
Hon. W. A. LOVELL (Minister for Children and
Early Childhood Development) — To clarify for the
member, as I said before, I am not responsible for
police resourcing, so I cannot answer in relation to
police personnel. The Office of Housing is currently
working to identify a property for the use of police.
Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame: awards
Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) — My question
without notice is directed to the Minister for
Manufacturing, Exports and Trade, Mr Dalla-Riva, and
I ask: can the minister inform the house of the recent
developments in relation to the Victorian
Manufacturing Hall of Fame?
Hon. R. A. DALLA-RIVA (Minister for
Manufacturing, Exports and Trade) — I thank Mr Finn
for his question.
An honourable member interjected.
Hon. R. A. DALLA-RIVA — I take up the
interjections from opposition members, who
continually want to talk down manufacturing. I was
pleased to be at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of
Fame awards to recognise and honour excellence in
manufacturing. On Thursday night I had the privilege
of attending the annual awards ceremony
acknowledging the achievements of Victoria’s most
respected manufacturing companies. Industries
represented included pharmaceuticals, automotive,
food, electronics, foundry, power, chemicals and rail
manufacture.
I would have thought Mr Viney would be interested in
this, given that he has manufacturing companies in his
region as well. It is important to remind members
opposite how important this sector is. As we know, it is
a major contributor to the economy. It is still the largest
full-time employer in this state. In terms of aggregate
value it is Victoria’s leading export sector. The
Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards are an
opportunity to celebrate Victoria’s manufacturing
sector, including both companies and individuals that
are leading their field locally and internationally.
Hon. M. P. Pakula — Did you wear a black tie?
Hon. R. A. DALLA-RIVA — Mr Pakula asked,
‘Did you wear a black tie?’. I went to the Italian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia,
where everyone wore a black tie except somebody by
the name of Mr Pakula, so let us not go there! I recall
that, so Mr Pakula should be careful about raising it.
The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards was
a night of celebration for an industry that needs to be
celebrated at the moment. Two new awards were given
out — Mr Pakula would be aware of them —
embracing the importance of emerging technologies in
sustaining manufacturing excellence. There was also
special recognition of the industry-nominated Young
Manufacturer of the Year along with the announcement
of the honour roll recipients.
I was pleased that the honour roll award went to
Mr Gerry Ryan, OAM, the founder and managing
director of Jayco Corporation, of which
Mr Rich-Phillips and Mrs Peulich would be well aware.
Mr Ryan has made a valued contribution to the
manufacturing sector and the broader community over
many years. Jayco began as a family business in 1975
and has designed and built 120 000 recreational
vehicles out of Dandenong, becoming not only the
leading supplier of caravan and camping trailers but
also a top exporter. One of the things that fascinates me
is the doom and gloom we hear from those opposite.