Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

BUDGET PAPERS 2011–12
1572 COUNCIL Tuesday, 31 May 2011
orders. We will be restoring the ability of
Neighbourhood Watch groups to access local crime
statistics, and we will be providing an extra $600 000
for a new Neighbourhood Watch state headquarters.
The coalition went to the people of Victoria with a clear
plan for safety that added 1700 extra police, including
100 police officers specifically for transit duties and a
further 940 protective services officers (PSOs) to patrol
every metropolitan train station from 6.00 p.m. until
last train, providing the additional security required on
train stations across the network. Our friends in regional
Victoria will also receive PSOs for every major
regional station.
While some of those in the opposition chose to debate
the PSOs bill by questioning the qualifications of those
who will be protecting us on our train stations, I would
much prefer to have a person who is trained at the
police academy to use a firearm in the same way as a
police constable than I would to have a group of louts
on a train station platform harassing every passenger as
they attempt to depart the train. Having experienced
this as a rail user, I am grateful that this protection will
be afforded to my community.
This budget has also provided for the largest
single-ticket item, the regional rail link — a project that
was left in limbo after the previous government proved
it was unable to cost the project properly, which put
great strain on the project. This was not assisted by our
federal colleagues who, I am sorry to say, chose to
delay a promised payment of half a billion dollars. This
is a vital project which the coalition is committed to.
The benefits this project will bring to the western
suburbs by the release of timetable space on the
existing metropolitan network and the additional
capacity of the new line itself for new stations to
service the ever-growing communities on the western
urban fringe cannot be, should not be and has not been
ignored by this government.
The coalition has committed to the Williams Landing
train station, with an extra $7 million being allocated to
this project so that proper access can be provided for
people with a disability, unlike the failed project at
Laverton train station where there are no ramps, only
billygoat stairs, and Footscray station, with its cheese
grater issues caused by the roof over the pedestrian
bridge. We have reiterated our commitment to retaining
the Aircraft station to provide traders in that area with a
constant flow of customers and ensure that local
residents can access mass transit options.
In assisting with public transport we are also allocating
$222 million for seven new trains, the first of 40 new
trains for Melbourne commuters. We have also
committed to investigating plans for a rail link to
Melbourne Airport, which will be a major boost for the
western suburbs, and we have provided funding to
investigate a plan to build a line from Lara to Avalon
Airport. While this project, being in Western Victoria
Region rather than Western Metropolitan Region, is
outside my electorate, its impact on businesses and
people working in the western suburbs will be great.
This budget has also provided $1.4 million for the
restoration of the West Gate punt service, which will be
expanded to include weekday commuter services
during the morning and afternoon peak periods.
Infrastructure such as increased signage will also be
funded. Recognising that the punt allows for a healthy
way for people to get to work in Melbourne’s central
business district as well as providing an alternative to
public transport and private vehicles, that was a
promise the Liberal Party took to the last election. That
commitment shows not only that the new government
is holding up its end of the bargain when it comes to
election promises but also that the Liberal Party is open
to exploring and investing in alternative transport
options across the region. The West Gate punt links the
bay trail west bike trail to the bay trail and has a
capacity of 12 passengers with bicycles per crossing.
Let there be no question: the Liberal Party is delivering
this great service for the western suburbs.
During the last election the coalition announced that it
would reinstate 340 ambulance officers, including
100 officers specifically designated for the metropolitan
region. As part of this commitment we are able to
provide the people of Craigieburn with their desperately
needed 24-hour ambulance service, a service that the
previous Labor government withdrew. It took it away
from the people who voted its members into office year
after year. This is the Liberal Party restoring a service
as a matter of need. We will also be reducing the cost of
ambulance membership by 50 per cent for lower
income earners so that they can gain the protection of
ambulance membership.
Mental health has also been highlighted as a major
issue in the western suburbs, and I am pleased to say
that the coalition government will be providing
$88 million for a comprehensive mental health package
focusing on prevention, support and treatment. The
coalition has provided for extra mental health beds at
Sunshine Hospital and has continued to fund stage 3 of
the redevelopment of that hospital to provide greater
regional health care for our community.
The great strain placed on hospital waiting lists and
emergency departments has also been acknowledged in
this budget, with $90 million being allocated over four