Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

BUDGET PAPERS 2011–12
1582 COUNCIL Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) — I also rise to
speak on the budget papers for 2011–12. I, along with
many other Victorians, looked forward to seeing the
much-awaited budget of the first Baillieu government.
One of the reasons we were looking forward to it was
that we were wanting some indication about how this
government was going to govern.
When this government took office there was a round of
parties that seemed to go on incessantly. A number of
Liberal 500 Club events were held, but there seemed to
be a severe lack of media releases, media interviews
and press conferences. Indeed there was very little, if
anything, in terms of legislation before the house. The
government was attempting to find its way, and its way
was to get other people to do the work.
Then there are all the reviews being conducted — not 1,
2 or 3 reviews but something in the order of
100 reviews; perhaps 1000 flowers have already
bloomed in Victoria since the November election.
Victorians are looking for an indication in this budget
of how the government will fulfil its election promises
and how those election promises fit into a plan for
government — a plan in terms of delivering an
education system and a health plan for all Victorians.
We also wanted an indication of how the government
was going to create new jobs. The government
promised Victorians that it would bring down the cost
of living. We wanted to see what impact the budget
would have on working families and how the
government was going to achieve that. We had some
serious expectations of this government, and were very
interested in what its members were going to say in
terms of the fight against climate change. When the
previous government put out its climate change white
paper the opposition at the time supported the
government’s position, but there is nothing in this
budget that gives any indication of what government
members are doing about it.
At the end of the day we have a budget with no plans
for job creation or the education system, no
improvements for health services and very little in
terms of transport. Instead of making life easier for
families, government members have decided to rip
from 100 000 families the $300 School Start bonus.
Where does that line up in terms of the government’s
commitment to those Victorian families? Government
members have not come up to scratch. I am still looking
for the part that tells me that this government is
governing and not sitting back and doing very little.
Many people, be they politicians or members of the
media, have said that one thing stood out about Kim
Wells’s budget speech: an absolute lack of any mention
of job creation or employment opportunities. The issue
fell off the map completely, and I am very concerned
about it because we all know that in many ways
employment not only generates feelings of self-worth
for individuals but also pays the bills and puts food on
the tables of many families. Job creation and
employment do not seem to be within the scope or the
parameters of this government. We also saw an
enormous cutting back of JobWatch, another important
security blanket for Victorian families.
Returning to climate change, I note that there was very
little in the budget about how it would be tackled and
what impact the new wind farm policy will have on
renewable energy initiatives in this state. Will we
continue to see industry investing in this state?
In terms of health, perhaps I can be so bold as to
concentrate on the electorate of Western Victoria
Region and in particular Geelong. This government
promised $165 million for hospital improvements in
Geelong, part of which was for a second hospital in
South Geelong. I put out a challenge to those on the
other side, particularly members who represent western
Victoria: what are they doing about the second
hospital? In the budget the government has allocated
only $8 million of the $165 million, and I want to know
whether the rumours in Geelong are true — that what
we will end up with is a big neon sign in South Geelong
that says ‘Hospital’, but we will be very lucky if it is a
super-clinic, from what I am told. I understand there
will be no inpatient beds whatsoever, and I am more
than happy for government members to stand up and
correct the record on that. I do not believe government
members are going to do anything at Geelong in terms
of the second hospital, which contrasts with what the
previous Labor government did for Warrnambool.
The Bracks government went to Warrnambool at the
2006 election and promised a whole redevelopment of
a hospital — $110 million. Unlike this government, we
made that commitment, and every brick, every
window — everything — has been committed
because — —
Honourable members interjecting.
The ACTING PRESIDENT (Mr O’Brien) —
Order! Through the Chair! The level of interjection is
getting quite loud.
Ms TIERNEY — The money has been committed
because we have to build our promise from 2006 now,
and that hospital will be open later this year. That has
happened because the people of Victoria — including