Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

BUDGET PAPERS 2011–12
Tuesday, 31 May 2011 COUNCIL 1583
the people of Warrnambool and Geelong — know that
Labor actually keeps its commitment.
In relation to education, as everyone knows, the
previous government’s commitment to education was
enormous — it was a no. 1 priority. When I look at
what this government has done in relation to education,
in particular in western Victoria, it gives me much
heartache.
Apart from the matter I raised last week — that is,
funding for Portarlington Primary School, which needs
$60 000 for a schematic design — this government has
also promised $10 million for the Apollo Bay P–12
College, but the college received only $700 000 in the
budget. The Baillieu government promised whatever it
takes in terms of the Colac Secondary College. Labor
promised $13 million, but only $10 million was put
aside by this government. No schools in Geelong or on
the Bellarine got anything in last month’s budget.
Who can forget the government’s promise that teachers
in this state would be the highest paid in Australia? The
government walked away from that commitment
almost from the day it was elected. This is on top of the
$338 million the government has stripped from the
education budget.
In terms of the Regional Growth Fund, as the shadow
Treasurer pointed out, it is a matter of treachery
because you have to get the other half of the money in
the fund by electing this government again. It is a little
bit like tied aid to foreign countries.
The other failing is that the government committed
$10 million for the Princes Highway duplication and
only delivered $5 million. The government has not
provided one cent to the Geelong arts precinct. With all
the huff and puff in the newspapers for months leading
up the election, the government has not put one cent
into radiotherapy in Warrnambool. It promised
$14 million for the duplication and upgrade of Pioneer
Road, yet there was only a meagre $5 million to
supposedly fix up this major safety hazard. Of course
there was no money for the promised helipad at the
Ballarat hospital.
All we have is failure, failure, failure to commit to
western Victoria. Most of the election promises made
by government members were only half-hearted
attempts. In terms of fixing the problems, we have not
seen too much of it. There has not been a plan or a
vision. Beyond the reviews upon reviews that we will
continue to hear about until the cows come home,
Victorians — particularly those in the west — require
this government to stand up and do a whole range of
things that government members cannot and, I suspect,
will not do for the future of this state.
Mrs COOTE (Southern Metropolitan) — The
coalition government’s first budget is focused on
delivering its election commitments. The budget is
about fixing the problems in health, transport
et cetera — the problems that Labor left behind. The
budget delivers responsible and caring government in
challenging times, and the coalition government will be
responsible with taxpayers dollars.
I was not going to counteract what the Labor Party has
said during this budget speech, but I just cannot help
myself after that diatribe from Ms Tierney. All I can tell
you is that some people are better at opposition than
they were in government, and believe me, she takes the
cake. I would have to say, through you, Mr Acting
President, that that tirade we just heard was
breathtaking. Ms Tierney talked about the Bracks
government and she talked about reviews. I have to
explain to her that Mr Bracks and his cohort were the
absolute review kings of parliaments across the
country. He was absolutely inane. He did not get on and
do things — in fact it was a joke; it was a laughable
joke. All Labor did was woo those three Independents
and look after those three Independents, and everything
was reviewed.
When Ms Tierney talks about there being no direction
for government she should just have a jolly good look
in the mirror and see what Mr Bracks did. Mr Bracks
did nothing. He did absolutely nothing. Ms Tierney was
not here in the Parliament at the time, but she should
have been, because it was a lesson in total mediocrity,
and we know what has happened, because we saw the
result of it at the last election.
Then we had Mr Brumby. He in fact was almost the
reverse of Mr Bracks. Mr Bracks, by all accounts, was
actually a very nice man. Mr Brumby certainly was not.
Mr Ondarchie — Was he ever elected?
Mrs COOTE — Mr Ondarchie raises a very
interesting point. He asks: was he ever elected? I do not
think he was. I think even Ms Tierney might have to
agree with that. Let me just recall. He had been a
federal member; what happened there? I think he lost
the seat. Then what happened? He was a leader — that
is right; he was the leader prior to 1999 — and what
happened?
Mr Leane interjected.
Mrs COOTE — The unions — your unions,
Mr Leane — threw him out. Your unions overthrew