Book 8 - Parliament of Victoria

BUDGET PAPERS 2011–12
Tuesday, 31 May 2011 COUNCIL 1587
will help improve the delivery of health services to
Victorians and provide practical outcomes such as
800 extra hospital beds and additional nurses and
ambulance officers. Mr Drum spoke earlier tonight
about the coalition’s commitments in relation to health
in his region, in particular the Bendigo and Echuca
hospitals. This budget has addressed the needs of the
community.
The budget provision in relation to law and order,
which was a huge issue leading up to last year’s
election, of 1700 new police officers over this
government’s first term is another initiative that is
putting the safety of Victorians first. Putting
940 protective services officers onto our train stations
to protect the public again addresses the needs of the
Victorian community. As Mrs Coote mentioned in her
contribution, $500 000 has been allocated to refurbish
the Ashburton police station, a police station that is
wanted and needed by the local community in my
electorate of Southern Metropolitan Region. That police
station will be attended, unlike under the previous
government when services to that area were severely
cut.
Funding has been provided to various other areas in the
budget to improve services that will decrease elective
surgery wait times. I want to highlight another area in
health which is very important, and that is $34.4 million
in palliative care funding. This is a welcome package of
funding to support those with terminal illnesses, and it
was acknowledged by the sector in a letter that the
Minister for Health made available to the house last
week. Of that palliative care funding, $500 000 has
been warmly welcomed and received by Very Special
Kids in Malvern. That funding is being delivered right
to the areas where it is most needed.
Education, like health and transport, is an important
initiative in any state budget. This budget makes a
significant investment in our education sector, despite
what the opposition has claimed. There is additional
spending on school maintenance and infrastructure
programs, including $5 million for the construction of
new science and technology facilities at Brighton
Secondary College and $1.5 million for a
modernisation project at McKinnon Primary School.
Again, this is direct funding to areas of need that have
been neglected over the past 11 years.
Transport infrastructure and services were severely
neglected by the previous government. We know that.
We heard it from commuters day in and day out. We
were the ones standing on the railway stations, as
Mrs Coote said earlier, and we heard commuters
talking about their frustration with the services that had
completely failed many Victorians. The government
again acknowledges the enormous pressures on our
transport system and is working to manage many of
those issues left by the previous government. The
budget provides almost $12 million for an upgrade to
Balaclava station and $700 000 to plan the proposed
new railway station at Southland — facilities that will
directly affect people within my electorate of Southern
Metropolitan Region.
This government recognises the many difficulties faced
by families. That is why this budget took direct action
to ease cost of living pressures. It did so by providing
$1.2 billion through cuts to stamp duty for first home
buyers, young farmers and pensioners, $382 million to
extend the energy concession to more than
815 000 families across this state, and $242 million
over four years to halve ambulance membership fees —
all practical measures that will assist families to manage
their everyday budgets.
Rural and regional Victoria has faced its own
challenges on top of the rising cost of living pressures I
have mentioned. In recent years it has sustained
drought, fire and floods. The regional growth funding
and support packages announced in the budget will
assist those areas to get back on their feet. Victoria
needs a vibrant and sustainable economy, and rural and
regional Victoria is imperative for our overall economy.
In my region people who run businesses have been
equally concerned about the pressures they face on a
day-to-day basis. Many speak of the need to maintain
confidence, and governments can play a role in that.
They want Victoria’s economy to remain strong so their
businesses can remain viable. They want to know that
taxpayers money — their taxes — are being spent
wisely, and they do not want to have billions of dollars
wasted on projects. This government listened carefully
to the community and heard its call for responsible
economic management. This budget is a well thought
out, caring and responsible budget for all Victorians. It
will provide services to improve the lives of Victorians
including their quality of life, and it will provide for a
safer community. I congratulate the Treasurer again on
his first budget.
Debate adjourned on motion of Mr LEANE
(Eastern Metropolitan).
Debate adjourned until next day.