Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Responses

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (19:28): We will kick off with the member for Evelyn, who sought action from the Minister for Community Sport regarding the Seville and Yarra community upgrades at the Seville Recreation Reserve and where those commitments to the Seville Recreation Reserve upgrades are in the budget. The member for Wendouree asked for action from the Minister for Climate Action to visit the mighty electorate of Wendouree to meet with stakeholders about how the Andrews government is helping locals with the power saving bonus and other energy and cost-of-living measures, plus other climate change and sustainability initiatives that are significant policies of the Andrews Labor government. The member for Euroa raised a matter for the Minister for Health in relation to action seeking a substantial increase in health funding for local health services. She particularly spoke to matters relating to her two-year-old Quinn, and the house certainly wishes Quinn well in her recovery as the member for Euroa seeks action on funding increases for local health services across Benalla, Strathbogie and other areas in her electorate.

The member for Broadmeadows raised a matter for the Minister for Housing and sought action from him to visit the Banksia Gardens housing estate in Broadmeadows, particularly off the back of the announcement on the weekend from the Prime Minister of $2 billion in social and affordable housing. The Minister for Housing here in Victoria has laid claim to some nearly half a billion dollars of that funding, which will benefit Victorian public, social and affordable housing projects. So the action there is to visit the Banksia Gardens housing estate in Broadmeadows and is from the member for Broadmeadows.

The member from Benambra raised a matter for the Minister for Health to commit to opening the tender process for non-emergency patient transport under HealthShare Victoria – I am not sure it is Health Purchasing Victoria. Those non-emergency patient transport services do of course take a lot of pressure off our first responders in relation to patient transports, particularly in rural and regional Victoria. They are the actions sought by the member for Benambra.

The member for Pascoe Vale raised a matter for the Minister for Veterans, and the action that he sought was an update on matters to support veterans across Pascoe Vale and Brunswick West and the Coburg RSL sub-branch. I think that is the one that is set back from Sydney Road and was featured in a few CUB ads in the old days, and others – a particularly significant RSL sub-branch. He would know these matters well as a former adviser to the former member for Lara on matters relating to veterans affairs, so he is keen to have a conversation on those matters and see some actions locally in relation to the veterans card and other services that the Minister for Veterans is engaged in.

The member for Shepparton raised a matter for the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure seeking action to demand that the Shepparton bypass project remains and is actioned during the review that is being conducted by the Commonwealth into infrastructure projects. She is seeking action from the transport and infrastructure minister to ensure that that project remains on the agenda and on the list of projects to be continued during that Commonwealth infrastructure review.

The member for Preston raised a matter for the Minister for Housing in relation to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and in relation to convening a meeting of the minister’s department with Launch Housing and Darebin City Council to discuss homelessness in his electorate, particularly across the Preston and Reservoir areas. I was pleased to catch up with the member for Preston across several of his local police stations just last week – both in Preston and Reservoir – and homelessness was one of the matters that was raised. I am sure that the Minister for Housing will pursue action on convening that meeting with Launch Housing, DFFH and Darebin City Council.

The member for Mornington raised a matter for the Minister for Health seeking action to abolish the remaining vaccination mandates in Victoria. The member also assured us of his support for vaccinations generally, but the action he sought was about those mandatory vaccinations here in Victoria.

The member for Footscray raised a matter for the Minister for Youth with regard to an action to see that she meets with the Footscray Youth Advisory Committee to understand what issues are important to them and those they seek to see advocated by the government and advanced by the government, given she represents one of the youngest electorates in the state.

I will commend these action items from members to the ministers.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Correct weight from the Minister for Racing. The house stands adjourned until tomorrow.

House adjourned 7:33 pm.