Archives: May 2011

I rise to speak on the Crimes Amendment (Bullying) Bill 2011, which is supported by the Labor opposition.

My matter for the adjournment tonight is for the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, and I am very pleased she is in the house to respond to my matter.

The opposition will not be opposing this bill, but it has some serious reservations and concerns about how it will operate in practice, and I will be seeking to clarify some of these issues during the committee stage.

I welcome this opportunity to speak on the coalition's first state budget, a budget that I believe has failed Victorian families.

This month marks the 70th anniversary of the battle of Greece and Crete, a significant battle during the Second World War and one that forever links Australia with Greece.

I wish to raise my concern that the government has decided to defund the Take a Break occasional child-care program by the end of the year.

The Baillieu government's first budget has failed to provide a plan for how it will grow the economy, create jobs or ensure that Victorian families have access to the services and infrastructure they will need for the future.

The former state government's $1.9 billion Victorian schools plan was a commitment to fund every Victorian government school to be rebuilt, renovated or extended by 2016.

I am extremely disappointed that the minister, despite being in the house at the moment, has decided not to make a contribution today.

As members are aware, education has been the no. 1 priority of the Labor opposition. The previous Labor government implemented a range of education reforms in Victoria to ensure that young people were given the best education opportunities available to them.

The opposition does not believe there are any reasons of urgency as to why debate on the Multicultural Victoria Bill 2011 needs to be expedited today. The normal courtesy of the house is that the bill is second read and members then have an opportunity to read the bill and prepare themselves for debate.