Archives: October 2011

It gives me pleasure to speak on this bill today, having regard to the fact that this is national Children's Week.

It gives me great pleasure to speak in support of this motion, a motion that seeks to express concern at the Baillieu government's failure to support successful programs that assist Victoria's young people

I wish to raise my concern that the mentoring and capacity building initiative, a dedicated funding stream for 12 state-funded youth mentoring projects across the state, will end this December.

On 20 October I had the opportunity to visit the recently opened fOrT youth centre in Geelong.

On 17 October I had the great pleasure of attending, with many parliamentarians, the serving of breakfast to many of my constituents at St Mary's House of Welcome as part of Anti-Poverty Week.

On 16 October I attended the Darebin University of the Third Age 20th anniversary celebrations

The Labor opposition will not be opposing this bill, but it has some reservations and concerns which I will be seeking to clarify during the committee stage.

This year's state budget was a failed opportunity for the Premier to explain to Victorians his vision of how he will invest in our hospitals, schools, transport and other important services.

According to a study commissioned by Alzheimer's Australia and undertaken by Access Economics entitled Caring Places -- Planning for Aged Care and Dementia 2010-2050, which was published on 1 July last year, dementia cases will grow in number from about 65 000 to over 245 000 in Victoria alone by 2050.

I will make a brief contribution to the debate on this bill. As has already been stated by Mr Jennings, Labor will not be opposing this bill.

On 30 September I attended the Australian Greek Welfare Society's 40th anniversary celebrations with other members of Parliament.

On 6 October I attended, with many other local MPs, the Banyule City Council's 'Celebrating Seniors' morning tea, which was also an impressive launch of Banyule's seniors festival.

The minister would be aware that concerns have been raised in the media that the Baillieu government may be planning to privatise a publicly owned aged-care facility -- namely, the Lyndoch hostel and nursing home in Warrnambool.