Archives: May 2012

On 18 May, together with many other MPs, I had the pleasure of attending Parliament House for the book launch of Steve Kyritsis's book, Greek Australians
in the Australian Forces WWI and WWII.

I rise to speak on the Courts and Sentencing Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. I say from the outset that the Labor opposition will not oppose this bill.

I rise to put forward the Labor opposition's view on this bill, and I advise that the opposition will be opposing the Education Legislation Amendment (VET
Sector, Universities and Other Matters) Bill 2012.

On 14 May, during National Volunteer Week, I attended the launch of Timehelp Manningham at The Pines shopping centre in Doncaster East.

On 16 May, along with the member for Eltham in the Assembly, Steve Herbert, I
was pleased to attend the official opening of the trade training centre at the Northern College of the Arts and Technology by the federal member for Batman,
Martin Ferguson.

On 5 May I had the pleasure of attending La Trobe University Hockey Club's 45th anniversary along with the club's patron, the member for Bundoora in the other
place.

On 4 May I attended a charity ball, along with the member for Ivanhoe in the
other place, to raise funds for the establishment of a resource library at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre and to establish a fund to allow
cancer patients to access the wellness programs.

I had the pleasure on 10 May of attending Spectrum Immigration Services' celebration of five years of achievements and success.

I rise to speak again on an IBAC (Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission) bill. We have certainly had no shortage of them in recent months.

My matter is for the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, and I am very pleased she is in the house to respond to it. The city of Wyndham is the largest and fastest growing municipality in the whole of Australia. It is estimated that 11 families move into that municipality every day.

I welcome an opportunity to speak on the Disability Amendment Bill 2012.

I wish to draw to the attention of members that at 12.30 p.m. today an event called Feed the Soul is being held in the Legislative Council committee room.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the coalition's 2011-12 midyear financial report, because it serves to highlight one thing -- that is, the failure by this government to create a jobs plan.

On 20 April I visited the now completed South Morang train station together with the Leader of the Opposition and member for Mulgrave in the Assembly, Daniel Andrews, and the members for Yan Yean, Mill Park and Thomastown in the Assembly, Danielle Green, Lily D'Ambrosio and Bronwyn Halfpenny.

On another matter, on 24 April I attended the official opening of Charles La Trobe College, together with the member for Ivanhoe in the Assembly, Anthony Carbines, and the federal member for Jagajaga and Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin.

On 29 April I attended a commemorative ceremony for the victims of the February 2009 bushfires at Flag Pole Hill, Flowerdale.