The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the biggest women’s sporting event in the world, and last week we welcomed the trophy to Wendouree. The 2023 tournament will be the first time the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources and Minister for the State Electricity Commission. I deliberately refer to all of the minister’s portfolios, because the action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Wendouree to meet with relevant stakeholders and local organisations about how the Andrews Labor government is supporting households with their energy bills, bringing back the SEC, accelerating clean energy investment in Victoria’s economy and reducing emissions.
The first tower crane has been given an official name ahead of its arrival on the site of the Andrews Labor Government’s massive $595 million Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment. The 43-metre high crane has been named after Maureen Woodford to honour her significant contribution to healthcare in the Ballarat community.
A new whisky, gin and vodka distillery will open in Ballarat this year, creating construction jobs now and boosting the city’s hospitality offering well into the future. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Eureka Michaela Settle toured the fit-out underway at the Ballarat Goods Shed where the distillery ‘Itinerant Spirits’ will deliver a world class distillery and bar.
I want to thank the Treasurer and his ministerial office for the work that they have been doing to bring in this bill, which is to amend the Duties Act 2000, the Fire Services Property Levy Act 2012, the Land Tax Act 2005, the Payroll Tax Act 2007, the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Subdivision Act 1988, the Taxation Administration Act 1997 and the Valuation of Land Act 1960 and for other purposes.
The Andrews Labor Government is doing what matters for families, parents and kids across regional Victoria, with a comprehensive package to give parents the support they need at the start of their life as a new family.
Happy 150th to Sebastopol Primary School. Congratulations to everyone involved in organising events over the weekend, celebrating 150 years of public education in Sebastopol.
The Andrews Labor Government is doing what matters for regional Victorians - delivering cost of living relief, upgrading schools and hospitals and creating thousands of jobs across the state. Since we came to government, we have invested an average of $4.6 billion in each and every Budget in regional Victoria – and this year goes above and beyond to deliver for Victorians in every corner of our state.
Thank you for your question, Ms Addison, and for your commitment to Victorian women. The Victorian Government is deeply committed to gender equality, in all its forms, and has demonstrated this commitment by investing in and prioritising women’s health and wellbeing, economic equity, leadership and representation, and safety.
The Andrews Labor Government is another step closer to delivering the massive Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment, with four industry leaders shortlisted for the contract.
I direct my adjournment matter to the Minister for Creative Industries, and the action I seek is for him to visit my electorate of Wendouree to meet with the Ballarat International Foto Biennale CEO Vanessa Gerrans and board members to discuss the upcoming 2023 biennale, which will be held from 26 August to 22 October this year.
As many people know, I am a big fan of racing. I am a member of the Ballarat Turf Club and I am a member of the Ballarat & District Trotting Club, and I am pleased to be supporting this Gambling Regulation Amendment Bill 2023 that will provide certainty for the Victorian racing industry.
Students across the state are being encouraged to take an active role in their learning journeys, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Local MPs, Juliana Addison and Michaela Settle helped kick off Education Week at Ballarat Tech School, where local students rolled up their sleeves to enjoy some of the programs on offer this year.
Hundreds of Victorians with a passion for horses will have the opportunity to start a career in racing thanks to a program placing disadvantaged jobseekers into work with some of the state’s best stables. Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines today visited the Ballarat Turf Club to announce a $3.1 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government to deliver 200 jobs in the racing sector through Jobs Victoria.
The Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club (BGRC) is set to benefit from the construction of a new kennel building which will improve the quality and safety of racing and training infrastructure at Morshead Park. The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the upgrade with more than $1.6 million provided through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund with Greyhound Racing Victoria matching the contribution, bringing the total value of the project to more than $3.3 million.
The Andrews Labor Government is backing more locals to get involved in community sport at Wendouree West Recreation Reserve and nearby Victoria Park, with new facilities boosting sports from skateboarding to soccer.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a new community sporting venue at Miners Rest, that will support local sports clubs to train and compete ahead of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. The brand-new venue will be just ten minutes from Eureka Stadium and include a competition-grade oval and sports pavilion with carparking, amenities and changerooms all designed to accommodate local sporting activities.
The Andrews Labor Government will give motorists the option to carry their licence on their phone with a digital driver licence trial in Ballarat before a statewide roll-out by 2024. The new technology will give motorists the choice to store a secure digital version of their driver licence in the popular Service Victoria app or soon-to-be-launched my VicRoads app.