I too rise to speak today in support of the Major Crime and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. I am very pleased to follow the contribution of my good friend the member for Tarneit, and I think that was an excellent contribution.
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit Yuille Park P–8 Community College in my electorate of Wendouree. The school is truly one of the greatest examples of staff and families working together to support students and provide them with opportunities to grow and thrive.
As part of the Victorian Budget 2022/23, the Government invested in a new $250 Power Saving Bonus from 1 July 2022, driving down the cost of living right across the state.
I too would like to speak in support of the Early Childhood Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, which introduces stronger regulations for early childhood services and safeguards for the quality of maternal and child health services. I will be focusing on our stronger regulations for early childhood services during this debate and the importance of this bill passing in 2022.
On Saturday, 27 August, I had the great pleasure of attending the Ballarat Keralites Foundation of Australia’s annual Onam festival with Labor candidate for Ripon Martha Haylett and more than 250 members. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for making us feel so welcome and thank the BKFA for their good work in our community.
The activation of traffic lights at the newly upgraded Gillies and Gregory Street intersection marks the completion of the Andrews Labor Government’s first Keeping Ballarat Moving project.vMinister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said the newly finished project will reduce the risk of crashes and providing safer turning and crossing points for pedestrians.
Restoration works have begun at two avenues of honour in central Victoria, with the Andrews Labor Government supporting efforts to revive these significant sites for commemorating the service of local veterans. Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane visited Ballarat to mark the beginning of the restoration of the two memorial avenues of trees, at Ballarat East and Tourello Road.
Regional Victorian councils, business, tourism, industry and the creative sector are coming together to support delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Games at a Partnership Forum hosted by the Andrews Labor Government.
The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring public hospitals have the latest vital equipment and engineering infrastructure to continue providing world-class healthcare for all Victorians. Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced 38 health services and public health laboratories across Victoria will share in $105 million of new equipment to treat patients and save lives.
Residents in Ballarat and surrounding areas are benefiting from greater access to justice supports and services thanks to the relocation and upgrade of the Ballarat Justice Service Centre, funded by the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today officially opened the new Justice Service Centre in Camp Street Ballarat, which has replaced the previous Mair Street site to house the growing workforce and provide high quality critical services to those in the region.
Students at Black Hill Primary School will take part in a Bike Ed Challenge to put their riding skills to the test thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Community Road Safety Grants Program. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said students will complete a number of courses as part of the challenge including bike skills, balance, coordination, peripheral vision, and decision making, before participating in the challenge with three other schools.
The Andrews Labor Government will establish five new GP-led Priority Primary Care Centres to give Victorians the care they need while easing pressure on our busy emergency departments (EDs). Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that Priority Primary Care Centres will be established close to five hospitals – giving Victorians an alternative to visiting an ED.
I too am very proud to rise to speak in support of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Bill 2022, and I agree with the member for Footscray that this is a historic day for our Parliament. I am honoured to have the opportunity to speak on this, and I am honoured to follow so many incredible women who I admire so much.
A free fishing festival that celebrates the opening of trout season will return to Ballarat next month. Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny said the BallaratFishing Festival will be held on Saturday 3 September from 9am to 3pm at Lake Wendouree, north of Windmill Drive.
My constituency question is for the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep regarding the introduction of 30 hours per week of fully funded universal pre-prep for all Victorian children from 2025. How will this transformation of Victoria’s early education system benefit parents, carers and children in Ballarat?
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy in the other place. I would like to invite the minister to visit my electorate of Wendouree and the great city of Ballarat to discuss with members of my community how we may be involved to maximise the benefits and legacy that hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games will bring to Ballarat and regional Victoria.
Congratulations to Ballarat’s extraordinary and impressive young people who were nominated for and won awards at the City of Ballarat Youth Awards 2022. The achievements of almost 100 young people aged between 12 and 25 were recognised by the City of Ballarat through the nomination process.
The Andrews Labor Government is giving more young people in regional Victoria the chance to save money and ditch their older model cars for a safer, more modern vehicle. Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll today announced the expansion of the unsafe2safe trial right across regional Victoria, with expressions of interest now open until 4 September 2022.