I am very pleased to stand today to speak about the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee’s report on the inquiry into Victorian universities’ investment in skills, which was tabled on 1 September by the chair, the member for Lara.
I too rise to speak in support of the Disability Amendment Bill 2022, which will improve services, safeguards and protections for people with disability and will further acquit this government’s commitment to reviewing and reforming the Disability Act 2006.
Grampians Health Ballarat is driving environmental awareness in regional Victoria by taking delivery of two State Government fleet battery electric vehicles. The zero-emission Hyundai Kona Electric cars will cover a lot of ground across the Ballarat region, supporting the Government’s charge towards a state-wide net zero emissions target by 2050.
Victoria 2026 will present a critical opportunity to invest in community infrastructure in regional Victoria, including housing and world-class sporting facilities. The Games will provide a huge boost to tourism and local businesses in regional Victoria, bringing visitors from more than 70 Commonwealth nations and territories.
The Andrews Labor Government has unveiled final designs for the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment, which will deliver local families world-class health services. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today revealed the new designs of the multi-level tower that will house a new emergency department, a women and children’s hub, a state-of-the-art theatre suite and an extra 100 inpatient and short-stay beds.
Highly-skilled teachers and school leaders in Ballarat are another step closer to accessing world-class professional learning opportunities, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today announced the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (the Academy) will be built on Camp Street in the Ballarat Regional Centre.
The Andrews Labor Government is boosting social and affordable housing in Ballarat, ramping up its landmark Big Housing Build to provide homes to those who need it most, where they need it. Minister for Housing Danny Pearson today visited a soon to be finished home in Ballarat - one of 216 now underway as part of the unprecedented $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and other social and affordable housing programs.
City of Ballarat Council will receive a valuable investment in the future of its local libraries, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Public Libraries Funding Program. $731,084 is being invested into City of Ballarat’s three public libraries in Wendouree, Ballarat Central and Sebastopol.
Will the Minister for Health please advise how making university and specialist training free for thousands of nurses and midwives will benefit future nursing and midwife students, Grampians Health and patients in Ballarat?
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.