No Images? Click here THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENTWELCOMEVictoria is Australia's largest agricultural producer and it goes without saying that the industry is of the utmost significance to Northern Victoria. Delays associated with the $440m Murray Basin Rail project have major implications for the upcoming harvest, our dairy industry is in crisis, inequities in drought support between the States continues to frustrate farmers, and no-one could question the immediate need for further financial and emotional support for those living off the land. I raised these issues in numerous ways in Parliament this week. Moira Shire is no doubt relieved that the Federal Government has sensibly resolved their access to $1m in drought funding. My hope is that all levels of government will commit to assistance that is accessible early enough to prevent more farmers reaching crisis point. - Tania BILLS DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
BILLS DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
MURRAY BASIN RAIL PROJECT Debate resumed on my Motion calling on the Minister for Transport Infrastructure (Jacinta Allan) to attend a public meeting to provide information and answer questions on the Murray Basin Rail Project. Lack of public information, including the discontinuation of Industry Advisory Group meetings, is deeply concerning. There are a raft of questions that people across Northern Victoria and beyond rightly want to ask and they deserve a hearing and the answers. Transparency in government is paramount and the worst thing right now for anyone with a stake in this vitally important project is to continue to be met by more silence. SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENTQuestion Without Notice - Drought assistanceMy question was to the Minister for Agriculture regarding variations in the amounts of drought assistance made available by State governments and to take action on the shortfall for Moira Shire. Farmers can receive up to $90,000 in New South Wales, up to $50,000 in Queensland, yet only up to approximately $8,000 in Victoria. These variations cause angst for farmers and I suggested the Victorian Government could do more to bring Victoria in line with other states. Motion - Youth Justice CentresI asked the Government to provide Victorians with their latest thinking on how they intend to strengthen the security of the State’s Youth Justice Centres between now and the planned opening in 2021 of the Cherry Creek facility. I also asked for a release of the full version of the 2018 interim evaluation of their youth crime prevention grants (YCPG) program. In an era in which the challenges of managing youth crime remain especially problematic, it is absolutely critical that we know whether programs are well focused and effective. If they are not, then they need to be replaced and reprogrammed. It is as simple as that. Constituency Question - Dairy IndustryMy Constituency Question this week was to the Minister for Agriculture. The Rural Assistance Commissioner, Peter Tuohey, was recently quoted as saying that "the dairy industry is pretty much on the brink of collapse in Northern Victoria". I asked the Minister if she could inform my constituents what new measures and improvements are being put in place by the Government to address this devastating situation in the dairy industry in our region. Adjournment - Cross BorderDifferences in laws, regulations and conventions across State borders impact a myriad of areas including further education, health and mental health services, licensing, public holidays and opening hours, and driving requirements - just to name a few! Cross-border issues should be considered when laws and regulations are being developed. I've asked the Minister for Regional Development to join me in meeting with the Cross Border Commissioner to discuss incorporating mandatory cross-border components into regulatory impact statements and funding guidelines. MENTAL HEALTH FORUMOn 22 October, I had the opportunity to attend the Northern Region Mental Health Forum (Substance Abuse and Mental Health) in Shepparton. It was an absolute pleasure to meet and hear from Mr Anthony Pettiona, Director of Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia, who delivers training to organisations regarding drug awareness. DAY FOR DANIELI was privileged to join the sea of red on the Sunshine Coast last Friday for 'Day for Daniel', a national day of action to raise funds and awareness for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. The Foundation provides a range of resources for schools, parents and carers to encourage conversations with children about their personal safety and directly supports young survivors of crime. In the last year, there were more than 10,000 victims of crime across Victoria who were children, more than half under the age of 14. Daniel should be approaching his 30th birthday this December and should have enjoyed all the experiences in the journey from childhood to adulthood. We will never forget him and will continue to work for the safety of children. INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESSThe State Government's Inquiry into Homelessness is being conducted by the Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee, of which I am a member. I was joined by representatives from the Centre Against Violence and the Rural City of Wangaratta in advocating for a hearing to be held in Wangaratta as part of the Inquiry’s regional schedule. We feel strongly that the Inquiry will benefit from conducting a hearing in Wangaratta, enabling local stakeholders and people experiencing homelessness with an opportunity to talk directly to the Committee about issues specific to the region. |