Brunswick Labor.net

Since the release of the East West Needs Assessment Study Report there has been a vigorous debate over its recommendations.

There is a very strong community view that:

• Action is needed to meet demand for sustainable transport services
• Action is needed to address social disadvantage
• Action is needed to ensure that the transport sector makes a contribution to meeting ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
  

Our community has told us via public meetings, conversations in the shops, on the street corners, via phone, letter and email and on the internet that their priority is for a better sustainable transport network. They want better public transport networks that provide real access and choice. They want better walking and cycling infrastructure to cater for people who walk and cycle to work, to shop and to socialise.

The Brunswick community will have the opportunity to participate in a live, online forum about Sir Rod Eddington’s report into Melbourne’s east-west transport needs.



On Friday 11 July, the Government will lead a 2.5 hour, online discussion about recommendations in Sir Rod Eddington’s report – Investing in Transport.

In developing the best transport plan for the community, the government has said it wants to hear from those people who cycle to work, drive across town and catch trains, trams and buses.

To participate register on the Premier's website, www.premier.vic.gov.au

Carlo Carli MP has welcomed the release of the draft Garnaut Climate Change Review report today.

The tenor of the report is clear - that as a country we need to act and address climate change.

However, we need to have a clear understanding of the implications of the changes that are coming such as an Emissions Trading System.

We need to ensure a pathway to a low emissions future while protecting communities – especially low income households –  against the negative effects of a new system.

I urge everyone to read the report, and get involved in the debate.

 Dawson Street Child Care Co-operative is amongst nine childcare providers in the Brunswick electorate that will share in $10.7 million in Brumby Government grants to buy equipment, expand surfaces, renovate and improve general amenities.

Nine local services each received grants as part of the Brumby Government’s boost to the state’s early childhood services.

Dawson Street Child Care Co-operative would receive $100,000 to extend the toddlers room to increase capacity, and to install a new entry gate and pathway.

Young drivers are being mailed out free green P Plates as the new probationary driver system is set to go on July 1.

From 1 July 2008 a new four-year, two-stage probationary license system will begin across Victoria, replacing the existing three-year license.

The new system is expected to save up to 12 lives per year under the Victorian Government's road safety strategy, Arrive Alive!

Brunswick North West Primary and Moreland Primary Schools will receive a healthy boost after receiving $6,000 each from the 'Go for your Life' Healthy Start Grants scheme.

The funding will be used in individual schools for a variety of purposes such as upgrading existing canteen facilities, repairs to exercise tracks, bike sheds, provide re-asphalting, all-weather protection of outdoor play areas and kitchen gardens.

 

Carlo Carli's submission on the Blueprint for Early Childhood and School Reform is now available to download.

The submission particularly focuses on earl;y childhood issues including:

• the nature of early childhood services in Brunswick
• Co-location or Partnerships?
• Workforce issues including qualifications and conditions and
• the future of sessional kindergarten

Its available to download from the side bar on the left or here.

There is some confusion up at Moreland and more than a whiff of political opportunism on the part of some councillors in regards to the State Government's decision to aid the development of activity centres like Coburg.

Below the fold is my full speech last week on the State Governments support for Coburg 2020...

As I said, this is a shared vision of mine, as the local member for Brunswick, and of the member for Pascoe Vale. This is a vision that will have an influence on both our electorates. We understand the importance of Melbourne 2030. We understand the importance of a more sustainable city. We want to get on with the job. We think we have been given the tools to get on with the job. We are very keen to work with Moreland council, and I think the majority of Moreland council is keen to work with the state government and its local MPs. But, as I said, there are those members of the Greens party in Moreland who would rather play politics with these important projects.

They are trying to turn an important project of urban renewal into an area of political conflict, to be able to attack the Victorian government and their state representatives.

Speech to parliament by Carlo Carli on the Brunswick Secondary College.

Mr CARLI (Brunswick) -- As all honourable members are aware, you cannot believe everything you read in the newspapers, and that is certainly true in relation to the article in the Sunday Herald Sun of last weekend about an incident that occurred at the Brunswick Secondary College.
The suggestion in the article is that the school has been too lenient on a student who was involved in this incident. This article is a result of an anonymous letter written by three students that was sent to the shadow Minister for Education, the member for Nepean, and it somehow ended up in the hands of the newspaper. There are inaccuracies in the article.
The facts were not checked with the school. The school was incredibly decisive and showed enormous leadership. When the incident occurred the student involved in it was suspended for a week.

I must say Brunswick Secondary College is an extremely safe school.
It has a great reputation. I send two of my children to that school. I realise it is a great school and they realise it is a great school. The school has worked hard to get a good reputation and be considered safe; it does not need this sort of inaccuracy presented in newspapers as a result of a leak like the one made by the member for Nepean.
It has been a very distressing incident for the school community. I know the school community will rally behind the school leadership, the acting principal
-- --
The DEPUTY SPEAKER -- Order! The member's time has expired.

ALP State Conference on the weekend passed a strong resolution on the direction of transport policy in the state.

The resolution adopted on transport positions the Party following the Eddington report. It calls for a metropolitan transport action plan that

• addresses transport disadvantage by providing mobility and choice, especially in outer Melbourne;
• reaffirms our commitment to 20 percent of all journeys by public transport in metropolitan Melbourne by 2020;
• enhances the liveability of Melbourne
• addresses rail capacity constraints;
• upgrades bus service standards; and
• addresses the need for the transport sector to make a major contribution to meeting Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
  

While there is much more work to be done in this area, however the ALP supreme decision-making body has made a strong statement around the priorities to be applied to transport policy.

Full text of the resolution is below the fold.

Upfield line trains will be six carriages long every day to 7pm (including weekends) following an announcement this morning by Connex.

I am very pleased by this announcement, and hope that it leads to a better service for the many public transport commuters in my electorate.

Students, casual workers, families and shift workers in particular will benefit from this initiative, which I have been lobbying for and many of my constituents have, in turn, lobbied me for.

Babies and young families, home buyers and services are the big winners in the 2008-09 State Budget, Carlo Carli, Member for Brunswick said today.

“New figures released today show we are in the middle of a baby boom,” Mr. Carli said.

“Over 73,700 births recorded last year – the highest since 1971 and we are rolling out initiatives to make sure families have the services they need for their children.”

Minister for Sport, James Merlino announced another $45,000 grant to Moreland City Council to replace existing rasses on local sporting grounds with warm season grasses.

Managing the effects of the drought is a challenge for all Victorians. That’s why the Brumby Government has been working in partnership with local councils and their communities to keep grassroots sport alive and meet the challenges of the drought. These new surfaces will be a low-maintenance grass that is not only drought-resistant but will also be able to withstand more wear and tear.

The effects of the drought have forced us to think of new ways to keep sport alive in the face of climate change. Today’s funding is about giving the local community more opportunities to get involved in sport and recreation – no matter what the weather brings.

The sports grounds to benefit from new the turf will be AG Gillon Reserve, Fleming Park and Reaburn Reserve in Brunswick; Cook Reserve and Wallace Reserve South in Glenroy; Campbell Reserve in Coburg, Richards Reserve in Coburg North; CB Smith Reserve in Fawkner; and Cole Reserve North in Pascoe Vale.

The grant is part of the Labor Government’s $12.9 million Drought Relief for Community Sport Program that has already funded 72 projects to reduce the impact of drought in 42 Victorian local government areas.

Childcare operators who fail to supervise children, protect them from harm or subject them to unreasonable discipline will have their penalties doubled under new measures announced by Premier John Brumby.

The Children’s Legislation Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament last week, meant Victorian parents would be the first in Australia to be able to check the compliance records of all children’s services online.

The new laws would also increase penalties for not providing proper learning and development programs for children, strengthening the Brumby Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education provided in childcare centres.