Issues

On 2 December 2009. the Greens had an historic opportunity to vote with the Rudd Labor Government to pass the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).  The CPRS would have reduced our nation's emissions for the first time in history.

This scheme is designed to limit Australia's carbon emissions by making polluters pay for the pollution they produce and rewarding those who reduce their carbon pollution.

This is an issue that affects all Australians.  Failure to take action on climate change today will make future change so much harder.  That's why I am asking you to sign a petition to show your support for action against climate change - by requesting all political parties to support the CPRS next time its re-introduced into the federal parliament in February 2010.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) does not need the support of the Liberal Party; it just needs the 5 Green Senators to support it.  Show them you support the CPRS by simply completing this petition.

PS - The Brumby Government supports the Rudd Federal Government's CPRS laws as Climate Change is already impacting on many Victorian's lives.  Action is needed now.

Labor candidate for Brunswick, Jane Garrett, has welcomed the announcement of a Brumby Labor Government $23 million climate change program that will help individual Victorians and communities take local action to reduce emissions. 

Ms. Garrett said the Victorian Government would work in partnership with Victorians to help drive down emissions and seize new opportunities in a climate change economy, under the new Climate Communities program.

“The actions of human beings have a direct impact on our climate,” Ms Garrett said.
“Much of the debate on national and global action on climate change centres on the negative impact human beings have had on the climate, but I want to shift the focus onto the positive impact human beings can have on our climate.

Carlo Carli MP has made a submission for the local Bus Service Review.  In his submission he argues for:

• upgrade of local bus services, including the introduction of Sunday services
• better information for bus users
• more bus shelters, and to build a Coburg Transport Interchange next to the train station (not hundreds of metres away on Bell Street)
• and no diversion of the 504 to service Parkville Gardens

A copy of the submission is available for download.

Part of $2 Million Brumby Government Funding to Improve Sustainable Transport

Jane Garrett, Labor candidate for Brunswick, has welcomed news of an $160,000 Brumby Labor Government initiative to fund a new alternative north south bike route through Brunswick and Brunswick East linking Carlton North and Coburg.

Moreland City Council has received $160,000 as part of nearly $2 million given to councils in Melbourne and regional Victoria to improve local access and overcome barriers to walking, cycling and public transport.

The $226,000 Canning Street Extension Project will be delivered thanks to joint funding from the Brumby Government’s fourth round of TravelSmart and Local Area Access Program grants and Moreland City Council.

“I am delighted to announce funding for this project, which will improve sustainable transport options in our community and encourage people to leave their cars at home for short trips,” Ms Garrett said.

• Carlo Carli MP, addressing Parliament, calls on Minister for Education to admit Brunswick Secondary College to Building Futures
  
• Need to expand Brunswick Secondary College to 1000 students
  
• Primary school enrolment boom in Brunswick - up 190 kids in five years

Mr CARLI (Brunswick) — I raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Education. The Minister for Education is very familiar with the Brunswick Secondary College, because before 2002 the school was in her electorate. It has been apparent for quite some time now that Brunswick Secondary College, with its enrolment capped at 850 students, is not able to respond to the current boom in education in the Brunswick-Coburg area. In Brunswick there has been a massive increase in the numbers of kids going to primary schools; in fact over the past five years there have been 190 extra enrolments in five primary schools in Brunswick.

Government schools are giving students every opportunity to shine. The 'shine' campaign highlights examples of fantastic and innovative teachers, the many options available to students, state of the art school buildings and community partnerships in Victorian government schools.

The new agreement between the operators fo Yarra Trams, KDR, and the State Government includes:

• Yarra Trams to continue to be the operating name of Melbourne’s Tram Service
  
• 50 new large low floor trams on the way
  
• 33 Z Class Trams to be renovated and updated
  
• Creation of the KDR Customer Service and Safety Training Academy
  
• Improved punctuality targets – up from 78 to 82 percent
  

Final patronage figures for the 2008/09 year were:

• Train -213.9 million (up 6.3 per cent); 


• Tram -178.1 million (up 12.5 per cent); 


• Bus - 99.5 million (up 9 per cent); and 


• Total - 491.5 million (up 9 per cent).

New Grants have been announced to strengthen the world game in our local communities

Grant information is available on this website

Australia’s budding stars for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Finals could be nurtured by a new Brumby Labor Government program, Strengthening the World Game.

Soccer clubs, organisations and local councils can now apply to Strengthening the World Game for up to $100,000 to upgrade or build their club facilities.

Victoria has seen strong demand for soccer, and the Victorian Football Federation reports a growth in registrations for junior soccer in the order of 18.6 percent between 2007 and 2008.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to kick off even more participation in local soccer clubs,” the State Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli, said.

“Improving club facilities will encourage community involvement in the sport – which will lead to an increase of active and healthy lives,“ Mr. Carli said.

“Local soccer clubs have had unprecedented growth and it’s placed great demand on
existing facilities. These grants will help those clubs keep their players on the field,” Mr. Carli said.

The State Government has announced a series of initiatives on Sydney Road.  These include:

• a 40km/h speed limit
  
• Removing the counter peak clearway in Coburg
  
• Linemarking parking bays
  
• Installing directional parking signs (to offstreet parking)
  
• Linemarking for bicycles
  
• Expanded clearway hours

For more details consult Keeping Melbourne Moving

A Brumby Government blitz on rooming houses to improve the living conditions of many of Victoria’s most vulnerable community members has been welcomed by local MP Carlo Carli

The Premier, John Brumby today announced that Consumer Affairs Victoria would employ 12 dedicated inspectors specifically trained and dedicated to rooming houses to step up enforcement efforts.

The Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors will work with local council inspectors to:

• Undertake more inspections of rooming houses;


• Ensure rooming houses are properly registered; and


• Issue compliance notices to ensure rooming houses comply with minimum standards.

“The conditions of some rooming houses are a blight on our suburbs,” Mr. Carli said.

“I am very happy that the government is taking action on those predatory operators of intentionally sub-standard rooming houses who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our community”

Mr Brumby also announced a new rooming house taskforce, which would meet for the first time this Friday and report back to Government within six weeks on a new set of minimum standards and enforcement of standards for rooming houses.

The taskforce includes representatives from peak groups such as the Victorian Council on Social Service, the Council for Homeless Persons, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, as well as housing providers.

Vichealth has introduced a new website, VictoriaWalks.

Encouraging walking is a great way to change your neighbourhood for the better. When you walk, you meet your neighbours, get healthy, save money and save the planet. We’ve found the best, most practical tools to help promote walking so take a stroll around the site and get inspired.  The website has an extensive array of resources and tools to assist people to work together to make their neighbourhoods better for walking (both socially and physically). 

Melbourne’s public transport network has shown its support for World Environment Day today with the launch of Yarra Trams’ latest ‘greendepot’ at Brunswick.

Greendepots have already implemented at three other depots including East Preston, Malvern and Glenhuntly.

Incorporating water and energy saving systems, greendepots reduce environmental impacts and encourage sustainable practices

Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli MP, said the existing depots save a combined 4.09 million litres of water each year, with the Brunswick Depot expected to harvest an additional 2.5 million litres of water annually.

The Brumby Labor Government has released a Climate Change Green Paper for community comment.

The Green Paper outlines in detail the risks facing our state and the likely impacts of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and also proposes ways Victoria can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change and become a leading low carbon economy.

This release also starts a four month public consultation period, which will lead to the development of a Climate Change White Paper.

More information is available at www.climatechange.vic.gov.au