Lynne Kosky MP. General Information on State Issues. Page last edited 4/08/08 YOUNG DRUG USERS TARGETED IN NEW TAC CAMPAIGN Young Victorians who indulge in illegal party drugs have been deliberately targeted in the TAC’s latest effort to tackle drug driving and reduce the number of deaths on Victoria ’s roads. The new public education campaign would start tonight and send a blunt message to young road users graphically showing the danger of driving under the influence of drugs. This campaign specifically targets the high number of young men putting themselves and others at risk when driving on drugs. Driving on drugs is illegal, stupid and highly dangerous. Approximately 20 per cent of drivers killed on our roads test positive for amphetamine-type stimulants and cannabis. Stimulant use is associated with a three-fold increase in risk of a crash and is thought to encourage dangerous behaviour like speeding. A recent report from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre found that 71 per cent of drug users had driven a motor vehicle in the last six months within one hour of taking drugs. Of those reporting driving under the influence of drugs, 63 per cent admitted to using ecstasy, 65 per cent amphetamine type stimulants and 63 per cent cannabis. This campaign is part of our strategy to make our roads safer and our message is a simple one - If you drive on drugs, you’re out of your mind. Since testing began in December 2004, approximately 62,530 random drug tests have been conducted, with 1,059 drivers caught drug driving. NEW TRAIN SETS TO BOOST CAPACITY ON REGIONAL TRAINS New V/Line VLocity train sets are the centrepiece of a $236 million Brumby Government package to boost capacity on Victoria ’s booming regional rail network. The Government will purchase nine new three-carriage VLocity train sets and an additional carriage for the current fleet to increase space on trains travelling on the state’s busiest routes. Public transport is crucial to the liveability of regional centres and our Government is taking action to ensure they are well-equipped to continue to grow and thrive. The investment in Regional Fast Rail sparked a renaissance in regional train travel with more people than ever before choosing to catch the train and patronage at a 60-year record high. The 28 new VLocity carriages, as part of this latest order, will add more than 2000 extra seats across the network which is great news for people living, working or visiting regional Victoria and means we will be able to get more people on busy services. This announcement comes on top of the 22 carriages already under construction, which have a seating capacity of 1760, bringing our total commitment to 50 carriages and over 3800 seats – this will make a major difference to people using our popular regional rail network. It marks the biggest government investment in new regional rolling stock since Regional Fast Rail and is about ensuring we are well-placed to meet growing demand into the future. PROGRESS REPORT ON MAJOR WATER PROJECTS The Brumby Government has released a report into the progress of its major water projects underway throughout Victoria . The Brumby Government is taking action to boost water supplies through a diverse range of water projects as we face the challenges of extreme drought, a growing population, and the reality of climate change. The Next Stage of the Government’s Water Plan builds on other major water projects already underway across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Desalination Plant Project The 150 billion litre desalination plant will supply water to Melbourne, Geelong and towns in Western Port and South Gippsland regardless of rainfall. The Government has started acquiring land near Wonthaggi and are conducting an extensive Environment Effects Statement to ensure a minimisation of any impacts on the environment. Food Bowl Modernisation Project and Sugarloaf Pipeline $2 billion is being invested to upgrade leaky, old irrigation infrastructure in northern Victoria to capture 425 billion litres of water now lost through seepage, evaporation and system inefficiencies. The early works program is now underway with 1000 automated gates and meters being installed. The authority established to deliver the project has also commenced extensive consultation with farmers and other stakeholders in the region. Victorian Water Grid Work is underway to expand the network of pipelines which will enable water to be moved around the State. Planning and detailed studies are underway on projects in the Water Plan including the Geelong-Melbourne Pipeline and the Hamilton-Grampians Pipeline. Projects like the $280 million Goldfields Superpipe project for Bendigo and Ballarat, which was completed two years ahead of schedule, were vital to secure Victoria ’s water supplies. Increased Water Recycling A $300 million upgrade to Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant will provide more than 100 billion litres of Class A recycled water to be used for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial and environmental flows. Melbourne currently recycles more of its wastewater than any other major city in Australia and a business case is currently being prepared to determine the best use of additional recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade. Water Conservation Water conservation - including water restrictions and water saving products like rainwater tanks and showerheads - has helped reduce demand on our drinking water supplies. Melburnians used 34 per cent less water per person in 2007 compared with the 1990s – but with storages below 30 per cent we cannot be complacent. A copy of the progress report can be found at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au BRUMBY GOVERNMENT BOOST TO CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY Victorian students will get better access to the latest in technology courtesy of a $7 million Brumby Government boost to buy more school computers. This funding boost will allow schools to buy more desktop and notebook computers. Education remains the Brumby Government’s number one priority which is why we are investing in the resources young Victorians and their teachers need to have the best learning opportunities. The Brumby Government will continue investing in information and communications technology in schools to make sure every student is prepared and ready for the challenges of the future. It is important to continue to provide cutting-edge educational opportunities as a part of school curriculum to ensure Victorian students are given the best possible start in life through a quality education. The $7 million allocation is part of the Victorian Labor Government’s $28 million Increase Access to Computers initiative announced in 2006. FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION BILL TO SUPPORT VICTIMS Women and children who are victims of family violence will be better protected under landmark Brumby Government legislation recently introduced into Parliament. The Family Violence Protection Bill would increase the protection available to victims and make perpetrators more accountable for their actions. Family violence is found in all parts of our community, irrespective of economic status, education, age, or family situation. Family violence remains the leading contributor to preventable death, disability and illness in women between the ages of 15 and 44. Addressing family violence is one of the most important challenges facing our community. Key elements of the Bill include: Making it easier for victims of family violence to remain in the family home with their children while the perpetrator may be required to leave; Restricting the ability of self-represented alleged perpetrators of family violence to personally cross-examine their victims in court; Defining family violence to include economic and emotional abuse, as well as other types of threatening and controlling behaviour, for the purpose of seeking intervention orders; and Broadening the definition of ‘family member’ to cover contemporary families and include carers of persons with a disability in ‘family-like’ relationships. The Brumby Government has committed $24.7 million towards breaking the cycle of abuse and supporting victims in this year’s State Budget, building on an investment of $50 million since 2005. CFA AND SES VOLUNTEERS GET FREE ACCESS TO NATIONAL PARKS CFA and Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers will receive a free access pass to all Victorian national parks as a thank you for protecting Victoria from emergencies. This gesture is one way of saying ‘thank-you’ to CFA and VICSES volunteers who put their lives on hold to protect Victoria from the threat of bushfire often in National Parks. Giving CFA and VICSES volunteers free access to all National Parks helps not only our volunteers who deserve recognition but also the families that support them. Volunteers will receive: Complimentary entry for one vehicle to Wilsons Promontory National Park and Mount Buffalo National Park ; Complimentary car parking in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, Mount Donna Buang area of Yarra Ranges National Park and the Mount St Gwinear area of Baw Baw National Park; and A free family pass at Point Nepean National Park . In addition to this, there are a further 34 national parks in Victoria that are free for all to enjoy. Passes will be mailed in the upcoming months to all volunteers. NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT PROBLEM GAMBLING HEAD-ON The Victorian Government will require all gaming machines in the State to contain new mechanisms giving players the option to pre-commit the amount of time and money they spend. The new standard will reduce gambling-related harm by allowing players to decide how much they’re willing to gamble, or how much time they want to spend on the machines before they begin playing. Problem gambling results when players lose control over the length of the session they have at a machine or the number of sessions they have in a week, therefore losing more than they can afford. These new measures give Victorians the option to make better decisions about how much they can afford to spend and how long they want to spend in a gaming venue. More than doubling the penalties for allowing minors to gamble; Issuing graphic new player information warnings on every machine about the effects of problem gambling; and Halving the maximum betting limit on gaming machines outside of the Melbourne casino from $10 to $5 a spin. Since 1999 the Government has introduced a range of harm-minimisation measures including capping the number of machines in vulnerable areas and eliminating 24-hour gaming venues outside the casino, banned smoking in gaming machine areas and required hotel and club gaming machine winnings in excess of $1,000 to be paid by cheque. ELECTIVE SURGERY BOOST TO TREAT ADDITIONAL PATIENTS More than 5800 extra patients will receive their elective surgery at Victorian hospitals over the next three months as a result of the first stage of the joint Federal and Victorian Governments’ $60 million elective surgery blitz. Nearly $38 million of the joint $60 million blitz announced earlier this year has already been allocated to Victorian hospitals. The joint $60 million blitz will provide elective surgery to more than 9400 additional Victorians this year and help hospitals increase their elective surgery capacity through capital works and equipment improvements. Since 1999 we have treated more than one million elective surgery patients and this year we were on track to treat around 130,000 elective surgery patients, 15,000 more than in 1999. This joint blitz will boost that capacity from 130,000 to enable around 140,000 Victorians to undergo their surgery and is expected to halve the number of long-wait patients in Victoria by the end of the year. The blitz is one of the most tangible results of a new cooperation between the Commonwealth and States and Territories to improve Australia ’s health system. VICTORIA TO REMOVE ATMS FROM GAMING VENUES Victoria will remove ATMs from gaming venues by 2012, as part of the Victorian Government’s ongoing efforts to tackle problem gaming. The restriction of ATMs from gaming venues would be part of the operations of the gaming industry post-2012. Ready access to cash in a gaming venue can be a contributor to problem gambling and the Government is taking action to remove ATMs from gaming venues. Limited exemptions may be available in small towns in regional Victoria , where there are very limited numbers of ATMs. Victoria has led the way in tackling problem gambling, most particularly with the Government’s $132 million Taking Action on Problem Gambling strategy – the biggest problem gambling strategy in Australia . Since 1999. the Victorian Government has: Introduced caps on gaming machines in 19 vulnerable communities; Eliminated 24-hour gaming venues outside the casino; Banned smoking in gaming machine areas; Banned autoplay facilities and put a freeze on spin rates; Limited access to cash in gaming venues; Restricted gaming venue signage and banning gaming machine advertising; Introduced a social and economic impact assessment of applications for more machines and new gaming venues; Launched the Think of What You’re Really Gambling With community education campaign; and Required hotel and club gaming machine winnings in excess of $1,000 to be paid by cheque. WORLD FIRST PLAN TO HELP WORKERS FIGHT CHRONIC DISEASE Tackling chronic disease is one of The Brumby Government’s highest priorities. Victoria ’s 2.6 million workers will have the chance to be screened for preventable diseases like diabetes, in a major world first initiative of the Brumby Government. The new initiative, WorkHealth, will be funded for five years under a $600 million fund to be set aside from WorkSafe’s surplus funds. The epidemic of chronic disease ranks as one of the biggest issues of our time. Chronic disease threatens our economy, our quality of life, and our longevity. Factors that increase the risk of chronic disease include poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol misuse, excess weight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Workers who are overweight and at risk of developing a chronic disease like diabetes, stroke or heart disease are more likely to be injured at work. WorkHealth will be the first program in the world to target the connection between chronic disease and workplace injury across an entire workforce. From July this year the new WorkHealth initiative will involve health care workers going across Victoria to deliver information, advice and free on-site screening services to workers. Over time the program is expected to free up $60 million per year in health costs, as well as: Cut the proportion of workers at risk of developing chronic disease by 10 per cent; Cut workplace injuries and disease by 5 per cent, putting downward pressure on premiums; Cut absenteeism by 10 per cent; and Boost productivity by $44 million a year. Under the first stage of the WorkHealth initiative, interest from the new fund will deliver $218 million in programs including: $60 million to enable WorkHealth to visit regional centres and Victoria ’s small and medium sized businesses to deliver advice and facilitate the free on-site screening services; $28 million in dollar-for-dollar grants for larger employers (up to $30 per worker) with payrolls over $10 million to cover the cost of screening and to provide advisory services and lifestyle programs at their worksite; and $130 million for prevention programs for those workers most at risk, including the lifestyle change program to encourage workers to lose weight, increase their physical activity and adopt healthier eating habits, as well as an education campaign. This new initiative is on top of the $150 million Go for your life strategy, which promotes good eating habits and an active lifestyle. Along with other ‘firsts’ such as compulsory seatbelts and smoking bans, it cements Victoria ’s reputation as an international leader in health reforms. $36.4M EQUIPMENT BOOST FOR HOSPITALS Hospitals and health services across Victoria are sharing $36.4 million in Brumby Government funding boost to update key medical and patient care equipment. Metropolitan hospitals will share in more than $27 million in equipment funding and rural and regional hospitals over $9 million. This Brumby Government funding will provide Victorian hospitals with the most modern equipment and help ensure they stay at the forefront of new technology. It is part of $225 million announced in the last State Budget to replace medical equipment throughout the hospitals and to help upgrade buildings and engineering infrastructure. This funding enables our hospitals to take advantage of advances in technology and buy the most up-to-date systems to improve patient treatment and diagnosis. The Brumby Government is continuing with its significant investment in rebuilding and improving Victorian hospitals. The equipment boost comes on top of record funding for Victoria ’s hospitals that are rated by the Federal Government, the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing and the AMA as Australia ’s best. Our hospitals admitted 1.3 million Victorians last year, 300,000 more than in 1999. This is only possible because of record support from this Government that has seen hospital funding boosted by 96 per cent since 1999 alongside a $4.2 billion health infrastructure program, the largest in Victoria ’s history. HYBRID TAXI FLEET TRIAL FOR MELBOURNE Melbourne ’s taxi fleet is set to go green with Premier John Brumby announcing a special one-off trial of 50 environmentally friendly hybrid taxis. 50 of the 100 “peak-cabs” taxi licences that are granted annually in Melbourne will be made available this year for hybrid cars. 'Peak cabs' are currently licensed to operate between 3pm and 7am everyday - travelling an average 100,000 km every year. Each of these new 'green' taxis would emit almost two tonnes less CO2 and save on average around $5,000 worth of fuel every year. The Brumby will also introduce a new green passenger hire car fleet of hybrid vehicles in metropolitan Melbourne . Hire car operators who choose to take up this environmentally friendly licence will be supported with a discounted one-off “green licence fee” of $40,000 instead of the existing $60,500 which currently applies to hire cars. At the moment Melbourne has no green cabs or hire cars and this initiative will see us compete with other states and countries which are currently trialling environmentally friendly transport options. There are obvious benefits to the whole community and the environment if vehicles use less fuel and produce fewer greenhouse gases and this initiative will tell us if hybrid vehicles can operate viably as taxis and hire cars. ADVICE AVAILABLE ON ENERGY BILLS Victorians will be able to access timely advice from financial counsellors and trained welfare workers if they experience hardship with energy bills. As part of A Fairer Victoria, the Brumby Government has allocated $600,000 over two years to Consumer Affairs Victoria to train 1,500 financial counsellors and welfare workers to assist low-income Victorians experiencing difficulty with energy costs. This training, which will be completed by June 2008, will be accompanied by the resource kit Energy Hardship: A Guide for Agencies, which is a free and comprehensive information guide for customers. The kit contains essential information on the rights and responsibilities of energy customers and retailers; energy concessions, grants, loans and other available support; and useful contact information for a range of services. Counsellors participating in the training will assist clients with specific energy issues, guide consumers through the range of assistance measures and hardship policy frameworks. This project is about providing the right support to these Victorians, through partnerships between Government, community agencies and the energy retailers. For more information about the Energy Hardship Training Project phone Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 or visit www.consumer.vic.gov.au. Channel Deepening Planning for the channel deepening project has been underway for many years and we are pleased that it is underway, for the benefit of all Victorians. This project is about jobs, and the price we pay for household goods. The size of ships which can enter Port Phillip Bay directly affects prices families pay for goods like DVDs, clothes, and whitegoods. If ships can’t come here, it costs more to get goods from interstate ports where they have deeper channels – costs passed on to Victorian families. And we export goods as well – we want to ensure our dairy farmers, our grain farmers, our manufacturers and our winemakers are not having costs heaped on their products because our port isn’t deep enough and becomes inefficient. This affects thousands of jobs across Victoria and thousands of people’s livelihoods. In port logistics alone, around 14,000 people’s jobs are affected by this project. In a raw economic sense, independent assessment shows this project adds $2.2 billion to the national economy (over 30 years). We have always said there will be impacts from channel deepening - at times, the water will be murky, and currents and wildlife will be temporarily affected. But the experts have assured us that the impacts can be managed, and are not permanent. We have done everything we can to minimise the impacts:   More than $100 million on more than 10,000 pages of scientific studies and data to minimise impacts and ensure the bay’s health. 40 technical studies on areas like fish breeding and migratory patterns, tidal movements and seagrass and how to best mitigate any impacts. One of the most comprehensive studies on the bay ever undertaken to develop world-best practices. The port will also put up a $100 million bond to ensure that money is rapidly available in the unlikely event of any problems occurring. We have been dredging the bay since the 1800s and back in that era, the dredging had none of these safeguards and up until the 1980s at times even involved explosives. But for this dredging project, we are making the process subject to the strictest environmental controls ever put in place for dredging in the bay. GREAT START FOR CLASS OF 2008 Education will continue to be the Brumby Government’s number one priority in 2008, as more than 537,600 students recently began the year at one of Victoria ’s 1,587 government schools. Education provides the foundations for life long learning and the Brumby Government wants to ensure our school system gives Victorian children every chance to achieve their best. That is why the Brumby Government is building more and better schools and continues to provide young Victorians with the very best education possible. The government system here in Victoria offers a wide range of subject choices, life skills, cultural diversity and a great education. Hundreds of students will be starting at one of three brand-new government schools and thousands more will arrive at schools that have brand-new facilities. These new schools and facilities are all part of the Victorian Schools Plan, which is the biggest-ever investment in school infrastructure and will see every government school rebuilt, renovated or extended by 2017. Government schools just keep getting better so that students across the state, regardless of where they live, have access to the best possible education. Inspiring and committed teachers and principals, record low class sizes and better than ever communication with parents are features of the Victorian school system. Recent achievements include: A progressive reduction in the average Prep to Year 2 class size to fewer than 21 students; More Victorian students achieving the national benchmark standards for Year 3 and 5 writing and Year 5 numeracy than all other states and territories; and Secondary student-to-teacher ratios better than all other states and well below the Australian average. BOGONG HYDRO A KEY TO VICTORIA ’S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE An additional 140 megawatts of clean, renewable energy for Victoria is a significant step closer with the start of tunnelling works on the $230 million Bogong Hydro Power Station. The project involves building a new underground hydro power station re-using water already being used in an existing hydro power station. The water will then flow on to two more hydro stations, before being released into the Alpine River system, without disrupting natural flows or the state’s water supply. This project is part of the Brumby Government achieving the Victorian Renewable Energy Target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 27 million tonnes. The Bogong Power Station confirms the Victorian Renewable Energy Target is working and ensuring the development of new projects to realise Victoria ’s renewable energy potential and better plan our energy future. Bogong power station owner AGL is a leader in the development of renewable energy resources in Australia and the Bogong Power Station is a significant investment, which will help ensure Victoria meets its targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The plant’s planned zero-emission power generation will be equivalent to abating over 90,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year – equal to taking 23,000 cars off the road. Brumby Government initiatives, such as the Victorian Renewable Energy Target, are ensuring that large companies such as AGL can confidently invest in Victoria ’s renewable energy future. $4 M BOOST FOR KINDERGARTEN INTERNET AND EMAIL The Brumby Government has delivered a further $4 million to continue subsidised internet and email access for Victoria ’s 1,300 community and non-profit kindergartens. The recently announced funding extends the Kinder IT Project for a further 4 years. Modern kindergartens are run in an increasingly technological world and this additional funding to extend the Kinder IT Project will ensure they keep pace with changing needs. In 2003, the Victorian Government announced the $5 million Kinder IT Project to provide modern IT equipment including computers, computer software and printers, as well as internet and email access, for kindergarten teachers and management committees. Computer and internet access has also brought the world into the classroom, allowing teachers to quickly search for information and facts about topics children want to know more about. The new funding will also extend the IT project to new kindergartens to buy computers and fund internet connections. This will include kindergartens set up as part of the Brumby Government’s $20 million four-year plan to build 40 new children’s centres across Victoria . The Brumby Government is giving kindergarten teachers the tools to enhance their knowledge and strengthen their skills in the classroom, which will benefit all Victorian children. $13.6 MILLION FOR SCHOOL ZONE SPEED SIGNS Electronic speed signs will be installed outside almost 200 schools throughout Victorian under a new $13.6 million Brumby Government program. The signs will switch on during school hours to show drivers when school speed limits are in force. “Since the introduction of school speed zones in 2003, there has been a 23 per cent reduction in casualty crashes and a 24 per cent reduction in crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists, outside schools. Given the success of school speed zones, the Brumby Government is now installing 603 new signs throughout the State. Better signs mean better warning for motorists and I urge Victorian motorists to observe speed limit signs outside schools. The electronic signs have already been installed at more than 100 schools on roads which were 80km/h or higher. Electronic signs are more visible to drivers than the standard signs. For this reason the Brumby Government is now installing them on high speed roads, or on roads carrying high levels of traffic. The signs will be installed outside schools on roads with a speed limit of 70 km/h and the highest volume of 60 km/h roads in 60 km/h zones. On both these types of roads, the speed limit is lowered to 40 km/h during the start and finish of school hours. The Brumby Government is committed to road safety and has achieved great results in this area. Victoria has recorded its lowest road toll on record over the past four years and the Brumby Government is committed to continuing to enhance road safety. PLAN TO HELP WOMEN RETURN TO WORK Premier John Brumby has announced details of a $13.2 million plan to support thousands of Victorian mothers return to paid work. Women caring for children make up the greatest proportion of people outside the workforce who want to get paid work. But they often require a skills update to give them additional confidence to return to work after long periods out of the workforce. The Brumby Government’s plan will lower the costs associated with training and lower the barriers that make it difficult for women to return to paid work. The $13.2 million Returning to Earning program, promised during last year’s election, will build on the highly successful Return to Work grants program which had helped more than 9000 parents, mostly women, return to the workforce since 2003. While Victoria ’s unemployment rate is at historic lows, there are still too many Victorian women out of work who want a job. The Returning to Earning program would target parents in two ways. In phase one of the program, 1000 Community Access grants of up to $1000 for each parent will be available to employers, industry bodies and associations, unions, local government, employment service agencies, training providers and community organisations. Community Access grants will go to programs that target parents facing the most significant barriers to paid work – including indigenous parents, parents from ethnic backgrounds, young parents who left school early, disabled parents and older parents who have been out of paid work for a long time. From early next year, parents can apply directly for 1140 Universal Grants of up $1000 a year. Grants will prioritise parents living in drought affected areas and areas of high unemployment. Over the next four years, a minimum of 12,000 grants will be made available. The Brumby Government is building women's skills and confidence to help mothers get back to work and better balance the demands of work and family. More details about Returning to Earning – Community Access grants are available at www.employment.vic.gov.au WORKCHOICES HAS WEAKENED MATERNITY LEAVE RIGHTS WorkChoices has significantly weakened the rights of women to take maternity leave and has complicated their return to work after having children, according to a new report. The report by RMIT University , called Pregnancy, Discrimination and Workplace Rights, found many women had been dismissed after notifying their work of their pregnancy. Other women were refused part time hours on their return to work, since the introduction of WorkChoices. The release of the report came as the Brumby Government moved to introduce legislation to help working parents and carers negotiate family-friendly working arrangements. This new study shows that women are being harassed at work. Derogatory remarks are being made about pregnancy, and women are not being allowed to take time off when they are ill or need to attend ante-natal appointments. They are being disciplined for taking sick leave and are having roster requests refused. They are also being denied rest breaks and promotion opportunities because of their pregnancy. The report shows that women are not having their contracts renewed and are being made redundant, either after they advised their employer of their pregnancy, or before they went on leave. WorkChoices has created a race to the bottom which is terrible for working families.” The Brumby Government has a commitment to protecting working families. Amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act have been introduced into Parliament which will require that an employer must not unreasonably refuse to accommodate a person’s parental or carer responsibilities.  REPORT HIGHLIGHTS STRENGTH OF VICTORIAN ECONOMY The recently released 2006-07 Annual Financial Report confirms the ongoing strength of the Victorian economy. The report, tabled in State Parliament, shows the State’s finances were in good shape with a higher than expected surplus, low levels of debt and net financial liabilities at their lowest level (as a percentage of GSP) in over 50 years. This has been achieved despite the impact of the drought and while investing a record $3.3 billion in infrastructure in 2006-07. The strong surplus position has given the Government a greater capacity to invest in the projects that matter to Victorians. The Brumby Government has again delivered on its key promise to maintain a surplus of at least 100 million, kept net debt low and delivered world-class infrastructure to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits for Victoria . The Victorian Government’s AAA-credit rating has recently been reaffirmed by international credit rating agencies, Standard and Poor's (September 2007) and Moody's (January 2007). NEW STUDY CONFIRMS RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY An independent study into renewable energy targets, produced on behalf of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia, vindicates the Brumby Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target. This study is a clear endorsement of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme, which will mean 10 per cent of Victorian energy consumption comes from renewable sources by 2016. Since the Victorian Renewable Energy Target was announced in June 2006, wind, solar, biomass and hydro projects with a combined value of over $2 billion have been confirmed – with these projects to create over 2,200 Victorian jobs. The report highlights that early action to transform the national electricity generation infrastructure to clean energy is cheaper over time than delayed action. The Brumby Government will continue to provide much needed leadership and encourage investment in renewable energy and technology. FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE WATER PROJECTS   The Brumby Government is providing $5 million to encourage smarter ways to save water in our cities and regional towns. The Smart Water Fund provides seed funding for water conservation, water recycling, research and development projects and bio-solids management projects. With the ongoing drought and the impact of climate change it is important to explore new solutions to saving and protecting our precious water resources. The Smart Water Fund will provide up to $5 million in funding towards innovative sustainable water use projects in metropolitan Melbourne and regional towns . There are two funding streams available for sustainable water use projects: Up to $3 million for Victoria-wide urban community and business innovations; Up to $2 million for research and development into some of the key challenges facing the water industry. Targeted project descriptions that address these challenges are available on the Smart Water Fund website. Since its inception in 2002, the Smart Water Fund has provided close to $20 million in grants to over 120 projects. Applications close on 9 November 2007 . For further information or to request an application pack, freecall 1800 882 432, visit www.smartwater.com.au or email info@smartwater.com.au STRONG VICTORIAN ECONOMY BOOSTED BY CONSTRUCTION The Victorian economy continues to perform strongly with recent National Accounts figures recording state final demand growth of 1.5 per cent for the June quarter and four per cent over the year. This strong growth reflects the longer term trend. Over the last five years, Victorian Gross State Product has outgrown Australian Gross Domestic Product with Victoria recording growth of 18.1 per cent between 2000-01 and 2005-06 compared to 17.6 per cent nationally. Growth was driven by non dwelling construction which grew 11.5 per cent in the quarter – the highest of any state – and 16 per cent over the year. Victoria ’s unmatched performance in this sector confirms the state’s highly competitive business environment. The Brumby Government is addressing the skills shortage with the highest number of apprentices in the nation and reformed business taxes to make Victoria a great place to work and invest. Since 2000-01, the Victorian Government has invested around $16 billion in infrastructure and has committed more than $13 billion over the next four years from 2007-08. VICTORIA AAA CREDIT RATING RE-AFFIRMED International ratings agency Standard & Poors today confirmed Victoria ’s AAA credit rating, reflecting the Brumby Government’s strong financial management. The AAA rating was maintained through solid budget management while still providing for tax cuts and significant infrastructure investment. This AAA rating is a clear endorsement of the Brumby Government’s financial management. Standard & Poors note that Victoria ’s stable outlook reflects the Government’s commitment to fiscal prudence In its analysis Standard & Poors highlighted Victoria ’s strengths as: A strong balance sheet Strong financial management A well-diversified economy. Since coming to office, this Government has fostered and supported an economy that has continued to go from strength to strength. Victoria ’s economy is resilient and on track and reflects confidence in Victoria as being a great place to live, work and invest. VICTORIAN SENIORS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Senior Victorians can ‘Be inspired’ by collecting a copy of the 2007 Victorian Seniors Festival program and planning their week from Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 October. The 25 th Anniversary of the Victorian Seniors Festival has been officially launched with seniors urged to pick up a program from Coles or Bi-Lo supermarkets and local libraries. Every year the Seniors Festival offers hundreds of free and low cost events to entertain, inform and celebrate seniors across Victoria . Under this year’s theme of ‘Be inspired’, the 25 th anniversary Seniors Festival will be a celebration of seniors and their contribution to the community as well as a chance to get out, get active and get together. From concerts, dances, walks and a seminar series, to historical tours and tennis tournaments, there is something for everyone at this year’s Festival. The Brumby Government is also providing free public transport to Seniors Card holders during the week of the Festival. Victorian Seniors Card holders can travel free on metropolitan public buses, trams and trains from Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 October. Free V/Line regional rail and coach services are available on Sunday 7 October, from Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 October and on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October. Seniors must make a booking for all V/Line Intercity train services and many coach services to ensure they have a seat for their entire journey. Reservations for free travel during the Seniors Festival can be made at any staffed V/Line station, V/Line ticket agent or by calling V/Line on 136 196. For more information go to www.seniors.vic.gov.au or call Information Victoria on 1800 136 762. $18.35M DIABETES INITIATIVE TO TARGET 25,000 VICTORIANS Premier John Brumby has launched the first component of a $18.35 million plan to help up to 25,000 Victorians identify and help prevent developing type 2 diabetes. The Life! Taking Action on Diabetes program is part of the successful Go for your life strategy and will deliver an intensive community-based lifestyle behaviour change program for people aged 50 and over and Aboriginal Victorians of all ages at high risk. The Brumby Government is committed to turning the tide against the looming epidemic of diabetes and obesity and to promote healthy and active living for all Victorians. Diabetes complications represent the highest number of preventable hospitalisations in Victoria . But type 2 diabetes has no known cure and more than 190,000 people live with this disease in Victoria , with 15,000 Victorians diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every year. The initiative will fund a statewide lifestyle behaviour change program initially for 25,000 Victorians at high risk of type 2 diabetes. The program includes the delivery of an evidence based intensive intervention for eligible people and a statewide marketing campaign to raise awareness of the seriousness of type 2 diabetes and its risks. Diabetes Australia Victoria will help deliver the program which includes a self-assessment tick-test, which will help people at risk work towards a weight loss of at least five per cent of their body weight, with 30 minutes of daily moderate exercise. An easy-to-use tick-test tool for people to assess their risk of type 2 diabetes was central to the program’s strategy. VICTORIAN HOSPITALS GEAR UP FOR BABY BOOM The Brumby Government is providing an extra $35.3 million to help meet increasing demand for maternity services across Victoria. The number of women giving birth in metropolitan public hospitals has increased by 12.3 per cent over the past three years. The state’s hospitals have received extra funding to help enable them to deal with the baby boom. The extra $35.3 million over four years will pay for the extra patients across Victoria . Work continues on a Maternity Demand Action Plan focussing on building capacity and capability of Victorian maternity hospitals to provide the right care for the right woman in the right place at the right time and includes: Transfer arrangements to ensure the three major maternity hospitals – Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and Mercy Hospital for Women – can continue to provide specialist capability with the support of the remainder of the hospital network Increased midwifery scholarships Increased obstetric registrar positions $882,000 for the Perinatal Emergency Referral Service (PERS), which gives maternity services anywhere in Victoria access to free expert advice about the care of women with complex needs anytime Fetal fibronectin testing for all women with threatened pre-term labour (at less than 37 weeks), which enables doctors and midwives to determine if labour is imminent and transfer to a tertiary or secondary maternity service is required or it may show that it is safe for the woman to stay in the local maternity hospital The plan builds on record funding for Victorian hospitals, the ongoing construction of the new $250m Royal Women’s Hospital and ongoing planning for a children’s wing at Monash to ensure Victorian women and their families continue to get the very best in maternity care. VULNERABLE WORKERS HIT BY WORKCHOICES A new report highlighting the real-life experiences of 30 Victorian workers confirms WorkChoices is having a devastating effect on the pay, conditions and job security of the low paid. The RMIT University report reinforces revelations the Howard Government knew WorkChoices would cause pain and suffering for many working families before the laws were introduced 16 months ago. The RMIT report, called Going Too Far: WorkChoices & the Experience of 30 Victorian Workers in Minimum Wage Sectors, shows childcare, aged care, cleaning, retail and hospitality workers are not in a position to bargain for themselves. The report finds that workers who complain about their conditions face the sack. More than half the workers interviewed for the report lost their jobs – most dismissed without warning. It shows workers’ hours of work have been changed and rosters altered without negotiation or notice. And it reveals some employers force workers on to individual contracts that remove penalty rates without compensation. The report also finds WorkChoices has created a negative workplace climate and opened the door to poor employment practices. While the Federal Government claims WorkChoices will lead to increased productivity, the study shows productivity has been confused with profitability. ‘WorkChoices missed an opportunity to bring together a fair, national industrial relations system. It has made low paid jobs more demanding and more vulnerable, compounding the effect on working families and communities. MORE FUNDING TO HELP VICTORIANS WITH BRAIN INJURIES Victorian Premier John Brumby today has announced a further boost to Victoria ’s reputation as a leader in medical and scientific research with the creation of 20 new research fellowships in neuroscience. The $4.25 million to fund 20 neuroscience research fellowships is part of the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative. We have an extraordinary pool of research talent in Victoria and we want to ensure that the expertise remains here for the benefit of the thousands of Victorians who have life changing injuries. The research fellowships would be integral in breaking down new frontiers and in assisting in both acute and long term recovery. More than 700 Victorians suffer an acquired brain or spinal injury every year and this funding recognises that it is a community problem that requires significant investment.” Other Brumby Government initiatives in neuroscience and brain injury include: $12.3 million in additional funding for support services for people with acquired brain injury; The Healthy Futures package which included $53 million to establish the Australian centre for Neuroscience and Mental health research with campuses at Parkville precinct and the Austin Hospital; and $2.2 million per year for a 10 bed purpose-built facility at Alphington to provide long term support and accommodation for young people with disabilities including brain injury and neurological conditions. NEW FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION FOR ALL VICTORIAN CHILDREN Victorian children will now get an even better start to life with the creation of a new super department to integrate children’s and education services across the State. The Brumby Government will bring the Office for Children into the Department of Education – creating the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. We know that a child’s learning starts from day one and that a child’s early experiences have a direct impact on their future prospects. The transition into school is a critical stage of a child’s life. The task of the new Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will be to give Victorian children the best possible start in life by streamlining the transition into Prep. Tracking a child’s development through their early years would ensure they started school when they were ready and allow early intervention when learning difficulties are detected. There is strong evidence that children’s developmental and educational outcomes improve when there is a stronger focus on early childhood. Providing a one-stop shop for children’s services will help raise education standards and support our continued growth as a healthy, prosperous and skilled community. Linking early childhood services and school education recognises that children’s development is a continuous process from birth to adulthood, and government services must reflect this to provide each child with the best opportunity. Victorian kindergartens will retain their strong and successful community base with both schools and kindergartens run on a district basis. PLANNING FOR NEW COMMUNITIES NOT JUST SUBDIVISIONS The Brumby Government has promised to create new communities rather than just subdivisions. One of the challenges we face is how to respond to Melbourne ’s growth of 1000 people each week while driving a strong economy and liveable outer suburbs. Linking planning with development of stronger communities will put residents front and centre and make our new suburbs better places to live. The Brumby Government will achieve this through the new Department of Planning and Community Development. The new department will focus on streamlining the planning system across Victoria , and especially in Melbourne ’s designated growth areas. By integrating planning decisions with the needs of the community and the services required, we can cut the time it takes to go from an unzoned piece of land to handing over the keys of a new house to a family. As well as cutting the cost of homes, the Brumby Government wants to work to make new suburbs better places to live. Community involvement in planning could deliver results for everyone. For example, new services and facilities can be built around two town centres, helping build a sense of a main street that is often lacking in new housing estates. All new buildings could have more than one use – enabling council and local schools to share the library, auditorium, child and maternal health services and sport centres. The new department will replace the Department of Victorian Communities and will include the divisions and authorities that currently report to the Minister for Planning within the Department of Sustainability and Environment. IT’S OFFICIAL: VICTORIANS EARN A QUARTER LESS ON AWAs Typical Victorian workers on AWAs earn 23 per cent less than their counterparts on collective agreements, according to a definitive new analysis of WorkChoices. The new study is conclusive proof that AWAs were the fast-track in the race to the bottom on wages and conditions. This study shows that AWAs are achieving exactly what the Howard Government intended, and that is to make life harder for ordinary Victorian men and women trying to make ends meet. This is just shameful, that at a time when the economy is booming, a typical Victorian worker on an AWA is rewarded for an honest day’s work with 23 per cent less than their counterparts on collective agreements. The study was compiled by Griffith and Curtin University Professors David Peetz and Alison Preston. It found median wage rates for AWAs in Victoria were significantly lower because there were fewer high-paid mining jobs and a bigger take up of AWAs in the hospitality industry. Australia-wide, the study showed a typical worker employed under the Federal Government’s notorious AWAs earned 16% less than a typical worker on a registered collective agreement. It found Australians employed on collective agreements were paid a median $24.50 an hour, some $4 an hour more than those on median AWA earnings. LAUNCH OF $23 MILLION SKILLS TRAINING INITIATIVE The State Government has recently launched Victoria’s Skills Stores – a four-year, $23.46 million initiative to encourage Victorians to undertake further education and training, recognise existing skills and help employers meet emerging skill needs. The initiative will also award 5,000 Skills Stores’ clients with grants of $250 to assist with the cost of formal recognition of skills at a TAFE or other registered training organisation. People can literally walk in off the street into one of our Skills Stores and get free expert advice about their current skills, future skill development options and training they need to turn their skills into qualifications. Skills Stores will also help businesses identify training needs and solutions for their workforce and assist school career advisers. The Skills Stores are part of the Bracks Government’s strategy to increase the skills of the Victorian workforce and create a more sophisticated, high-skilled economy. In a recent survey, 59 per cent of Australian employers named lack of skilled staff as the biggest factor preventing small to medium-sized businesses from expanding – twice the proportion of other major countries like Britain and the US – and twice as many who cited government red tape as the problem. The Bracks Government is well aware of the challenges and this is why we have invested more than $7.3 billion in education and training since 1999. The first five Skills Stores will service the regions of Eastern Melbourne , North Western Melbourne, South Eastern Melbourne, Goulburn Ovens and Central Gippsland . In 2008, Skills Stores will open in eight other regions – Ballarat, Bendigo , Geelong , Central Melbourne , Wodonga, Sunraysia, East Gippsland and South Western Victoria. Skills Stores will also operate as mobile units, visiting shopping centres, businesses and communities. Further information on Skills Stores is available at www.otte.vic.gov.au/skillsstores NEW CAMPAIGN TO GET PEOPLE ON THE BUSES The Bracks Government has launched a new campaign to encourage more people to use Melbourne ’s improved bus services. The Bracks Government is providing record funding to improve bus services, resulting in more comfortable, accessible and frequent services. The campaign is aimed to get more people to take advantage of these new and improved services, which may be more convenient, cheaper or environmentally friendlier than other transport options. The Bracks Government has committed more than $1. 4 billion to improving bus services across Melbourne as part of our transport action plan - Meeting Our Transport Challenge. The improvements include new services in growth areas, the introduction of modern low-floor buses, extended operating hours of bus services and the development of a cross-town SmartBus network. The marketing campaign, produced by Metlink, is designed to inform the public about the services and encourage more people to think of buses as a viable transport option. Comedian Frank Woodley is the face of the campaign and will feature on television, radio and print advertisements as well outdoor bus shelters. Almost 70 bus services have had their hours of operation extended since Meeting Our Transport Challenges was released in May 2006. Another 200 services around Melbourne will have the same upgrade over the next three years. This means more services late at night and on weekends when people want them. $16 MILLION MAINTENANCE FUNDING BOOST FOR VICTORIAN SCHOOLS  The Bracks Government has recently announced schools across Victoria will share in an extra $16 million in maintenance funding. 724 schools will receive a share of the funding to carry out important repairs and upgrade work. The funding will be allocated through two programs; $10 million for general maintenance works such as roof and heating system repairs as well as approximately $6 million to fund toilet block upgrades. This funding will enable schools to carry out the crucial maintenance and repair tasks which are so important in providing students with safe, comfortable learning environments. Through the recent announcement 702 schools will share the $10 million allocated to general maintenance and 58 will share $6 million approximately for toilet upgrades. The Bracks Government has already committed $480 million to schools maintenance since 1999 and we will continue working to make our schools the type of environments that will encourage the best teaching and learning. This targeted maintenance funding is in addition to the $42 million allocated to routine maintenance in this year’s Budget for which all schools are eligible. Schools maintenance funding comes in addition to the Bracks Government’s $1.9 billion commitment to rebuild or modernise 500 government schools over the next four years and every Victorian government school over the next decade.    MAJOR PROGRAM TO IMPROVE LEVEL CROSSING SAFETY IN VICTORIA Every rail crossing on a Highway in regional Victoria will have flashing early warning signs as part of a comprehensive $33.2 million package to improve safety at level crossings across the State The package recently announced by the Premier also includes a tough new law and higher penalties to crack down on dangerous driver behaviour at level crossings. The Bracks Government is committed to continually improving safety at level crossings and we are doing that through our ongoing level crossing upgrade program. The Level Crossing Safety Package will include: 53 Automated advance warning signs - $11.1 million To be installed at all 26 level crossings on Highways and a further 27 high road traffic volume sites across the state. The flashing signs will be constructed on the side of the road approximately 250 metres prior to the level crossing and will be activated automatically when a train is approaching to warn motorists well in advance of reaching the crossing. Installation of rumble strips at 200 crossings - $11.7 million Rumble strips will be installed on each side of 200 level crossings in regional Victoria and will be laid approximately 250 metres prior to the crossings. These raised road strips will physically alert motorists to upcoming level crossing signage. Line of sight improvements - $3 million An accelerated program of works will occur at approximately 75 level crossings to eliminate any ‘line of sight’ problems such as overgrown vegetation. Trial of compliance cameras - $1.8 million A trial of compliance ‘red light’ cameras will be undertaken at two major level crossings - one metropolitan and one regional. The package of works will commence within two months, with the first installation of rumble strips and will take approximately two and half years to complete. . NEW NEONATAL UNIT AT THE CHILDREN’S Seriously ill infants will get the highest level of care available with the completion of a $6.3 million Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The Bracks Government is committed to the provision of a world-class health care system, particularly for new infants and their families. The $6.3 million NICU development adds to RCH’s delivery of Australia ’s most comprehensive care program for neonates and will continue to improve outcomes for seriously ill newborn infants from Victoria and surrounding states. The larger neonatal unit, now located on the third floor of the hospital, houses 10 NICU cots to provide highly specialised treatment, including respiratory support, and 14 cots for less seriously ill babies. Victoria ’s neonatal intensive care facilities are among the best in the world and are provided at four metropolitan hospitals including the Mercy Hospital for Women, Monash Medical Centre in Clayton and the Royal Women’s Hospital. There are 62 regular NICU cots at these hospitals with the ability to increase to 70 in periods of peak demand to meet the neonatal needs of Victoria ’s babies. DESALINATION AND PIPELINES TO SECURE WATER SUPPLIES Australia ’s largest desalination plant, major irrigation upgrades and an expansion of the Victorian Water Grid are the centrepieces of a $4.9 billion plan to secure water supplies for the long term. The second phase of the Bracks Government’s water strategy, Our Water Our Future, was recently announced by Premier Steve Bracks and will deliver the single biggest boost to Victoria ’s water supplies in decades. The 2004 Our Water Our Future plan delivered actions which have saved over 100 billion litres of water per year, and began the planning for the next stage of major water projects. The second phase of Our Water, Our Future will secure water supplies for regional centres, farms, and stressed rivers, and means we can steadily move back to unrestricted water supplies in our cities and towns. The new major water projects are: * A 150 billion litre desalination plant to provide water for Melbourne , Geelong , Westernport and Wonthaggi; * A major irrigation upgrade in the Food Bowl in Northern Victoria to deliver water savings to be shared equally between irrigators, the environment, and Melbourne; and * A major expansion of the Victorian Water Grid with pipelines to connect Melbourne ’s water system with the desalination plant and Northern irrigation upgrades, connect Geelong to Melbourne ’s supplies, and connect Hamilton to the Grampians Wimmera Mallee System. More information on how the Bracks Government is working to secure our water supply is available by contacting Lynne Kosky MP on (03)93607500 or at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au. . TENIX TO BUILD NAVY’S BIGGEST SHIPS AT WILLIAMSTOWN The Bracks Government is proud to have supported Tenix Defence’s winning bid to build the Australian Navy’s new amphibious ships at Williamstown, which would lead to a jobs boost and new economic activity for Victoria . The government had supported the bid by providing financial support to modify the shipyard to accommodate larger hulls and to train Tenix’s workforce to meet the skills needed for this technical project. This massive shipbuilding project will bring 500 new jobs to Williamstown and $500 million to the Victorian economy. Many of these jobs will be in specialist areas like manufacturing, design and systems integration work.. The amphibious ‘Landing Helicopter Dock’ ship, which looks like a small aircraft carrier, will be the biggest Navy ship ever built in Australia, at 27,831 tonnes (full load displacement), 230 metres in length and nearly 5000 square metres of flight deck. The recent announcement puts Victoria in a strong position to secure further work such as work associated with the Air Warfare Destroyer project. More information about the amphibious ‘Landing Helicopter Dock’ (LHD) ship is available at www.lhd.tenix.com . BUSINESS INVITED TO HAVE A SAY ON SLASHING RED TAPE Victorian businesses are being encouraged to contribute to the Bracks Government’s ongoing commitment to reduce red tape. Regulation is a necessary and important tool to achieve policy objectives, but we must ensure that it does not unnecessarily impede business growth, productivity, entrepreneurship and innovation. The Bracks Government last year released the Reducing the Regulatory Burden initiative, which aims to: * Cut the existing administrative burden of regulation by 15 per cent over three years, and 25 per cent over the next five years; * Ensure the administrative burden of any new regulation is met by an “offsetting simplification” in the same area; and * Identify actions required to reduce compliance burdens. The Bracks Government has already put in place a number of changes to ensure the burden of regulation is reduced. The Victorian Government has led the way in implementing red tape reforms and a recent report by the Business Council of Australia gave Victoria the highest rating for reducing the regulatory burden on business. Businesses are invited to contact the Department of Treasury and Finance to voice concerns and possible solutions of regulation via email to betterregulationunit@dtf.vic.gov.au . For more about Lynne’s role as Minister, visit her Ministerial website here.

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