Prenatal testing is frequently offered to Australian women during pregnancy to provide them with information about the health of their developing foetus.

Non-invasive screening tests such as ultrasound examinations and maternal blood sampling can identify women who are at increased risk of a pregnancy with a foetal abnormality so that invasive diagnostic tests can be offered. Following diagnosis of a foetal abnormality pregnant women are offered a choice between continuing or terminating their pregnancy. There has been no empirical research examining the experiences of Australian women at such a time, and the extent of support in decision making and the provision of clinical care appears to vary considerably between geographical locations and health-care systems, particularly between the public and private systems. The increasing scope of
prenatal testing generates an ethical imperative to ensure that all women who receive a diagnosis of foetal abnormality during their pregnancy are able to make informed decisions about all available options and that they have access to appropriate evidence-based care and research.

By way of background, there have been major technological developments in the past two decades which have resulted in more accurate screening and diagnostic tests aimed at assessing the health of the developing foetus during a pregnancy. This has led to increases in the number of foetal abnormalities that are identified and diagnosed in the prenatal period. In Australia each year approximately 4 per cent of pregnancies are diagnosed with a foetal abnormality, the reference for that being Riley and Halliday, 2008. These numbers are likely to increase substantially over the next few years with the introduction of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) technologies that will be offered at an earlier gestation point than current tests. NIPD can identify chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and trisomy 13 and 18, the latter two being considered lethal conditions, much earlier in pregnancy than has previously been possible. Importantly this early testing will present parents with information about a pregnancy that may have previously miscarried
before current testing became available, the reference for that being Benn and Chapman, 2009.

Prenatal testing is increasingly becoming a routine part of antenatal care in Australia. Over 97 per cent of Victorian women have one or more ultrasounds during pregnancy, the reference for that being Chew et al., 2007. In Victoria in 2007, 68.3 per cent of pregnant women had prenatal screening and 5.7 per cent had an invasive diagnostic test, the reference for that being Moreira et al., 2008.

As I said, following a diagnosis of foetal abnormality pregnant women are generally offered the choice of either continuing the pregnancy or having a termination. Victorian records concur with overseas data, indicating that the majority of these pregnancies are terminated, the reference for that being Lewis et al., 2010. Decision making about terminating or continuing a pregnancy with a foetal abnormality is known to be very challenging for women and their partners — the reference for that being Statham et al., 2000 — as well as for the health-care professionals who care for them, the reference for that being Menezes, 2010. By way of passing reference I note that as a community we often overlook the effect on health professionals, as we concentrate very much on the mother and her family.

Termination of pregnancy because of foetal abnormality is known to be associated with greater psychological morbidity than TOP (termination of pregnancy) for other reasons, and a large number of women subsequently suffer from a post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive feelings, the reference for that being Korenromp et al., 2007. While protocols relating to support following TOP because of foetal abnormality exist within some tertiary centres in Victoria, there has been little evaluation of this process, and parents’ experiences remain largely unexamined. Furthermore, existing support protocols are based on a small number of empirical studies with women who have had stillbirths rather than with women who chose to end a pregnancy involving foetal abnormality. While there is some evidence that the severity of the abnormality diagnosed and the counselling
provided by health-care professionals can play a role in parents’ decision making at this time, it is clear there are many variables which can influence decision making, including a lack of resources and financial support available to families caring for a child with a disability. A lack of evidence-based care is particularly apparent when parents choose to continue a pregnancy following diagnosis of a lethal foetal abnormality.

Personal Australian stories — the reference for that being Sheffield, 2008, and Thiele, 2010 — and communications appearing on several web-based support resources relate emotional and harrowing accounts of parents’ experiences at this time, indicating that the care and support they received was far from ideal. In these circumstances in some countries health services offer a model of support known as peri-natal hospice care, which aims to provide patient-centred medical care and psychological support from the time of diagnosis until the baby’s death and beyond — and I stress it is from the time of diagnosis to beyond the baby’s death. Proponents believe this type of program can empower parents to take control of this sad event, allowing them to engage with their pregnancy and make appropriate plans for the birth and likely death of their baby. This can provide a valuable opportunity for memory making, loving and parenting, the reference for that being Hoeldtke and Calhoun, 2001.

Over 40 such programs exist within the USA, usually situated within obstetric hospitals, utilising expertise from a multidisciplinary team that may include physicians, bstetricians, midwives, social workers, genetic counsellors, neonatologists, psychologists, chaplains and other relevant specialists. Peri-natal hospice care programs do not exist within Australia, but findings from two small projects conducted in Victoria suggest relevant health professionals and pregnant women believe a peri-natal hospice care program would have utility, the reference for that being Horwood et al., 2009.

Further urgent research is necessary in order to develop appropriate models of care for both women who choose to continue their pregnancies and women who choose to terminate their pregnancies following the diagnosis of a foetal abnormality. This is of particular importance given the advent of NIPD — non-invasive prenatal diagnosis — which will present parents with more information at an earlier stage of pregnancy than has previously been possible.

What I would call the routinised offer of prenatal testing generates an ethical imperative to ensure that parents who receive a diagnosis of foetal abnormality during a pregnancy are able to make fully informed choices about all appropriate options, including peri-natal palliative care, and have access to evidence-based, patient-centred supportive care.

I would like to offer some suggestions that have been made as a result of conversations with representatives of the organisations I acknowledged at the beginning of my address — Melbourne University, the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, the Royal Women’s Hospital, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg.

I put on the record five of these recommendations: firstly, the linking of palliative care services with services caring for women who receive a diagnosis of severe abnormality; secondly, the provision of peri-natal support and palliative care counselling, coordination and support services to which women may be referred in such circumstances; and thirdly, the overcoming of what appears to be a service gap, particularly for women who are in the private health system. From the conversations I have had it seems that the private sector is the area that overlooks this need. People head to the private sector thinking they will get a wide choice, but that is not the evidence that I have identified.

The fourth recommendation is that someone be appointed at every maternity hospital in Victoria to coordinate services for women and their families in the circumstances of a diagnosis of severe abnormality peri-natally.

The final recommendation is that health professionals be educated about the needs of women and their families who experience a diagnosis of severe abnormality peri-natally, especially the needs of women who decide not to end their pregnancies. Amongst the issues that arose in the discussion, I particularly highlight the difference between the public and private sectors. In the public sector women are more likely to be referred to genetic counsellors or other health professionals who can provide contact, advice, counselling and support for the duration of the pregnancy. In the private sector there appear to be gaps, and women may not receive counselling to assist them in making
decisions. A chaplain at one of the meetings I attended reported women proceeding from diagnosis to termination without being offered any counselling.

I talked to a number of women around Parliament, and a couple of them mentioned how women heading off for what is considered a routine scan are not adequately prepared for what may occur during the scan. There is little preparation for the shock that women may experience if the scan identifies that a miscarriage has occurred or that there is a foetal abnormality and that is conveyed through the shock of the scan operator or someone else in attendance. Women seem to be automatically put on a treadmill with a likelihood of being offered invasive testing and then, if the testing shows a foetal abnormality, they are pretty much put on the conveyor belt of what that particular hospital suggests, or the health professional recommends, would be an appropriate conclusion to the pregnancy.

We have enough genetic counsellors in Victoria. Melbourne University has trained many, but the issue is not training. There are more qualified genetic counsellors than there are places available. Quality genetic counsellors are being employed in other areas because of a lack of financial provision for them to work in hospitals.

In conclusion, Victoria needs more evidence-based research into whether offering peri-natal palliative care would affect women’s or couples’ choices and the comparative outcomes for women and families who choose to continue to birth or to end a pregnancy with a termination. We need more discussion of and funding for peri-natal palliative care. We need research and support for responses from health professionals in relation to the care of women and their families when a foetal abnormality has been diagnosed. Keeping in mind the fact that many of our health professionals are women who have either personally experienced abortion and its effects or have family members or friends who have such experience, it is really important that health professionals are supported and that the focus of this Parliament is on the expectant mother, her partner, their family, their
unborn child and the health professionals surrounding them. We need to give this much more attention.

The reason I am asking this is that the northern area of Moreland has a very clear dividing boundary, which is the Western Ring Road. To the west it is the Moonee Ponds Creek and to the east it is the Merri Creek. Considerable improvement was made last year by the Labor government in relation to fares and zoning, and I want the new government to continue with the great vision and great public transport experience that is available to people in this state.

Currently zone 1 stops at Glenroy and Fawkner stations. One station north of Glenroy on the Craigieburn line is Jacana station. Moving zone 1 to the Western Ring Road would enable the Jacana station to better utilise its parking and allow more people to park more easily instead of travelling south from the northern area of the municipality to go to Glenroy station to buy a zone 1 ticket.

On the Upfield line Gowrie station is a staffed station, and is a very good public transport interchange.

To have the zone 1 ticket extended only a little bit further north from Fawkner station, which is principally in the Fawkner cemetery, to Gowrie station would make it better in terms of parking and provide better public transport with the bus interconnect, and of course it is a staffed station. Zone 1 on the trains means that many people outside Moreland drive to Glenroy station to avoid paying an extra $5 for a zone 2 ticket, which has local parking and traffic implications. A recent survey at Glenroy station showed that
52 per cent of those who drove came from north of Moreland.

… we are also celebrating the establishment of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea — the new congregation whose foundation day will be 12 December 2011 — Catherine McAuley’s foundation day so many years ago in Ireland.

We acknowledge and celebrate who we have been as Sisters of Mercy, living and working in the Melbourne, Ballarat, Sale, Sandhurst and Tasmanian dioceses and in Pakistan. In the states of Victoria and Tasmania we have worked with government and non-government agencies working to effect change. We give thanks for the opportunities that we have had to share our lives and ministry in the service of the church and in the service of our God.

We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We remember the  many founding sisters and the sisters who have been role models for us, who nurtured and cared for us.

Our Mercy tradition has been to work in partnership with the lay people who
share our ministries and who are now taking the lead in many of our ministries.

I say, on behalf of the opposition and this Parliament, well done for over 150 years of service and good luck with the new institute and your continued work in education, health and welfare.

It aims to keep you informed on all that is happening in my electorate of Pascoe Vale and more broadly in Victoria, and will hopefully be easier to navigate and more informative. Not only will the latest news in the Pascoe Vale district be more readily available, it contains a comprehensive range of resources in which I may be able to assist you with, including an online community directory.

I’m also venturing into the world of social media to keep in better contact with my constituents. Be sure to find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and subscribe to my new online newsletter to stay in touch.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you.

Best wishes,

Christine.

I raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Education. On behalf of Westbreen Primary School’s 230 children and 144 families, I ask the minister to visit the school so he can personally hear from the children about their need for a rebuild of the old section of the school. Westbreen Primary School (WPS) has diligent students, dedicated staff, devoted parents and dismal buildings. It is in desperate need of rebuilding and has completed the preparatory work required by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s infrastructure branch.

Over the last decade Labor rebuilt Pascoe Vale North Primary School and Oak Park Primary School, each of which received stage 1 and 2 funding. Glenroy Primary School was amalgamated with Glenroy North Primary School, and the brand-new school will be opened in 2012.

Westbreen’s Building the Education Revolution project was the first sizeable funding injection in decades, and it was to be the next primary school rebuilt in my electorate.

WPS had an assisted supplementary maintenance audit in 2011, which identified $155 000 worth of work for immediate attention. No funding was received other than a small amount of supplementary regional funding of approximately $21 000. The audit also highly recommended yet another audit called a comprehensive audit. If yet another audit is absolutely necessary to prove the school needs to be rebuilt, then I favour it. However, if it is an excuse for further procrastination by the minister, I ask him not to waste precious money on unnecessary procrastination but rather focus the department’s energy on the total rebuild.

In October-November 2010 WPS was included in the Building Futures (BF) program, cycle 5, stage 2. Its educational pedagogical rationale work is complete and has been submitted to the department. As soon as the coalition was elected all schools involved with BF were told that that particular program would cease, but unfortunately nothing has replaced it other than yet another audit. The former Labor government’s program to upgrade every government school in the state was based on the independent advice and assessment of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development — it was based on need.

WPS is ready and willing to undertake any process the minister requires in order to be ready for a May 2012 budget announcement which funds their school rebuild. What they cannot do is move to a Liberal electorate in order to receive a positive funding result. At a recent meeting I advised the school council that the minister’s standard response to Labor members is that funding will be going to fulfil Liberal election promises.

I remind the Minister for Education and public servants that when ministers take their oath of office they swear to act without fear or favour. Funding focused on schools in Liberal-held seats is not acting without fear of favour, nor is it acting justly. As one of the school councillors said, how is it that only Liberal electorate schools receive respectful and impartial advice and funding?

I am thrilled that Minister Dixon has since agreed to visit the school by the end of the year, where he will see the clear need for this work to begin urgently.

The basis of this commitment was the August 2010 Spatial Vision report for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Secondary School Provision Plan for the Coburg Schools Network – Demographic Analyses, determined that there was an urgent need to provide secondary school places for year 7 to 9 students residing in and around Coburg. As such, the previous Minister for Education made a commitment to the residents of Coburg and surrounding suburbs to establish a Coburg education implementation task force (CEIT) to examine all options to meet Coburg’s education needs.

I call upon the government to honour this commitment, of which I have tabled several petitions in Parliament.  A local community group, called High School for Coburg, have done a lot of great work in advocating the need for secondary education in the Coburg district, and it is something that needs to be done – urgently.

For more information, visit the High School for Coburg website.

To view the August 2010 Spatial Vision report for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Secondary School Provision Plan for the Coburg Schools Network – Demographic Analyses, click here.

I appreciate the opportunity to raise a matter for the Minister for Roads in his capacity as minister responsible for cycling. The action I seek is that he fund the last component of the Upfield shared pathway. This vibrant pathway is used principally by cyclists but also by people in wheelchairs and those with prams and walkers. It really is a well-used path. Significant work on the pathway was undertaken under Labor, particularly the previous ministers, Peter Batchelor and the current member for Tarneit. They funded the pathway section by section as Moreland City Council worked on detailed plans component by component. The plans have now been finalised and are ready for the remaining section, which is from Box Forest Road to the Western Ring Road.

If we can get that remaining $1.1 million or $1.2 million — and I know Moreland City Council appreciated the opportunity to raise this matter a couple of weeks ago directly with the minister — to complete the shared pathway, it will enable cyclists to access the Upfield shared pathway from the Western Ring Road rather than having to travel down the very dangerous section of the northern part of Sydney Road. Considerable work has been done by those working in Moreland council and those working on the widening of the Western Ring Road to improve the shared pathway. As the ring-road is being widened at the moment, that will of course encourage many more people to cycle.

I ask the minister yet again as a matter of urgency to fund the last link of the Upfield shared pathway. I raised the matter with the minister during the adjournment debate on 25 May. I have had the opportunity to speak to him and tell him I would be raising it tonight.

I hope he has time to come into the house and give some further information and possibly good news for the Moreland Bicycle User Group. The group will have its annual meeting tonight. It would be sensational to be able to tell the group that the minister has yet again come up with money for cycling that will be well used. The Western Ring Road cycle path and the Upfield shared pathway are well patronised. Currently we have more than 2500 cyclists using the Upfield shared pathway every weekday.

Melbourne Water, along with Yarra Valley Water, has a proud record in having delivered the Northern Sewerage Project, but there has been a vast contrast between how Yarra Valley Water has acted and how Melbourne Water has acted. Yarra Valley Water has acted with community engagement and consultation as part of its delivery of its section of the project. In contrast, Melbourne Water had a view, largely generated by a rather senior person there, of stakeholder management which resulted in many errors in its dealings with the community and many oversights. I and the Moreland council have had to become active in ensuring that people’s rights are protected.

We have a nickname for one of Melbourne Water’s leading lights of the Northern Sewerage Project. We call him ‘the colonialist’. His attitude is: ‘This is land that Melbourne Water and I can conquer’, and his attitude with many residents when he goes in to conquer a local area is to throw them some beads, a tomahawk, a saw or the equivalent and then forget the commitments that have been made.

Melbourne Water undertook to restore the Bell Street area to its pre-Northern Sewerage Project condition. It undertook to consult with the community prior to the sale of land, and it has failed.

Now we have been presented with the facts of the OPI report entitled Crossing the Line and with this poor excuse for legislation to tackle corruption in this state.

Let me put on the record that I am a person who wants to exterminate not only aspects of this bill but all aspects of corruption in this state. I point out to this house that the reason I am so appalled by this legislation has been outlined by the shadow minister and also highlighted in this house by the comments contained in this Alert Digest No. 13 of the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee. SARC’s report looks at a number of items, and I will speak to them in moment.

Firstly, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Bill 2011 creates an illusion.

It is not about anticorruption; it is about an education officer to be appointed by the Premier in relation to educating the public on ethics. That is not a bad thing, but it is not an anticorruption commissioner. Opposition members believe a true anticorruption commissioner needs to be independently appointed through the bipartisan process that is outlined in the member for Altona’s amendment to this bill. That amendment goes to what I think is a core provision of this legislation.

The bill before us provides that the proposed Commissioner will be appointed by the Premier. After having been informed this week and in previous weeks by the information contained in the Office of Police Integrity report entitled Crossing the Line, I do not think there would be a single person in this house who could honestly say they were confident that the new anticorruption Commissioner is going to be establishing himself or herself and the office with a sense of bipartisanship — or all-party support — because you cannot do that if the Commissioner is appointed by the Premier.

Clause 15 of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Bill 2011 states at pages 7 and 8 that the proposed Commissioner is going to be appointed by the Premier. The appointment will be made in consultation with only the Leader of the Opposition.

The Leader of the Opposition does not even have a right of veto if they believe the Commissioner would be compromised either in fact or in perception with links to questionable activities or too strong a link with the minister responsible for this commission or the Premier. What a position we are putting the new Commissioner in. We are putting in a new Commissioner with his or her arms tied to the current government. For those of us who really want to make sure that this state does not have corruption, I think to have the very first appointment done apart from a parliamentary committee is appalling. I do not know whether members of the government have really thought this out, because when they were in opposition they acclaimed that they had a three-year campaign against corruption, but now we have a situation where the new appointment is to be on the Premier’s recommendation.

I support the amendments proposed by the member for Altona. I believe that clause 15 should have the words ‘Subject to subsection (4)’ omitted.

I also think the legislation would be far more robust if the second amendment proposed by the member for Altona were supported in this house. That amendment states:

2. Clause 15, page 8, lines 19 to 27, omit subclause (4).

I know members will vote along party lines, but I think it is important that we put paid right here and now to any suggestion that if the new Commissioner is appointed as the Premier’s gift and the gift of the executive of this government, then that person will be hamstrung from the outset. This piece of legislation fails a number of claims that were made when the government was in opposition and during the election campaign. This commission was going to be up and running from 1 July. Has it been? No! That is a fail. The inaugural appointment does not meet the claims that were made when the now government was in opposition. That is another fail.

Does the bill tell us the powers of the Commissioner? Fail! Does it define corruption? Fail! Does it adequately address issues other than the educative role of the Commissioner? Fail! I argue that this bill is exactly as it was described by the member for Altona. It is an embarrassment; it is subterfuge. Whilst opposition members abhor corruption, we also abhor this very inept piece of legislation. During the election campaign the government said, ‘Trust us; we will deliver on our election promises’. This bill does not deliver on those election promises.

Acting Speaker, you would be very familiar with the important role of Public Accounts and Estimates Committee and the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee of this Parliament. They are considered very important because they oversight the operations of this Parliament, and they also look at pieces of legislation. PAEC also has a very important role in relation to the appointment of the Auditor-General. I served on PAEC and was for a time its chair.

I think one of the greatest honours for that committee at that time was the deliberation on and appointment of our Auditor-General. However, as important as that appointment was, I see the new joint parliamentary committee as being more important than SARC and more important than PAEC. That is because its appointment of the Commissioner is absolutely crucial. Yet our very first Commissioner is not going to be appointed based on the deliberations of a parliamentary committee.

When you look at the clauses in the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Bill 2011 that relate to the parliamentary committee — in particular clause 38 in division 2 — you need to ask: have we got information on the membership of the committee? Is it going to be heavily weighted towards the government? Is it going to operate the way PAEC has?

That means that most of the time, particularly in relation to major issues such as the appointment of the Auditor-General, party politics are put aside and, as the current chair knows, we examine what is best for the citizens of Victoria. Does this bill do that with the Commissioner? No, and the bill is fundamentally flawed as a result.

I support integrity. I support a commissioner who starts this important role fully supported, not only in fact but also in perception, by all members of the government and the opposition. The way this legislation is framed is flawed, and we should all be supporting the amendments circulated by the member for Altona.

The Editor
Moreland Leader

Dear Editor,

A clarification is needed to the article “Opening is an exciting milestone” (Moreland Leader November 7, 2011).

Your article states “It was partly funded by the State Government” – let there be no misunderstanding, it was the previous Labor Government who contributed $500,000 to this Gowanbrae Community and Children’s Centre.  The current State Government has
in fact cut specific programs that provided funding to help build children’s centres, like Gowanbrae, so Victoria’s population growth will no longer be matched with investment in
children’s services.

I am concerned this Gowanbrae centre may very well be the last centre in the
State built with a contribution from the State Government.

Christine Campbell MP
Member for Pascoe Vale

The bill before us amends section 328 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 to allow a prosecutor to appear on behalf of a protective services officer (PSO) acting as the informant in criminal proceedings in the Magistrates Court. That is a sensible piece of legislation, and the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee makes no comment on that.

There is a particular amendment to the Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004 to extend the duration of the operation of contempt powers currently available to the chief examiner where a person fails without reasonable excuse to answer questions, produce documents, be sworn or make an affirmation or otherwise behaves in a manner that would constitute a contempt of the Supreme Court. The extension for a further four years is made to 1 January 2016. In relation to this provision, the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee sees that there are no human rights issues to be brought to the attention of the Parliament.

There is a further amendment to the Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004 which extends for a further four years to 1 January 2016 a no-double-jeopardy provision, so a person who is both guilty of an offence under the Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004 and found to be in contempt of the chief examiner is prosecuted only once. As far as the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee is concerned, there are no matters in that amendment we wish to draw to the attention of the Parliament.

In relation to commencement by proclamation, the committee did make a comment, and that was in relation to the delegation of legislative power where commencement was to coincide with the commonwealth legislation. The committee notes that:

…

the explanatory memorandum and the second-reading speech concerning the reasons for removing a default commencement provision of 1 February 2012 for certain sections of the amending legislation. The committee is satisfied that commencement by proclamation to coincide with commonwealth laws is necessary.

Those are the comments I wish to make in relation to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, but I also want to make a couple of points in general. The first is that the government claims that it is going to deliver its law and order policy, which was chief amongst its many electoral commitments. It promised to deliver prompt services, and it also claimed to be open and transparent. That second component has obviously been found to be utterly false in relation to matters that the house has discussed this week.

We had commitments by the opposition leader and now Premier to recruit, train and deploy 940 new PSOs if elected.

We all know that is a commitment that has been extremely difficult to deliver, is way behind schedule and is fraught with unplanned issues. The fact that the government has not planned the basic provision of toilets and rest facilities for these PSOs is an indication that this was policy on the run. It is one thing to promise things in opposition, but the government should have been aware of the matters that would arise if it was elected came to govern. PSOs have been a debacle in terms of recruitment and in terms of the divvy van toilet break scenario. There is utter confusion about how the new PSOs will operate.

We heard real hootin’ tootin’ law and order stuff in relation to the PSOs and how they were going to have massive new powers provided. The reality is that one size does not fit all. It is an illogical policy, and this government has been found wanting in delivering on its PSOs policy. We are here today with this legislation because such a policy and power has brought new challenges to the government and to this Parliament.

However, it is appropriate that this bill allows the public prosecutor to represent all PSOs in criminal proceedings, particularly given the paucity of training they will be provided with. With those comments, I commend the bill to the house.

There was an immense sense of common purpose in the SARC deliberations. We all want to ensure that people have their human rights realised in Victoria. Essentially the difference boils down to whether the charter provisions should be legally enforceable by a citizen against a public authority.

My conclusion was that there needed be legal redress because the evidence showed me and others who hold the minority view that the dialogue model, coupled with legal remedy, placed increased pressure on public authorities to ensure that many citizens had better services; for example, housing, mental health, aged care, free speech, safe work places and the myriad cases where part 2 of the charter act applied.

As parliamentarians, it is incumbent upon us to examine and consider the nature of man and what is inherent in his nature. In turn that leads to an analysis of what rights are owed to every human person by an individual and by us as a society. We need to recognise the communitarian nature of people. Human rights instruments give the community a clear, modern framework, and the Victorian charter of human rights provides a proven, positive course for the Parliament and Victorian community to engage in contemporary human rights dialogue and, importantly, its delivery.

I affirm the dignity of each and every human being; their dignity lies in their membership of the great human family. The charter has delivered to many Victorians rights that otherwise would be unattainable. By nature we are social beings who reach our full potential in relationships with others. It is therefore our duty as MPs to assist the realisation of human rights through legislation, regulation, the financial resources of the budget and our legal and moral responsibilities to our constituents.

The government has until March to respond to the 35 recommendations in the SARC report, and I urge it to ensure that, whatever amendments are made to the charter, there is clear access to the courts when public authorities breach our human rights. Every person needs others; every person needs this Parliament’s support. Our social nature makes it evident that the progress of the human person and the advance of society itself hinge on each other.

The subject and goal of all social institutions is and must be the human person, who by their very nature is completely in need of social life. We all have and recognise a growing interdependence on each other.

The common good makes true human existence and human fulfilment accessible by providing the right to food, clothing and shelter; the right to choose a state of life freely and found a family; and the right to education, to employment, to a good reputation, to respect, to appropriate information, to activity in accord with the upright norms of one’s conscience, to protection of privacy and to rightful freedom, even in religious matters. The human rights instruments echo much of these realities. The United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights have preambles that recognise the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. That is the foundation of justice, peace and freedom in the world.

Every person is our neighbour, and in justice every single member of this Parliament has a responsibility to their constituents to provide the necessary means for every human to live in dignity.

Any amendments made to the charter of human rights need to recognise the foundational premise that we as individuals have a communitarian responsibility to each other. As parliamentarians we will be voting according to our conscience on matters that come up in this arena in the future. I urge members of the cabinet to support the charter of human rights.

Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell has been caught out claiming credit for two children’s centres, including one in Gowanbrae, that were in fact funded by the former Labor Government, Member for Pascoe Vale Christine Campbell said today.

Ms Lovell made the misleading claims in statements released while opening the Gowanbrae on 2 November.

Ms Lovell’s release from 2 November, 2011 stated:

“The Victorian Coalition Government contributed $500,000 towards the all-in-one facility in the City of Moreland’s newest suburb, which borders Strathmore Heights.”

“Ms Lovell is attempting to claim credit for Labor funded projects because she has done precious little in the Children’s portfolio after a year in office,” Ms Campbell said.

“What Ms Lovell has achieved is the shocking $1.9 million cuts to the popular Take-a-Break occasional childcare program and her government also axed three funding programs that help deliver new children’s centres into growth areas.

“It beggars belief that Ms Lovell would claim the Baillieu Government funded the project, when in in fact the $500,000 was received in 2008,” Ms Campbell said.

“The centre has been open and operational for some months, but Ms Lovell is trying to trick the public into believing she is solely responsible for it.

“The sad fact is Ms Lovell has cut specific programs that provided funding to help build children’s centres, like Gowanbrae, so Victoria’s population growth will no longer be matched with investment in children’s services.

Ms Campbell said Ms Lovell had made similar claims in Melbourne’s growing northern boundary, incorrectly stating the Baillieu Government had provided in Laurimar.

“Given Ms Lovell has cut dedicated funding for new children’s centres across Victoria; I am concerned these might be the last local children’s centre to receive state funding.”

Sports clubs in Moreland are encouraged to apply for VicHealth grants of up to $2,500 each for new equipment, injury prevention equipment, portable shade and volunteer training.

Applications for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) 2011/2012
Active Club Grants funding can be submitted now until Thursday 8 December,
2011.  

A total of $660,000 is available to local sporting clubs, regional sporting leagues and associations and local active recreation clubs across Victoria.

“The grants aim to make it easier for clubs to fund items or activities that help them to improve safety and to reach out to new participants,” Christine Campbell MP, Member for Pascoe Vale said.

“Each year the grants support more Victorians to become active and this is increasingly important as we see the impact of a lack of physical activity in the growing numbers of Australians with chronic diseases and other health problems.”

More than 8,800 sporting codes and clubs across Victoria have received Active Club Grants over the 22 years VicHealth has provided this support. More than 1 million club members have been able to access safer and better equipped clubs with more trained volunteers.

VicHealth CEO, Jerril Rechter said physical inactivity contributes to obesity and heart disease, costing the Australian health system up to $400 million every year.

“We’re keen to encourage the involvement of people who are currently inactive, or who face barriers to taking part in sport,” Ms Rechter said.

“This may include Indigenous communities, people from culturally diverse communities, people with disabilities and those who live in rural or low socio-economic communities. Regular physical activity not only protects against many illnesses, it also makes us mentally healthy, alert and resilient against the stresses of modern life.”

This year’s grants also focus on people aged over 60, who traditionally have low rates of sports participation and young people aged five to 17-years-old and sports that are vulnerable to on-field emergencies.

Eligible sport and recreation organisations are invited to apply for this grant online at www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub or to post completed applications to VicHealth, 15-31 Pelham Street, Carlton, VIC 3053.

The funding round closes 4pm Thursday 8 December, 2011.  

Christine Campbell, MP, Member for Pascoe Vale, has urged parents to remain vigilant about the need to educate their children on the harmful effects of binge drinking.

“The fear is that a campaign launched today by the Baillieu Government to promote new laws fining adults who supply alcohol to minors may lull parents into a false sense of security,” Ms Campbell said.

“The problem with Mr Baillieu’s new laws is not what they will do – but what they won’t do,” Ms Campbell said said.

“Our concern is that these laws in practice are unworkable and are distracting the Baillieu Government from investing in programs that will actually work – that is, better and more targeted education to parents and children about the harmful effects of underage drinking.”

Ms Campbell said the Baillieu Government’s campaign about the new laws must warn parents that these new laws won’t stop children drinking at private homes.

“Our concern is that some parents may think that these new laws will stop their children being supplied with alcohol at private home parties if they do not provide consent. Sadly,
this is not the case,” Ms Campbell said.

“The reality is many teenagers bring alcohol with them to a party.

“The Baillieu Government must make sure parents are aware of the limitations of these laws.”

Ms Campbell said there were also serious practical issues in enforcing the new laws for police and for parents hosting parties.

“If there are 50 teenagers at a party and 25 have parental consent to be supplied with alcohol and 25 do not, this makes it very difficult for the host parents to know who is allowed to drink and who isn’t,” Ms Campbell said.

Ms Campbell said the Baillieu Government must maintain a focus on community education as the key to tackling binge drinking.

“Teenage binge drinking is a very serious social issue confronting parents today,” Ms Campbell said.

“It has very harmful long-term health effects. Young people under the influence of alcohol are also more vulnerable to dangerous and violent situations.

“Labor supports effective strategies to combat this problem.”

 “On behalf of Westbreen Primary School’s 230 children and 144 families, I asked the minister to visit the school so he can personally hear from the children their need for a rebuild of the old section”, Ms Campbell said.

 “I presented to him a box of letters personally written by individual students on what it means to them to have a new school and how their learning will be enhanced by new facilities”, Ms Campbell said.

 “I was most impressed with the work the students and teachers put into the letters and congratulate them on their efforts”, Ms Campbell said.

 “The Westbreen Primary School family is made up of diligent students, dedicated staff and devoted parents, but they have to work in dismal buildings.  It is in desperate need of rebuilding and has completed the preparatory work required by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s infrastructure branch”, Ms Campbell said.

 “In October-November 2010 Westbreen Primary School was included in the Building Futures (BF) program, cycle 5, stage 2. Its educational pedagogical rationale work was completed and had been submitted to the department. As soon as the coalition was elected all schools involved with BF were told that that particular program would cease, but unfortunately nothing has replaced it other than yet another audit.

 “The former Labor government’s program to upgrade every government school in the state was based on the independent advice and assessment of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development — it was based on need”.

“Westbreen is one school that was assessed as having that need, it should now be funded as a priority”, Ms Campbell said.

 “I am hopeful the Minister will visit to meet the wonderful students and teachers during the next school term”, Ms Campbell said.

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Ms CAMPBELL (Pascoe Vale) — I raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Education. On behalf of Westbreen Primary School’s 230 children and 144 families, I ask the minister to visit the school so he can personally hear from the children their need for a rebuild of the old section. Westbreen Primary School (WPS) has diligent students, dedicated staff, devoted parents and dismal buildings. It is in desperate need of rebuilding and has completed the preparatory work required by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s infrastructure branch.

 Over the last decade Labor rebuilt Pascoe Vale North Primary School and Oak Park Primary School, each of which received stage 1 and 2 budget funding. Glenroy Primary School was amalgamated with Glenroy North Primary School and the brand-new school will be opened in 2012. Westbreen’s Building the Education Revolution project was the first sizeable funding injection in decades, and it was to be the next primary school rebuilt in my electorate.

WPS had an assisted supplementary maintenance audit in 2011 which identified $155 000 worth of work for immediate attention. No funding was received other than a small amount of supplementary regional funding of approximately $21 000. The audit also highly recommended yet another audit called a comprehensive audit. If yet another audit is absolutely necessary to prove the school needs to be rebuilt, then I favour it. However, if it is an excuse for further procrastination from the minister, I ask him not to waste precious money on unnecessary procrastination but rather focus the department’s energy on the total rebuild.

In October-November 2010 WPS was included in the Building Futures (BF) program, cycle 5, stage 2. Its educational pedagogical rationale work is complete and has been submitted to the department. As soon as the coalition was elected all schools involved with BF were told that that particular program would cease, but unfortunately nothing has replaced it other than yet another audit.

The former Labor government’s program to upgrade every government school in the state was based on the independent advice and assessment of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development — it was based on need.

WPS is ready and willing to undertake any process the minister requires in order to be ready for a May 2012 budget announcement which funds their school rebuild. What they cannot do is move to a Liberal electorate in order to receive a positive funding result. At a recent meeting I advised the school council that the minister’s standard response to Labor members is that funding will be going to fulfil Liberal election promises. I remind the Minister for Education and public servants that when ministers take their oath of office they swear to act without fear or favour. Funding focused on schools in Liberal-held seats is not acting without fear of favour, nor is it acting justly. As one of the school councillors said, how is it that only Liberal electorate schools receive respectful and impartial advice and funding?