As many people know, I am a big fan of racing. I am a member of the Ballarat Turf Club and I am a member of the Ballarat & District Trotting Club, and I am pleased to be supporting this Gambling Regulation Amendment Bill 2023 that will provide certainty for the Victorian racing industry.
Students across the state are being encouraged to take an active role in their learning journeys, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Local MPs, Juliana Addison and Michaela Settle helped kick off Education Week at Ballarat Tech School, where local students rolled up their sleeves to enjoy some of the programs on offer this year.
Hundreds of Victorians with a passion for horses will have the opportunity to start a career in racing thanks to a program placing disadvantaged jobseekers into work with some of the state’s best stables. Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines today visited the Ballarat Turf Club to announce a $3.1 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government to deliver 200 jobs in the racing sector through Jobs Victoria.
The Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club (BGRC) is set to benefit from the construction of a new kennel building which will improve the quality and safety of racing and training infrastructure at Morshead Park. The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the upgrade with more than $1.6 million provided through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund with Greyhound Racing Victoria matching the contribution, bringing the total value of the project to more than $3.3 million.
The Andrews Labor Government is backing more locals to get involved in community sport at Wendouree West Recreation Reserve and nearby Victoria Park, with new facilities boosting sports from skateboarding to soccer.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a new community sporting venue at Miners Rest, that will support local sports clubs to train and compete ahead of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. The brand-new venue will be just ten minutes from Eureka Stadium and include a competition-grade oval and sports pavilion with carparking, amenities and changerooms all designed to accommodate local sporting activities.
The Andrews Labor Government will give motorists the option to carry their licence on their phone with a digital driver licence trial in Ballarat before a statewide roll-out by 2024. The new technology will give motorists the choice to store a secure digital version of their driver licence in the popular Service Victoria app or soon-to-be-launched my VicRoads app.
I thank the Member for her commitment to her constituents and for her ongoing support in our mission to provide more homes for more Victorians.
I too am honoured to contribute to this debate in support of the Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Bill 2023. It is great to follow on from the member for Eltham, who showed her real passion for disability – those dances sound terrific. Likewise with the member for Mordialloc – another excellent contribution from him, which is always most welcome.
Congratulations to Alfredton Primary School principal Laurel Donaldson on celebrating 40 years in education. Over Laurel’s four decades of teaching and school leadership she has had a positive influence on the lives of thousands of students and their families across Ballarat and the district.
Well done to Alfredton Primary School student Felicity Driscoll on winning her campaign for a new footpath to her school and local sporting facilities on Windsor Avenue. Felicity is just seven years old and has secured a funding commitment from the City of Ballarat for the footpath.
My question is for the Minister for Housing, about the progress of the number of big build projects that are underway in my electorate of Wendouree. I am so proud we are delivering more social and affordable housing in my community and creating jobs in the building industry.
A new gallery dedicated to First Nations art and storytelling is officially open to locals and visitors in Ballarat, thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison represented Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing to formally open the Perridak Arts Gallery on Mair Street.
The Andrews Labor Government is another step closer to delivering a legacy of new and upgraded sporting facilities for the Ballarat community ahead of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. An Advance Tender Notice (ATN) has been released for a main works contractor to complete the upgrade to Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium.
The Sebastopol community and visitors will now come together to play, socialise and be active in a new accessible park, made possible by the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today represented Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing to officially open Sebastopol’s transformed MR Power Park.
I thank the Member for Wendouree for raising the matter of the veteran community in Ballarat. I acknowledge that the Member highlighted the positive and important work of veteran organisations within her electorate, which provide support not just to veterans, but also to their families and communities.
The Andrews Labor Government is boosting education, skills and innovation in the heart of Victoria’s second biggest regional city, with the launch of Federation University’s Co-operative Centre of Excellence. Minister for Training and Skills and Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney today opened the new centre for industry and education in Ballarat’s CBD – made possible by a $9.5 million Labor Government investment.
I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question about how the Andrews Labor Government is improving mental health services and supporting consumers and their families, carers and supporters in her electorate.