“The Baillieu Government has been slow to react to a sharp increase in reports of family violence across the State, and I fear this announcement simply doesn’t provide the resources needed to combat this serious issue,” Ms Hennessy said.

“The Coalition has spent its first year in office running away from the issue of family violence, instead of tackling it head on.

“Alarmingly, it took 15 months for the Baillieu Government to confirm which Minister is responsible for this important issue, after Crime Prevention Minister Andrew McIntosh passed the buck to the Minister for Women’s Affairs last year.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long for the Baillieu Government to recognise that violence in the home, spousal and domestic abuse and violence are crime prevention issues.

“I hope that by forcing Mr McIntosh to admit that the issue of domestic violence is indeed within his portfolio, Mr Baillieu is finally taking domestic violence seriously.”

Ms Hennessy said the Baillieu Government had to back the police in their fight against domestic violence.

“This is not an issue that can be wished away with good intentions. It requires significant funding for programs, services and information, a public education campaign, and a whole of government approach,” Ms Hennessy said.

“The Premier should adopt the proactive reforms developed and released by Labor last November, which included a call to initiate a Statement to Parliament by the Premier, so that all MPs can affirm their personal commitment to prevent family violence.

“The fight against domestic violence will also require additional resources to overcome existing blockages in the court system to ensure family violence offenders are adequately dealt with in a timely manner.

“I hope that the announcement is the beginning of a set of reforms, backed by funding, that will set about making family violence a mainstream community safety priority.”

For more information on Labor’s plan to reduce family and domestic violence please visit www.danielandrews.com.au/media/news/white-ribbon-day/

Mr Lenders said Baillieu Government reforms were flawed because young farmers with property valued over $400,000 still had to pay the full stamp duty amount.

“We warned the Coalition that their changes would exclude a large number of young farmers, but they forged ahead regardless,” Mr Lenders said.

“It should come as no surprise that this has turned into a shambles.”

Mr Lenders said it was another example of Treasurer Kim Wells not grasping the detail of his portfolio.

“In order to provide the benefit to young farmers that the Coalition promised at the election, Kim Wells needed to include a tax ruling in the legislation,” Mr Lenders said.

“Labor made this very clear in Parliament, but Mr Wells ignored this advice and he is now responsible for this lame policy.

“This is typical of the Baillieu Government. It either does nothing or it gets completely wrong.”

As part of the changes, Deputy Leader James Merlino has been appointed the new Shadow Minister for Education, while the newest member of the Shadow Cabinet, John Eren, is now responsible for the Sport and Recreation and Volunteers portfolios.

Jacinta Allan has added the portfolio of Police and Emergency Services and will continue in her role as Manager of Opposition Business, and Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Bushfire Response.

Luke Donnellan is now Labor’s Shadow Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, while Jenny Mikakos will retain her portfolios as well as taking on the responsibility for the Children and Young Adults portfolio.

Danielle Green has been appointed to the portfolios of Child Safety and Women, and retains her roles as Shadow Minister for Disability Services and Health Promotion.

“The Baillieu Government has let down Victorian voters by wasting its first 14 months in office,” Mr Andrews said.

“We are a united team that’s focused on continuing to hold this do-nothing Government to account.

“Victorians need a Government that can make the hard decisions and do the hard work to create jobs and drive investment, not a Premier who is unable and even appears unwilling to lead.

“Ted Baillieu needs to start leading this state, not just watch on as jobs are lost, hospital beds are shut and schools are forced to cut programs because of budget cuts.”

The following members of caucus will serve as Parliamentary Secretaries to Shadow Ministers in portfolios as listed:

• Colin Brooks (Education),
• Anthony Carbines (Local Government and Suburbs),
• Martin Foley (Environment and Planning),
• Jane Garrett (Police and Emergency Services),
• Judith Graley (Leader of the Opposition),
• Natalie Hutchins (Public Transport),
• Frank McGuire (Scrutiny of Government),
• Don Nardella (Leader of the Opposition),
• Wade Noonan (Health),
• Jude Perera (Multicultural Affairs),
• Jaala Pulford (Regional and Rural Development and Agriculture), and
• Gayle Tierney (Employment).

“Since taking over the housing portfolio, Ms Lovell has released all four of the quarterly waiting list reports for 2011 late on a Friday afternoon,” Mr Wynne said.

“Her cynical attempt to avoid public scrutiny will not be lost on the 38,566 people languishing on the Victorian Public housing waiting.

“The fact is Ms Lovell has achieved nothing in her first year managing Victoria’s public and social housing.

“Ms Lovell, who failed to release the data along with her statement, is trying to spin her way out of the issues that are arising from the Baillieu Government’s complete lack of investment in public and social housing.

“How can Ms Lovell lay claim that the public housing waiting list has shortened by any effort by the Baillieu Government?

“The fact is almost all of the public housing building program in Victoria is a result of the Gillard Government’s stimulus package, which should deliver 6500 units of public and social housing by June this year.”

Ms Lovell’s failure to support public housing tenants in Victoria include:

• Taking money form the pockets of 38,000 pensioners for a public housing rent increase announced this week.

• The release of a homelessness ‘plan’ that failed to set out any plans for assisting young people experiencing homelessness, women and children escaping domestic violence, or people currently living in crisis accommodation; • The failure to provide any new funding for building or acquiring public and social housing in the 2011 State Budget; and • Providing the lowest targets for upgrading public housing and assisting families at risk of homelessness.

“Ms Lovell needs to stop hiding from public scrutiny and start making decision that will benefit the thousands of people who are waiting for public and social housing in Victoria,” he said.

The Federal Government and all states except Victoria had committed to fund the awarded pay increases of between 19 and 41 per cent over eight years to social and community services workers.

“This is indeed an historic day and a significant milestone in the long fight to achieve equal pay for women,” Mr Andrews said.

“The independent umpire has awarded significant wage increases for workers in the community services industry because they were comparatively underpaid – and underpaid because they work in an industry dominated by women.

“Victoria is the only state in Australia not to deliver a full funding commitment to right this wrong.”

Mr Andrews said Mr Baillieu must keep his word and commit the funds to make sure these wage increases were passed on to Victoria’s social and community services workers in full.

“Before his election, Mr Baillieu promised to back pay equity and boost wages for community services workers, who are among the lowest paid in the State,” he said.

“Mr Baillieu’s Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge went further and said this would be done ‘whatever the cost’.

“Ever since, the Baillieu Government has tried to wiggle out of its promise and, in an extraordinary about face, argued gender played no real role in the low wages paid to non-government community services workers.

“But the Baillieu Government has form when it comes to saying one thing and doing another, and undermining public sector workers.

“Negotiations with nurses are in disarray and the Government has walked away from a pre-election commitment to make teachers the highest paid in Australia.”

Shadow Minister for Employment Tim Pallas said community services workers did incredibly challenging work caring for our most vulnerable people.

“They deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do,” he said.

“A few extra dollars a week might not mean much to Mr Baillieu, but for low income families it makes a big difference.”

Mr Merlino and Mr Eren were elected unopposed to fill the vacancies left by former Deputy Labor Leader and Shadow Minister Rob Hulls, who resigned from parliament last week.

Leader of the Opposition Daniel Andrews welcomed their appointments.

“We are a strong and united team that’s focused on holding the Baillieu Government to account and I know the experience James Merlino and John Eren will bring to their new roles will hold Labor in good stead,” Mr Andrews said.

“Mr Merlino will bring a real energy and vigour to the role as Deputy Leader,” Mr Andrews said.

“We saw his determination during his dogged pursuit of Police Minister Peter Ryan during the Overland affair, and he brings his experience as a great campaigner and effective voice for his community to his new role.   “John Eren works hard and stands up for his community, and it’s these qualities that will make him a strong and effective member of the Shadow Ministry.

“It’s great to have another voice representing regional Victoria in Shadow Cabinet.”

Mr Merlino said it was a great honour to be the Deputy Leader of the Victorian Labor Party.

“Victorians deserve a better government than what they’ve got, and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to hold them to account,” Mr Merlino said.

“I’m excited to be part of Victorian Labor as we renew our party and work to be competitive for the 2014 election.”

Mr Eren said he was pleased to be able to play a role in the Shadow Ministry.

“I’ve worked hard to represent my electorate, and I’m looking forward to playing a role in the Shadow Ministry.

“I will keep the Government accountable for all their promises they made to the Victorian community leading up to the last election.

James Merlino, who is married with three children, was elected in 2002, and has since held various Ministerial roles including Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, and Minister for Police and Corrections.

In Opposition, he has held the roles of Shadow Minister for Police and Shadow Minister for the TAC and Road Safety.

John Eren has been a member of parliament since 2002.

In that time he has contributed greatly in his capacity as the chair of the Road Safety Committee, and since being in Opposition has served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Education and Deputy Opposition Leader.

Mr Eren is married with five children, and has a strong connection with the Geelong community.

Portfolio allocations will be finalised in coming days.

“There’s no doubt workers across Victoria are worried about the future of their jobs,” Mr Andrews said.

“Hundreds of families at Toyota are now facing an uncertain future, and unfortunately they are among the many thousands of workers who have lost their jobs since Mr Baillieu came to office.

“There’s nothing more important to families than a job, but every time you pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio or television there are more reports of workers being made redundant.

There are now 9000 less people employed than when Mr Baillieu took office.

“Mr Baillieu has spent his first 14 months in power doing nothing,” Mr Andrews said.

“There’s no more time to waste. Victorians need and deserve to know when the Premier will deliver a plan to create jobs and make sure the state’s economy can hold up against any external pressures.

“Victorians need a Premier who will take charge and lead the state, not one who is more interested in hiding under his desk and hoping the tough issues just disappear.

“Premier, what date will you provide your jobs plan to Victorian families?”

Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Adem Somyurek and Member for Altona Jill Hennessy joined Mr Andrews during his visit to Toyota.

“Workers in Melbourne’s western suburbs deserve better from the Baillieu Government,” Mr Somyurek said.

“They need action from this do-nothing Premier.”

Ms Hennessy said: “Workers worried about their future at the Altona factory will be taking little comfort from Mr Baillieu’s claims the economy is his priority.

“A plan, not empty words, will help create jobs.”

From Monday, 23 January, power distribution companies are now required to disable the auto-reclose function on SWER lines during Code Red and total fire ban days, which may leave businesses and homes without electricity. However on a large number of SWER lines the auto-reclose system will be disabled for six weeks.

While some Victorians have received a letter from Energy Safe Victoria, many others are still waiting for the Government to alert them about how the changes will impact them.   Shadow Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio said people whose homes were connected to the powerline network were angry they hadn’t received any information from the Government about the possibility of disrupted power supply.

“The Baillieu Government’s decision to allow power companies to shut auto-reclose systems on powerlines will impact the power supply to at least 10,000 Victorians during the next six weeks,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“Many people I have spoken to haven’t received any information from the Government.

“Instead of being open and upfront with families on what these changes will mean, the Energy Minister has chosen to drip feed information out to communities.

“Drip feeding information out in the same week these changes are beginning is not good enough.

“Michael O’Brien has mishandled the rollout of these changes and his failure to inform communities will leave many unable to properly prepare their homes and businesses.

In many remote parts of the state, if the power is disrupted during the next six weeks it will remain off until a powerline worker can manually inspect the line. These checks could take several days.

“The Energy Minister has been aware of the possible impact, and which communities will be affected since at least December,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“Contacting those affected should have been straightforward and done long before now.

“Is Mr O’Brien just not up to the job as Energy Minister, or is he choosing to keep this information a secret?”

“There is no guarantee that the jobs of local workers at the companies such as GKN / Unidrive, ITW Deltar, MtM International, PPG and Bosch in Clayton or Delphi Australia in Clayton South, all within the Clayton electorate  which are  Toyota supply chain businesses will have job security into the future”, Hong Lim said.

“While Ted Baillieu plays the part-time Premier, there are now hundreds more local workers and their families facing an uncertain future.

“After 14 months in office Mr Baillieu has little to show local families on his election commitment to deliver a jobs plan for local families holding mortgages as well as facing increased costs of living.

“While there are national and international factors affecting the economy, Mr Baillieu has a special responsibility to support local jobs and investment.

“Under the previous Labor government, Victoria was the powerhouse of jobs creation in Australia.

“The states manufacturing industry is the largest employer of Victorians, and under the Baillieu Government more than 20,000 jobs alone have already been lost from the industry.”

Mr Baillieu needs to give a guarantee to employees at these local businesses that his government is doing everything it can to ensure their job security into the future Hong Lim said.

“The local motor component industry employs many local people and families deserve to know if their employment is guaranteed into the future.

“Being Premier is more than just governing for Liberal-held seats – Mr Baillieu needs to ensure all local communities are supported.”

“These job losses are devastating for workers at Toyota and in Melbourne’s western suburbs, and for their families” Mr Holding said.

“While Ted Baillieu plays the part-time Premier, there are now hundreds more workers and their families facing an uncertain future and wondering how they will pay their mortgages.

“These job losses won’t just hurt Victorian workers; they will impact on their families, the community and the state’s automotive industry.

“At the very least, the Baillieu Government must urgently provide affected workers with support to retrain and seek other work, as well as financial counselling and planning.”

Mr Holding said the Premier’s failure to deliver a jobs plan was hurting Victorian workers.

“Thousands of Victorians work in our automotive industry and the loss of hundreds of Toyota jobs will have a significant impact on the sector and the families who depend on it,” he said.

“These job losses will flow on to automotive parts manufacturers.

“We understand there are national and international factors affecting the economy, but the State Government has a special responsibility to support jobs and promote investment in Victoria.  Under Labor, Victoria was the powerhouse of jobs creation in Australia.

“Mr Baillieu’s failure to deliver a jobs plan to create and retain jobs and invest in the ongoing growth of the Victorian economy jeopardises the strong position that Victoria built over the last decade.

“If the Premier doesn’t wake from his year-long slumber soon, more jobs will be lost.”

When in Opposition, the-then Victorian Liberal Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Ryan Smith attacked the Labor Government’s support for manufacturing of the Toyota Hybrid in Altona, branding it nothing more than an “experiment”.

Just as the federal Liberal party remains divided over the question of support for advanced manufacturing in Australia, it’s clear that the same divisions exist in Victoria.

“Victoria’s manufacturing industry is the state’s largest employer, and under the Baillieu Government more than 20,000 jobs have already been lost from the industry.”

Member for Altona Jill Hennessy said the job losses would have a significant impact on the community.

“Ted Baillieu has let down workers and their families in the western suburbs,” Ms Hennessy said.

“The western suburbs have been hit with significant job losses during the past few months, and yet the community is still waiting to hear from the Premier about how he will support the area.

“Being Premier is more than just governing for Liberal-held seats – it’s about ensuring all communities are supported.”

“It is clear the Baillieu Government has failed to achieve its own prescribed burn targets and its responsibility to prepare Victoria against bushfire,” Ms Green said.

“The Baillieu Government is more focused on meeting politically-motivated targets, than protecting communities most at risk.

“Mr Baillieu should be listening to the experts and burning in areas that will save lives properties and businesses rather than burning in remote areas.

“As a result, communities throughout the Yarra Ranges and the Dandenongs have been left exposed where only 16 per cent of the target has been achieved in the Central Region.

“These include communities in Healesville, Mount Dandenong, Upper Ferntree Gully, Warrandyte, Cockatoo and Emerald.

“Politics should have no part in the Government’s plan to prepare Victoria against bushfire – but under Ted Baillieu it is front and centre.”

Ms Green said the bungled handling of back-burning was the latest failing by the Baillieu Government on bushfire safety.

“The Baillieu Government is mismanaging its responsibility to prepare Victorian families and businesses against fire,” Ms Green said.

“Firstly Mr Baillieu postponed Fire Action Week until after a quarter of the state was already under threat from fire. Mr Baillieu knocked back a request by fire authorities for a third ‘Elvis’ aircrane, and he also failed to provide funding for much needed CFA fire station upgrades.

“When it comes to preparing Victoria for bushfire, governments can either be popular or they can be effective.

“Back-burning huge amounts of grassland is no substitute for targeted burns in areas that will protect properties and save lives.

Townships within the Victoria’s Central Region where the government had achieved only 16 per cent of their prescribed burn target.

• Avonsleigh • Badger Creek, • Belgrave • Belgrave Heights • Belgrave South, • Big Pats Creek, • Chum Creek, • Cockatoo, • East Warburton • Emerald • Ferny Creek, • Gembrook, • Healesville, • Kallista, • Kalorama, • Lysterfield • McMahons Creek • Millgroye, • Monbulk, • Montrose, • Mount Dandenong • Mount Evelyn, • Olinda, • Pakenham Upper, • Powelltown, • Reefton • Sassafras, • Sherbrooke, • Silvan, • Tecoma • The Basin, • The Patch, • Tremont, • Upper Ferntree Gully, • Upwey, • Warrandyte, • Wesburn,

I hope the Year of the Dragon is one of peace.

A departmental briefing for Opposition members on the Government’s FOI Commissioner Bill was scheduled for today but at the 11th hour the Baillieu Government cancelled it.

It’s the second time the briefing has been cancelled.

Mr Pakula said the Baillieu Government was more concerned about attacking the Labor Opposition and the media, than running the state.

“The Baillieu Government postponed the initial briefing and has now cancelled the latest briefing,” Mr Pakula said.

“It is not only far-fetched for this Government to suggest that Opposition MPs attending a standard departmental briefing for this Bill briefing is a stunt, it is completely offensive.

“This standard Bill briefing was never going to be controversial until the Government pulled the pin at the last minute and then tried to blame the Opposition.

“Claims that this was a media stunt by the Opposition are just ludicrous. It’s the only ‘media stunt’ ever that the media were not told about.

“And suggestions that Labor MPs would intimidate departmental staff are laughable.

“I think departmental staff would feel more intimidated by the Baillieu Government’s plans to sack 3600 public service workers, than they would be about a meeting with members of the Labor party.”

Historically it is standard government practice, when introducing a Bill to parliament, that the relevant Minister offers the Opposition and its members a briefing with Ministerial staff and departmental representatives on the Bill.

“Coalition Ministers are jumping at shadows and losing the plot,” Mr Pakula said.

“This is the latest effort by the Baillieu Government to stymie debate on a Bill to appoint an FOI Commissioner who will be a toothless tiger.

“Victorians have every right to question what the Baillieu Government is trying hide.

Mr Pakula said the Opposition would not be seeking another briefing.

“We’ll manage just fine without a briefing and the Baillieu Government will be hearing our response on the Bill soon enough.

“Clearly the Government is using any device that it possibly can to avoid briefing the Opposition on its legislation.  This is hardly open, transparent and accountable government as Victorians were promised.”

Member for Broadmeadows Frank McGuire was on his way to the briefing when he was notified that it was no longer going ahead.

“It beggars belief that you can’t even get a briefing on, of all topics, Freedom of Information,” Mr McGuire said.

“This redefines farce.”

Member for Narre Warren South Judith Graley was also attending the briefing.

“The last-minute decision to cancel the briefing is an extraordinary act by a Government which seems to be addicted to secrecy and enjoys bullying anyone who criticises its parliamentary or political agenda,” Ms Graley said.

Mr Pallas said that in the last month, Victoria lost 2000 full-time jobs while 26,400 new full-time jobs were created across the rest of Australia.

“These figures are bad news for the Baillieu Government and bad news for people looking for full-time work.

“There are now 9000 less people employed than when Mr Baillieu took office.”

“In December, there were 2000 less full-time jobs in Victoria. This comes at a time when more people want to work more, with 10,700 Victorians identified as underemployed in the latest quarterly figures.

“Disturbingly, Victoria’s job participation rate dropped significantly last month, from 65.5 per cent to 65.1 per cent. This means more people are giving up looking for work because it’s become too hard to find a job.

“Also, Victorian youth unemployment is among the highest in Australia at 21.1 per cent – up from 14.6 per cent.”

Mr Pallas said today’s figures put more pressure on Mr Baillieu to deliver a jobs plan.

“Earlier this week, Mr Baillieu said the economy was his top priority. Why then is Mr Wells still the Treasurer? Why does he not have a plan to create jobs and attract investment?” he said.

“Nothing is more important to Victorians than a job, but without a plan to grow the economy more people will be out of work.

“And there is more bad news to come for job seekers, with leading economic indicators showing the number of job vacancies in Victoria drying up with a dramatic fall off in business confidence and private sector capital investment to support new jobs.

“Also big losses have been flagged for the finance and banking sector which will only lengthen Victoria’s dole queues.”

Mr Pallas said these figures were more evidence of the Baillieu Government’s lazy economic management and do-nothing approach to industry investment support and job creation.

“Under Labor, Victoria was the job creation capital of Australia. In 2010,100,000 new jobs were created and in 2009, Victoria created 92 per cent of all full time jobs in the country,” he said.

“How many Victorian workers will need to lose their jobs before Mr Baillieu starts to care?”

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that in December – the same month the Baillieu Government announced it would increase fees for vehicle owners – car sales in Victoria slumped by 1.5 per cent in just one month.

Car sales across the state fell by 4.3 per cent during the year – more than the national average of 3 per cent.

“These figures are just the latest evidence that Victoria’s economy is slipping backwards,” Mr Holding said.

“The Baillieu Government should be supporting jobs and industry, but instead has chosen to increase fees for car owners that could have serious flow-on effects for the automotive sector.”

Under Government changes, motor vehicle registration will increase by $35 per vehicle and the rate of stamp duty on new cars will rise from 2.5 per cent to 3.0 per cent.

“I’m concerned that when the price increases take effect, car sale figures will fall even further,” Mr Holding said.

“The Premier needs to admit that his cash grab to boost his budget bottom-line will cost jobs in the automotive industry.”

Mr Holding said the Baillieu Government’s failure to outline a jobs plan was hurting Victoria.

“The Premier claims the economy is his top priority but securing and creating jobs will take more than just words,” he said.

“Empty rhetoric without a solid plan to grow the economy means nothing to Victorian families.

“An economy going backwards will lead to fewer jobs for Victorians and that’s why Mr Baillieu needs a jobs plan now.”

From Monday, 23 January this year, power distribution companies will be required to disable the auto-reclose function on SWER lines during Code Red and total fire ban days, which may leave businesses and homes without electricity. However on a large number of SWER lines the auto-reclose system will be disabled for six weeks.

The Baillieu Government has failed to announce which communities the changes could cover, Shadow Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said today.

Visiting the Hennel family farm in Humedale with Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green, Ms D’Ambrosio said a directive sent to power distribution companies from Energy Safe Victoria stated there was recent modelling that showed which areas would be impacted if power was turned off.

“These changes will impact thousands of families and business owners, but the Baillieu Government is yet to reveal exactly who will be impacted,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“Cutting power to farms, vineyards and other small businesses could have serious financial consequences unless the owners have been properly informed and made arrangements.

“These changes to the auto-reclose systems begin in just days so it’s not good enough that the Baillieu Government has kept Victorians in the dark.

“The Baillieu Government knows that 10,000 homes will be impacted by these changes, so why isn’t the Premier informing Victorians?”

The directive references ‘thePhoenixfire consequence model’ that outlines the areas of the state that will be affected when the auto-reclose function is turned off.

The changes are in response to the Bushfire Royal Commission’s Recommendation 32, and will mean that on days of high-fire danger the power could be cut, and only turned back on after a manual inspection, which could be days later.

While the Baillieu Government have announced $40 million to help Victorians deal with power disruptions, it’s yet to outline how this will be spent.

“These changes are too important not to get right, and the Baillieu Government’s mishandling of the issue is already threatening to negatively impact Victorians,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

Ms Green said the Hennel family, like many locals without town water, would be in great difficulty if power was cut for one day, let alone several days.

“The Hennel family haven’t heard about the Government’s plans to implement these changes next week, and like so many other people they aren’t prepared for long periods without electricity,” she said.

“People understand sacrifices need to be made to prepare their community for a fire, but the least the Baillieu Government could do is inform the families and businesses that will be impacted by these changes.”

Seasonally adjusted data released by the ANZ shows Victoria has experienced a 23.8 per cent drop in job advertisements during the past 12 months, and a 0.9 per cent decrease in December alone.

Shadow Employment Minister Tim Pallas said the Premier could not ignore the latest economic data, which revealed Victoria was the worst performing state when it came to job advertisements.

“These latest figures are an indictment on the Baillieu Government’s inaction and economic management,” Mr Pallas said.

“Month after month more data shows Victoria’s economy is in freefall but the Baillieu Government does nothing.

“The Baillieu Government has failed to give business the confidence to invest and employ Victorians.

“Nothing is more important to Victorians than having a job, and that’s why less jobs available for more people looking for work is bad news for families.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for December 2011 showed 21,500 more people were unemployed in Victoria than when the Baillieu Government came to office.

“How many workers will need to lose their jobs before the Baillieu Government wakes up and starts working to support investment and job creation in Victoria?” Mr Pallas said.

“Mr Baillieu can no longer sit by as Victoria’s unemployment queues get longer and business confidence plummets.

“The Baillieu Government must produce a jobs and infrastructure plan to grow jobs and give business the confidence and certainty it enjoyed under the previous government.”

Ms Allan said the Baillieu-Ryan Government must also remove Heinz tomato sauce from government catering contracts.

“The Goulburn Valley Food Action Committee is working hard to secure the future of the former Heinz site in Girgarre to ensure new jobs are created in the region,” Ms Allan said.

“The Baillieu-Ryan Government should be actively assisting negotiations between the Goulburn Valley Food Action Committee and Heinz to secure the future of a food manufacturing and processing industry at Girgarre.

“The committee has been working hard to negotiate with Heinz to secure the plant and equipment, but needs to be actively backed by the Baillieu-Ryan Government to secure the local plant and create jobs.

“When will Mr Baillieu realise he needs to take charge of the state’s economy and secure jobs for regional Victorians?”

Ms Allan suggested Mr Baillieu review the use of Heinz products in future government catering.

“As Heinz has left Victoria for New Zealand, Mr Baillieu should leave Heinz tomato sauce off the government table,” she said.

“The Baillieu-Ryan Government can move immediately to ensure it only uses Australian made and produced tomato sauce in all catering contracts.”

Ms Allan said the recent closure of the Heinz factory at Girgarre and the loss of 150 jobs had hurt the region and it was important the Liberal National Government looked at ways to assist the committee.

“Mr Baillieu can start by delivering a regional job plan to support local manufacturing and jobs.  So far his only action has been to abolish the position of a dedicated Minister for regional jobs,” she said.

“The Baillieu-Ryan Government can no longer ignore the importance of job creation in regional Victoria – it’s time it stopped dithering and started growing regional Victoria.”

“Nothing is more important to Victorians than having a job – which is why Labor has a strong record of backing the car industry and worked hard in Government to keep the industry viable,” he said.

“We welcome Ford’s renewed commitment to continue its operations in Victoria but the Baillieu Government must also reveal what it will do to secure Holden’s future.

“Holden both directly and indirectly supports thousands of Victorian jobs and is the key to the long-term future of Victoria’s car industry and the survival of hundreds of smaller car supply manufacturers across the State.”

Mr Pallas said the Baillieu Government was quite happy today to claim credit for the Ford investment but had been silent on their failure to secure the long-term future of Holden.

“Mr Baillieu was dragged kicking and screaming to support Ford and Geelong jobs,” he said.

“Mr Baillieu’s ministerial team and his Liberal Party colleagues have a long history of bagging Victoria’s car industry and Federal and State Labor’s efforts to support it.

“In Opposition last year, the Liberal Party’s Shadow Manufacturing Minister attacked Labor’s support for Toyota as a “shaky” experiment, while former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett said government support for the car industry should be withdrawn.

“In Government, all they have done is increase stamp duty on Australian-made cars at a time when the high Australian dollar is making local cars less competitive on price.

“So it is no surprise that the Baillieu Government was too lazy to send a representative on Kim Carr’s car industry mission to Detroit to secure Holden’s future in Victoria despite South Australia’s Premier Jay Weatherill attending to fight to keep Holden’s Elizabeth plant open.”

Mr Pallas said the Baillieu Government urgently needed to develop a car industry plan as part of a comprehensive jobs plan for Victoria.

As a result, Mr Andrews said 6000 more Victorians will be waiting for elective surgery at the end of the year including an additional 2000 children.

“Mr Baillieu promised he would deliver more elective surgeries than the previous Labor Government,” Mr Andrews said.

“Instead, the 2011-12 Statement of Priorities for Victorian hospitals data shows Victorian hospitals will perform 7751 less elective surgeries this financial year – not more.

“Mr Baillieu’s health cuts will also result in a ballooning waiting list, which is expected to grow by 6349 patients.

“Sadly, vulnerable sick children will be hardest hit by Mr Baillieu’s growth funding shortfall. At the Royal Children’s Hospital, 2150 more children will be put on the waiting list for treatment including vital heart, bone, eye, brain and ear, nose and throat surgery.

“Mr Baillieu is happy to walk around taking credit for the new children’s hospital Labor built, but when it comes to doing the hard work of delivering better care for our children the Premier is nowhere to be seen.”

Mr Andrews said the Baillieu Government’s growth funding shortfalls had forced hospitals to make the difficult decision to reduce the number of elective surgeries this year.

“When hospitals cut elective surgery, you know the health system is critically underfunded,” he said.

“It confirms what health professionals have been saying for months –Victoria’s hospital system has never been as bad as this.

“And it will only get worse if Mr Baillieu has his way in the nurses’ dispute and cuts a further $100 million from the health budget each year, meaning the equivalent of 1758 nurses will be lost fromVictoria’s health system.”

Mr Andrews said elective surgery patients were the latest casualty of Mr Baillieu’s $500 million cut toVictoria’s health system revealed in this year’s State Budget.

“Mr Baillieu has not added one extra doctor, one extra nurse or one extra hospital bed – and has abandoned his promise to deliver an extra 100 hospital beds this year,” he said.

“He and his Government are clearly feeling the heat on health which is why they tried to bury these figures by dropping them during the busy holiday period.”

Elective Surgery Targets and Waiting List comparison 2010-11 vs 2011-12

Shadow Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the Government had back flipped on its commitment to the Victorian community after announcing today that it will replace less than 1% of the state’s powerline network, as identified by the VBRC.

“Today the Baillieu Government has turned its back on its commitment to implement all 67 of the recommendations made by the VBRC,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“After a year of fudging, the Baillieu Government has committed to replacing only 100km of Victoria’s powerline network each year – where, how and when it will start is anyone’s guess.”

Recommendation 27 of the Bushfire Royal Commission said the Government should implement the ‘replacement of all SWER power lines in Victoria’ with infrastructure in areas of highest risk to be replaced within 10 years. It also stated that all of the 22kV lines should also be replaced.

“Clearly, the Government has abandoned this recommendation, and in doing so, has made a fool out of Mr Ryan who said just four months ago that not implementing the full set of recommendations would make him ‘derelict’ in his duty,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“Today’s announcement will see another committee set up, without a timeframe for when powerline replacement and augmentation will actually begin.

“Energy Minister Michael O’Brien says replacement will take 10 years, butVictoriawill have to wait at least another fire season before any powerlines are replaced.

“The Baillieu Government’s inability to manage the state’s finances has meant this whole project will rely on a cap-in-hand request to the Federal Government for $250 million with little detail about what this will pay for.

“Mr O’Brien’s plan also relies on Victorian families to pay for half of the cost through their power bills, which are already set to rise in just two days time.

“The Energy Minister has been hiding from this issue all year, having delayed the report, blocked its release and now released the Government’s response under the cover of New Year’s Eve.

“This is the Minister who, earlier this year, attempted to pass legislation preventing criticism being levelled at him.

“So it comes as no surprise that Mr O’Brien announced the broken promise when many Victorians are on holiday so this controversial decision will go largely unnoticed.”

Sincerely, Hong

Mr Jennings said the Baillieu Government promised to release Victorian Health Services Performance Reports every quarter but had released no data since June – six months ago.

“And today, the Baillieu Government released data for the June 2011 and September 2011 quarters on the same day,” Mr Jennings said.

“It’s no surprise they tried to bury this report given it has exposed a record high number of patients waiting for elective surgery.

“Also, hospitals have failed ambulance and emergency department treatment time targets exposing the crisis inVictoria’s’ health system.

“This data backs what health professionals have been saying for months –Victoria’s hospital system has never been as bad as this.”

Mr Jennings said the data demonstrated the Baillieu Government’s abject failure to boost the health system’s performance.

It found the Baillieu Government had failed to meet treatment time targets in key areas, including:

• Emergency Department Category 3 (urgent) patients;
• Elective Surgery Category 2 (semi-urgent); and
• Ambulance patient transfers (only 77 per cent of patients were treated within 40 mins well below the 90 per cent target).

It also found:

• The number of patients waiting for elective surgery at the end of September had blown out to 41,601 – the highest on record;
• In July to September this year, an extra 97 patients waited more than one year for treatment than for the same quarter last year;
• Category 3 elective surgery patient average waiting times increased by 11 days over last 12 months;
• Elective Surgery hospital initiated postponements increased by 7.1 per cent.

“Health Minister, David Davis promised greater transparency and public accountability of hospital performance,” Mr Jennings said.

“Instead, he has put out two quarters of complex data on the one day –three days before Christmas – in a shameless attempt to dodge public scrutiny of the Baillieu Government’s failure on health in its first year in office.”

A Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission report today recommended removing local content requirements from government procurement tenders.

The Baillieu Government has approved this recommendation, and claims it will instead focus on maximising ‘local content through greater access and awareness of local suppliers’.

Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Adem Somyurek said the Premier’s decision to dump the local content targets for State projects would hurt jobs and manufacturing.

“Mr Baillieu is more interested in cutting thousands of jobs across Victoria, than he is in creating them,” Mr Somyurek said.

“Awareness alone won’t help local manufacturers compete with overseas companies – the value of local jobs needs to remain a focus in government procurement.

“We’ve already had 3600 jobs cut from the Victorian public sector, and now the Baillieu Government’s lack of support for the manufacturing sector is putting more jobs at risk.”

“This policy has been successful because it meant contractors involved in building local projects had to meet local content targets.

“It meant local manufacturers played a large role in major government projects likeAAMIPark, Southern Cross Station, and EastLink.”

Mr Somyurek said by taking away the content target, the Premier was backing manufacturers overseas above those in Cheltenham and Dandenong.

“Sending jobs and taxpayer dollars overseas will hurt the Victorian economy,” he said.

“Not only does this Government have no plan for jobs, it is removing the framework established over many years to support local jobs.

“This comes at the worst possible time for Victorian manufacturers, which are already struggling to cope with a high Australian dollar, global financial uncertainty and increasing competition from mass-production and low-cost economies such asChina.”

“The Baillieu Government’s inaction is already hitting Victoria, with a slowing of economic growth and rising unemployment.

“The Baillieu Government needs to set real targets. The lack of timelines and goals in this Government’s policies is undermining confidence in Victoria’s economy.”

A briefing for the Opposition on this important Bill was scheduled for today, but a political adviser in the office of Minister Andrew McIntosh called it off late last week claiming that because one departmental official was not available, the whole briefing needed to be rescheduled.

Though the Opposition indicated it was happy to be briefed by the Minister’s staff and other departmental staff who worked on the Bill, the Baillieu Government has now refused to brief Labor until 20 January next year.

Opposition Scrutiny of Government Spokesman Martin Pakula said the briefing would now be held six weeks after the Bill’s introduction and just two weeks before the Bill was due to be debated in Parliament.

“This decision is clearly designed to reduce the Opposition and media’s ability to scrutinise this Bill or to propose changes to it during the Christmas and New Year period,” Mr Pakula said.

“To rely on the absence of one person to delay a briefing by a month is ridiculous. Are we expected to believe that nobody else has worked on putting this Bill together?”

Through its own analysis of the Bill, the Opposition has already found:

• The Commissioner will have no jurisdiction over decisions made by Minister’s offices and political staff;
• The Commissioner will have no jurisdiction over decisions by Agency or Department Heads;
• The Commissioner will have no jurisdiction to examine a claim by an Agency that a document is “Cabinet in Confidence”;
• Massive new delays have been built into the process of seeking access to information, enabling the Government to defer the release of documents for months by changing its decision once the FOI Commissioner has begun an investigation;
• The Government will be able to frustrate the release of documents by appealing decisions of the FOI Commissioner to release documents to VCAT; and
• The Government has broken its pre-election commitment that the FOI Commissioner will have responsibility for monitoring all FOI requests and would have jurisdiction to enforce legally binding professional standards on Departments.

“Ted Baillieu once said that FOI should be a matter of ask and you shall receive. Unfortunately, this Bill means that FOI applicants are unlikely to see anything more than refusal letters for months and months.” Mr Pakula said

“For a Government that said it was committed to “improving the transparency and openness of Freedom of Information” by removing it “from the political process” this Bill is a disgrace, and it’s little wonder they don’t want to brief the Opposition until next year.”

“Nurses work hard each and every day to care for Victorians, and deserve to be supported by the State Government,” Mr Andrews said.

“Mr Baillieu’s continual refusal to negotiate in good faith has left the nurses with no choice but to take this action.

“The Premier has only himself to blame for a breakdown in negotiations.

“Mr Baillieu is trying to destroy nurse-to-patient ratios, putting more pressure on the nursing workforce and will mean less care for Victorian patients.

“His own leaked Cabinet documents show this.

“For the sake of Victorian patients, Mr Baillieu and his Health Minister David Davis need to step up to the negotiating table and give nurses a fair go.”

The 2011/12 Budget Update released today reveals 3600 public sector jobs will be cut.

“Mr Baillieu’s Christmas gift to Victorians is to cut back hardworking public sector workers who provide important services that people rely on,” Mr Andrews said.

“Any claims this won’t hit frontline services is just nonsense. For example, there are 2975 Victorian Public Service employees in the Department of Education alone.

“If you take away those who do the administration work, who does Mr Baillieu think will be forced to do the work?

“These cuts will put pressure on those working at the frontline, including teachers, nurses, child protection workers, and police.”

During a Budget Estimates hearing this year, Mr Baillieu said: “…this budget seeks to increase the number of public sector workers over the forward estimates by some 4000”.

“In just six months, Mr Baillieu has walked away from this commitment and instead taken the axe to 3600 public sector jobs.”

The Budget Update also reveals that Mr Baillieu has no plan to shore up Victoria’s faltering economy. He is expecting:

• Economic growth to fall for 2011-12 from 3.0 per cent to 2.25 per cent, and will continue to decrease in 2012-13; and
• More Victorians to be out of work in 2011-12 with the unemployment rate to increase from 5.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

Mr Baillieu has no plan but he is deceiving Victorians by:

• Taking more money from motorists, with motor vehicle registration increasing by $35 per vehicle and the rate of stamp duty on new cars from 2.5 per cent to 3.0 per cent.
• Giving Victorians less time to pay their stamp duty; and
• Increasing  the dividend required from WorkCover, money that could be better spent protecting Victoria’s workers.

“These changes won’t just hurt Victorians’ hip pocket, but also cause irreparable damage to Victoria’s automotive industry, which is already facing a high Australian dollar,” Mr Andrews said.

“This crucial industry employs about 35,000 Victorians.

“Victoria is slipping backwards after a year of inaction by Mr Baillieu.

“The do-nothing Premier has no plan to boost the economy or grow jobs.

“Our economy is going backwards, and this will mean less jobs for Victorians.”

Last week the Australian Bureau of Statistics released data to show Victoria’s economy contracting as a result of a massive decline in Government infrastructure spending. It also showed Victoria’s unemployment rate increased to 5.5 per cent.

“This means since he came to office, Mr Baillieu has seen 21,500 more Victorians become unemployed,” Mr Andrews said.

“If Mr Baillieu thinks by slipping this announcement out just days from Christmas that Victorians won’t notice, he’s wrong.

“These cuts will impact services across the state and hurt Victorians.”

Registering a business name is very important for small and micro businesses. Simply using one’s own name does not say much about a business. While your name might be Smith, it is likely that your family has not been in the blacksmith business for generations or even a few centuries. A person with the surname Baker might bake bread but probably does not. Registration of a business name is not only effective in promoting one’s business but also much cheaper for a small or sole trader than forming a company and meeting all the regulatory compliance. Of course if one attaches a description of the business to the name, then business name registration becomes mandatory.

The advantage for businesses in moving to a system of single national registration is that if they trade in a number of states, they will not have to register in every state. One national registration will suffice. If businesses also need an Australian business number (ABN) — and that will become compulsory — there will be a one‑stop shop for them to apply for that. Previously businesses have applied for business name registration in their state and obtained their ABN from the commonwealth government.

In legislating for the transfer to national business name registration, the bill before the house repeals the Victorian Business Names Act 1962. Clause 1 of this bill adopts the commonwealth Business Names Registration Act 2011 and the commonwealth Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011. However, there are a couple of issues for Victorian businesses which I have to point out. The minister in his statement of compatibility preceding his second‑reading speech said that the transfer to the national system will significantly reduce fees associated with registering business names, and the previous speaker also alluded to that. But that is not true — certainly not for Victorian businesses renewing their business names. They currently pay $61.10 to Consumer Affairs Victoria, but it is proposed that they will pay $70 for renewal at the national level, an increase of a whopping 14.5 per cent.

The search engine Google generates its income from paid advertising. It promotes businesses by providing predicted searches in the search box and by results appearing as a person types in their query. Companies pay for prominent listings with Google. If prospective businesses perform a Google search for the term ‘national business names registration’, the first result they see will be www.businessregistration.com.au, which is the business division of Business Switch Pty Ltd. This is not a government agency; it is a private company that will of course charge for services. I find it regrettable that it has been allowed to register such an official‑sounding and therefore misleading domain name. Perhaps the minister would care to have his department look into this matter.

In the meantime a business wanting to register a name should register through Consumer Affairs Victoria until the transfer is complete. Following the transfer, business names registration will be managed and administered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. There is a grandfather clause relating to identical business names in various states, so it would be okay if the name Lim Aeronautics is already registered in both New South Wales and Victoria; ASIC will differentiate between them by putting ‘Melbourne’ or ‘Sydney’ in brackets after the name. However, if the name Lim Skydiving is already registered in Melbourne, then after the national transfer a New South Wales business will not be permitted to register the same name.

Victorians considering registering a business name and facing the possibility of there being an identical name interstate should consider acting now. Likewise, businesses need to be aware that it will be compulsory to obtain an ABN if they register a business name after the transfer to national registration. All in all, this bill, which will complete the work of the previous state Labor government, is business friendly. I wish the bill well and a speedy passage.