Richard Wynne MP

The Baillieu Government’s plan to tackle homelessness fails women and young people and comes on top of a record lack of funding for housing in the State Budget, Shadow Housing Minister Richard Wynne said today.

“Housing Minister Wendy Lovell today released the Baillieu Government’s do-nothing homelessness action plan,” Mr Wynne said.

“After 300 days in office, Ms Lovell has the dubious distinction of providing not one dollar for building new housing, not one dollar for acquiring new stock and no new ideas.

“While a Ministerial Advisory Council and an inter-departmental committee may be well-meaning, there’s got to be more that can be done than politicians and bureaucrats sitting around talking.”

Mr Wynne said Ms Lovell’s strategy had failed:
• To set out any plan for assisting people who are currently in housing crisis or receiving support from housing agencies;
• Women and children escaping domestic violence and other people in vulnerable situations who may need crisis housing support;
• To address crucial work force issues such as adequacy of pay, training and career opportunities; and
• By remaining silent on what tailored support the Baillieu Government will provide to people with a disability, people suffering from mental illness and indigenous Victorians who are at risk of homelessness.

“Ms Lovell’s media release even sought to claim credit for the new housing that is being built as part of Federal Labor’s economic stimulus package,” he said.

Mr Wynne said the homelessness strategy was the latest in a long line of failures from one of Mr Baillieu’s poorest performers in cabinet, which included:
• The lowest target for upgrading public housing in a decade;
• The lowest target for assisting families at risk of homelessness through the Transitional Housing Management (THM) program in a decade;
• No new growth funding for building or acquiring public and social housing;
• No projected improvement in the number of families being turned away from crisis accommodation services; and
• No projected improvement in the times faced by families on the Early Housing Waiting List.

“What Victoria needs is a forward investment plan to keep building and acquiring better housing to accommodate the families and individuals that need it,” he said.

“You can’t solve homelessness if you don’t have an adequate supply of safe, affordable and secure housing, which Ms Lovell and the Baillieu Government have failed to provide.”

Labor Parliamentarians join members of the community at Parliament House to protest cuts to Take a Break.

The Take a Break program provides occasional child care at more than 220 neighbourhood houses and community centres across Victoria.

This vital service gives parents the opportunity to have a few spare hours when they need it, so they can undertake part-time work, go to appointments, undertake study and have some time to Take a Break.

The Baillieu Government’s cruel decision to cut Take a Break will force hundreds of young families to urgently find alternative childcare.

Senior Minister in the Federal Labor Government from 1983 to 1990 and State Opposition Leader from 1967 to 1977.

Clyde was elected as the State Labor Member for Richmond in 1962. In 1977, he was elected as the Federal Labor Member for Melbourne Ports. During the Hawke Government he held the posts of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Employment Services & Youth Affairs, Assisting the Treasurer, Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, and the Arts and Territories. He retired from Parliament in 1998.

Clyde remained a strong advocate for the causes of reconciliation, justice and the arts throughout his lifetime.

I join local branch members and the community at large in offering my deepest condolences to Clyde’s family and friends. His truly was a life of dedication and service to Party, State and Nation.

Source: The Hansard of the Parliament of Victoria, 1st June, 2011.

I rise to oppose the motion, and I do so having listened intently to the debate thus far, except for a small moment when I was otherwise engaged. This is a historic day because the government is seeking to overturn the custom and practice of this house, which has held the house in good stead for decades. I draw to the attention of the house the excellent contribution made by the manager of opposition business, the member for Bendigo East. She indicated that there have been five occasions when the government of the day has failed to have a bill passed in this house, and on none of those occasions did the government of the day seek to take the path proposed here — that is, to suspend standing orders. Read more

The Baillieu Government’s Housing Minister Wendy Lovell needs to start paying attention to her own portfolio after she was unable to answer the most basic question on her own housing legislation in parliament today, Shadow Minister for Housing Richard Wynne said. Read more

Hansard 24.5.11:

Mr Wynne (Richmond) — I rise to acknowledge the magnificent work of the Timor Ethnic Chinese Community of Victoria, which is based in my electorate of Richmond. The TECC Victoria has raised $30 000 towards the purchase of a four-wheel drive vehicle that was delivered to East Timor only a few weeks ago. Read more

I was very happy to go the launch of the new open office at the Atherton Gardens Estate last night which includes computer, internet and printing facilities. The open office will be a fantastic resource for the residents and is available for community groups whose projects benefit the Estate. A great effort by the Atherton Gardens Residents Association.

The Baillieu Government’s decision to scrap Labor’s plan to partially close Hazelwood power station highlights it doesn’t care about Victoria’s future, Shadow Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio said today. Read more

Shadow Minister for Housing Richard Wynne has said today’s Victorian Budget completely neglects the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community. Read more