…NOT "REVIEW
THINGS".
THESE ARE THE FOUNDATIONS
OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.
THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES
THAT WILL DRIVE A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I GIVE THIS ASSURANCE…
UNLIKE STEVE BRACKS
THE GOVERNMENT I LEAD
WILL NEVER SEEK TO INTRODUCE HEROIN INJECTING ROOMS
IN VICTORIA.
THE GOVERNMENT I LEAD
WILL NEVER TRY TO CREATE TOLERANCE ZONES IN OUR
SUBURBS FOR STREET PROSTITUTES.
THE GOVERNMENT I LEAD
WILL NEVER IMPLEMENT LABOR'S PLANS TO ALLOW NEW
HIGH RISE AND HIGH DENSITY HOUSING IN ESTABLISHED
SUBURBS.
THE GOVERNMENT I LEAD
WILL NOT WASTE TAXPAYERS' MONEY ON BLATANT POLITICAL
ADVERTISING.
THE GOVERNMENT I LEAD
WILL NOT MISUSE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE LIKE ROAD SAFETY
AS A COVER FOR REVENUE RAISING.
WHAT WE WILL BE DOING
IS PROTECTING VICTORIA'S FUTURE.
WE'LL HAVE FOUR GOALS:
FIRST
TO DELIVER A BETTER
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WORKING FAMILIES;
SECOND
TO ENSURE OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE AND SECURE;
THIRD
PROVIDE A WORLD-CLASS
HEALTH SYSTEM; AND
FOURTH
RAISE EDUCATION STANDARDS
AND IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I WANT A VICTORIA IN
WHICH WORKING FAMILIES ARE GIVEN PRACTICAL HELP
TO BETTER THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WORKING FAMILIES NEED
PRACTICAL PLANS FROM GOVERNMENT.
MY MESSAGE TO WORKING
FAMILIES IS THIS: WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE.
THAT IS WHY WE'LL ABOLISH
ZONE 3 FARES TO DELIVER REAL SAVINGS FOR WORKING
FAMILIES LIVING IN THE EAST AND SOUTH EASTERN SUBURBS
WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
WITH ZONE 3 FARES GONE,
COMMUTERS FROM FRANKSTON FOR EXAMPLE WILL SAVE UP
TO $403.20 A YEAR ON THEIR WEEKLY TICKETS.
WE KNOW THAT FAMILY
BUDGETS HAVE BEEN HIT BY HIKES IN LOCAL COUNCIL
RATES.
THIS YEAR ALONE AVERAGE
RATE BILLS IN BOOROONDARA ARE EXPECTED TO JUMP BY
15 PER CENT.
RATES WILL BE GOING
UP IN MORELAND BY 16 PER CENT; AND IN SURF COAST
SHIRE BY A MASSIVE 18 PER CENT THIS YEAR.
LABOR DOESN'T CARE
IF COUNCIL RATES GO THROUGH THE ROOF.
WELL, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE'LL CAP MUNICIPAL
RATES TO THE VALUE OF CPI CHANGES PLUS TWO PER CENT.
AND WE WISH TO MAKE
A CONTRIBUTION TO LIGHTENING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN
ON HOMEBUYERS.
THAT'S WHY WE'LL PROVIDE
STAMP DUTY RELIEF.
IT WILL BE TARGETED
CAREFULLY…
IT WILL BE FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE.
THE SPECIFIC DETAILS
OF OUR PLANS FOR STAMP DUTY RELIEF WILL BE ANNOUNCED
THIS WEEK.
HAVING A SAFE AND SECURE
COMMUNITY GOES TO THE HEART OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY
OF LIFE OF VICTORIAN WORKING FAMILIES.
UNDER LABOR, VIOLENT
CRIME HAS INCREASED BY 24.7 PERCENT.
ASSAULTS WITH WEAPONS
ARE UP A STAGGERING 37.8 PERCENT.
VICTORIAN WORKING FAMILIES
HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT,
IN RAILWAY STATIONS, IN DOWNTOWN MELBOURNE OR MANANGATANG
AND IN LOCAL SHOPPING CENTRES.
THAT'S WHY WE WILL
RECRUIT AN EXTRA 1050 POLICE AND MAKE AN ADDITIONAL
250 POLICE FULLY OPERATIONAL.
OUR POLICE DO A GREAT
JOB.
IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB…
AND IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT THE COMMUNITY GIVE OUR POLICE THE SUPPORT THEY
DESERVE.
THEREFORE I ANNOUNCE
TODAY
A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
WILL TOUGHEN THE CRIMES ACT BY DOUBLING THE JAIL
TERM FOR ASSULTS AGAINST POLICE FROM FIVE TO TEN
YEARS.
AND WE'LL CREATE NEW
PENALTIES FOR THOSE INTENDING TO ATTACK POLICE.
'NO GO AREAS' AT DEMONSTRATIONS
AND PROTEST MEETINGS WILL BE DEFINED CLEARLY TO
HELP POLICE DO THEIR JOB OF PROTECTING PEOPLE AND
THEIR PROPERTY.
WE WILL ALSO BRING
IN REQUIRED MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR SERIOUS CRIMES.
OUR MAJOR HOSPITALS
NEED TO BE UPDATED AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.
THEY'RE SUPERB, ICONIC
INSTITUTIONS…
STAFFED BY DEDICATED
DOCTORS, NURSES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
THEY NEED A NEW HOME…
MODERN FACILITIES…
IN A PRECINCT THAT
PROVIDES WORLD CLASS MEDICAL TREATMENT.
WE'LL TURN VISION INTO
REALITY BY INVESTING IN A TEN YEAR CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM TO CREATE THIS WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL PRECINCT
FOR VICTORIA.
THE ROYAL CHILDREN'S,
ROYAL WOMEN'S AND ROYAL MELBOURNE HOSPITALS WILL
BE REBUILT AND DEVELOPED.
THE ROYAL CHILDREN'S
WILL INCLUDE VICTORIA'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC
REHABILITATION UNIT, IN A 300 MILLION DOLLAR REBUILD.
WE WILL CO-LOCATE THE
ROYAL WOMEN'S HOSPITAL TO A NEW SITE IN PARKVILLE
- AT A COST OF 220 MILLION DOLLARS.
AND WE WILL FUND A
SCOPING STUDY FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROYAL MELBOURNE
ON ITS CURRENT SITE.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO
URGENT TASKS TO CONFRONT AND SOLVE RIGHT NOW
…NONE MORE SO
THAN THE ISSUE OF WAITING LISTS.
DESPITE THEIR PROMISE…
DESPITE THE HYPE AND
THE SPIN…
LABOR HAS SIMPLY NOT
DELIVERED ON WAITING LISTS.
THERE'S SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY
WRONG WHEN A BILLION EXTRA DOLLARS GOES TO OUR HOSPITALS,
BUT THE MOST BASIC PROBLEMS GET WORSE.
WE HAVE A STRATEGY
TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS.
LABOR DOESN'T.
WHAT I'M ANNOUNCING
TODAY WILL BRING WAITING LISTS DOWN AND KEEP THEM
DOWN.
IT'S INNOVATIVE AND
BOLD.
THE FIRST STEP IS TO
STOP WAITING LISTS GROWING ANY FURTHER.
WE'LL DO THIS WITH
A SPECIAL HOSPITAL WAITING LIST FUND THAT WILL HANDLE
THE EXPECTED 35,000 EXTRA PATIENTS OUR HOSPITALS
WILL TREAT EVERY YEAR INTO THE FUTURE.
THE SECOND STEP IS
TO DEAL WITH THE WAITING LIST BACKLOG.
THE MONEY FOR THIS
SECOND STEP WILL COME FROM THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FUND.
IT WILL BE USED TO
CONDUCT REGULAR BLITZES ON PRIORITY SURGICAL PROCEDURES
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR
ELECTIVE SURGERY FOR LONGER THAN IS CLINICALLY IDEAL.
HIP REPLACEMENTS
KNEE RECONSTRUCTIONS;
AND
HEART SURGERY.
WILL BE THE TYPES OF
ELECTIVE SURGERY TARGETED WITH THIS APPROACH.
I'VE TALKED TO DOCTORS
AND NURSES ABOUT THIS PLAN.
I KNOW IT WILL WORK.
AS A FURTHER INITIATIVE
WE WILL BUILD THE KNOX HOSPITAL TO MEET THE GROWING
DEMAND FOR ELECTIVE SURGERY FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN
THE EASTERN SUBURBS.
IN EDUCATION THIS GOVERNMENT
HAS LET SCHOOL STANDARDS SLIP.
WE ARE THE ONLY STATE
WITHOUT FULL STATEWIDE TESTING OF YEAR 7 STUDENTS.
WE DON'T HAVE BENCHMARKING
OF STANDARDS AGAINST NATIONAL BENCHMARKS.
OUR PARENTS DESERVE
BETTER.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE
BETTER.
OUR SCHOOLS DESERVE
BETTER.
A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
WILL MAKE SURE PARENTS HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE INFORMATION
AVAILABLE ON THEIR CHILDREN'S PROGRESS AT SCHOOL.
WE WILL ALSO ACT IMMEDIATELY
TO IMPLEMENT FULL STATEWIDE TESTING OF ALL YEAR
7 STUDENTS AND NATIONAL BENCHMARKING OF RESULTS.
FOR COUNTRY CHILDREN,
20 MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE ALLOCATED OVER THE NEXT
FOUR YEARS FOR THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS.
THIS MONEY WILL BE
PAID INTO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL'S GLOBAL BUDGET.
IT WILL BE ABLE TO
BE USED AS THE SCHOOLS SEE FIT.
THAT COULD MEAN AN
EXTRA TEACHER…
OR NEW TECHNOLOGY.
OR MORE SPORTING EQUIPMENT.
THE SCHOOL WILL DECIDE
WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR STUDENTS WHEN USING THIS
MONEY.
OLDER VICTORIANS DESERVE
SPECIAL ATTENTION AND WILL RECEIVE IT FROM THE GOVERNMENT
I LEAD.
HAVING A FEELING OF
SECURITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR
OLDER VICTORIANS.
OUR PLANS TO ATTACK
CRIME AND MAKE OUR STREETS AND COMMUNITIES SAFER
WILL BRING GREATER PEACE OF MIND TO THOSE WHO HAVE
MADE SUCH A WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR STATE.
BUT OUR EFFORTS FOR
OLDER VICTORIANS WILL GO MUCH FURTHER.
WE WILL INCREASE THE
MAXIMUM PENSIONER CONCESSION ON MUNICIPAL RATES
FROM $135 TO $200.
IN CO-OPERATION WITH
THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT WE WILL ALSO EXTEND
A RANGE OF CURRENT PENSIONER CONCESSIONS TO SELF-FUNDED
RETIREES WHO QUALIFY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH SENIOR
HEALTH CARD.
UNDER OUR PLAN, CONCESSIONS
WILL INCLUDE MUNICIPAL RATES; WATER AND SEWAGE CONNECTION
AND SERVICE CHARGES; ELECTRICITY; AND CAR REGISTRATION.
IT IS A PRACTICAL AND
SENSIBLE INITIATIVE…
COUNTRY VICTORIA IS
A SPECIAL PLACE.
I SPENT ALL MY PRIMARY
SCHOOL YEARS IN COUNTRY VICTORIA.
COUNTRY PEOPLE DON'T
BUY POLITICAL SPIN.
LABOR HAS PROMISED
THE WORLD…
BUT HAS BEEN SHORT
ON DELIVERING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR COUNTRY VICTORIA.
OUR PRACTICAL PLAN
TO IMPROVE EDUCATION STANDARDS, REDUCE CRIME, CAP
COUNCIL RATES AND IMPROVE OUR HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM
GOES TO THE HEART OF REVITALISING COUNTRY VICTORIA.
THERE ARE ALSO SPECIFIC
THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR COUNTRY VICTORIA.
COUNTRY VICTORIANS
HAVE A RIGHT TO AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE SOURCES
OF ENERGY.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO STIMULATE
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE WILL ESTABLISH A
$50 MILLION GAS RETICULATION FUND TO EXPAND THE
NETWORK - CONNECTING MANY WORKING FAMILIES AND COUNTRY
BUSINESSES TO NATURAL GAS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
LET ME TURN TO ELECTRICITY.
AT THE LAST ELECTION
LABOR PROMISED $8 MILLION TO UPGRADE POWER LINES
IN SOUTHWEST VICTORIA.
ONLY $3 MILLION OF
IT WAS SPENT.
AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING
THEY WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON SOMETHING ELSE.
WE WILL COMPLETE THIS
PROJECT.
WE WILL ALSO EXTEND
THIS SCHEME TO FARMERS IN PLACES LIKE CARDINIA SHIRE,
IMPROVING SERVICES FOR MANY DAIRY FARMERS IN THE
REGION.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE
STATE OF BRIDGES IN COUNTRY VICTORIA ARE A DISGRACE.
MANY ARE OVER 70 YEARS
OLD AND CAN'T COPE WITH HEAVY LOADS AND TRAFFIC
FLOWS.
IN STRATHBOGIE THE
COUNCIL WAS FORCED TO FIX A HOLE IN A TIMBER BRIDGE
WITH OLD STEEL ROAD SIGNS.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
WE WILL ESTABLISH A
FIVE YEAR, $55 MILLION LOCAL BRIDGE FUND TO REPAIR
AND REPLACE COUNCIL BRIDGES ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'LL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH COUNCILS TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR COUNTRY
VICTORIA.
IT'S NOW NEARLY 20
YEARS SINCE THE ASH WEDNESDAY BUSHFIRES DEVASTATED
VICTORIA.
WE PRAY WE WILL NEVER
SEE THE LIKES OF ASH WEDNESDAY AGAIN.
BUT WE MUST READY TO DEAL WITH ANY EMERGENCY WITH
THE BEST EQUIPMENT POSSIBLE.
THAT'S WHY WE'LL INVEST
46 MILION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO UPGRADE
OUR CFA TANKER FLEET.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUES FACING ALL VICTORIANS IS WATER.
WE NEED A CULTURAL
CHANGE IN OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PROTECTION AND
USE OF THIS SCARCE RESOURCE.
DURING THE WEEK AHEAD
I WILL BE SETTING OUT FURTHER POLICIES AND INITIATIVES
FOR COUNTRY VICTORIA.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT,
OUR APPROACH TO WILL BE BASED ON THE TWIN PILLARS
OF CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.
WE WILL CREATE FIFTY
NEW RANGER POSITIONS TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS PARKS
AND COASTAL REGIONS.
WE'LL ALSO IMPLEMENT
A DECADE ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE THE LONG TERM HEALTH
OF OUR WORLD FAMOUS YARRA RIVER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE LACK DIRECTION AND DRIFT IN VICTORIA.
WHEN YOU PAUSE AND
SEE THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPENSIVE TAXPAYER
FUNDED PUBLIC RELATIONS HYPE, THE REALITY IS THAT
SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH IS HAPPENING.
LABOR HAS NOT DONE
ENOUGH TO PROTECT VICTORIA'S FUTURE.
AND FOR VICTORIA, THAT'S
NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
I SAID EARLIER THAT
I AM COMMITTED TO WORK MY HARDEST EVERY DAY FOR
VICTORIA.
THAT'S NOT ONLY MY
COMMITMENT…
THAT'S MY TEAM'S COMMITMENT.
THE INITIATIVES I'VE
ANNOUNCED TODAY AND THE POLICIES RELEASED DURING
THE CAMPAIGN ARE FULLY COSTED AND AFFORDABLE.
THEY ARE PRACTICAL,
COMMONSENSE POLICIES…AND THEY CAN BE DELIVERED.
I WANT TO PAY GREAT
TRIBUTE TO JENNY AND OUR CHILDREN…
PARTICULARLY MY SON
ANDY WHO HAS COMPLETED HIS YEAR 12 EXAMS DURING
THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
JENNY…
TO YOU…
ANDY…
BRIDIE; AND…
ANTONIA
I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR COMMONSENSE…
YOUR SUPPORT…
YOUR OCCASIONAL ADVICE…
AND ABOVE ALL…
YOUR UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE.
MY FRIENDS.
POLITICS IS A SERIOUS
BUSINESS.
IT'S NOT A GAME.
GOVERNMENT TOUCHES
PEOPLE'S LIVES IN REAL AND PRACTICAL WAYS.
THAT'S WHY EVERY ELECTION
IS IMPORTANT….
BUT NONE MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THIS.
WHEN YOU SEEK GOVERNMENT
YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE THAN PEOPLE'S VOTES…
YOU'RE REQUESTING
THEIR TRUST.
IF LABOR EXPECTED -
OR HOPED - THAT
I
MY COLLEAGUES,
LIBERAL MEMBERS OR
LIBERAL SUPPORTERS…
WOULD TAKE A STEP
BACK DURING THIS CAMPAIGN…
THEN THEY'RE DEAD WRONG.
ADVERSITY OR SETBACKS
ONLY MAKES US MORE DETERMINED…MORE FOCUSED.
I WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVOTE EVERY WAKING HOUR BETWEEN NOW AND THE CLOSE
OF THE POLLS TO HOLD LABOR TO ACCOUNT FOR ITS INACTION
AND DRIFT.
MY PARLIAMENTARY TEAM
WILL BE DOING THE SAME.
WE ARE READY TO ACCEPT
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT.
WE WILL DELIVER FAIR
AND DECISIVE LEADERSHIP.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU
LIVE…
FROM MURRAYVILLE TO
MALLACOUTA;
FROM WODONGA TO WYE
RIVER
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
FROM EAST TO WEST OF
OUR GREAT STATE
WE WILL GOVERN FOR
EVERYONE…
ONLY A LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
HAS THE DISCIPLINE, THE VISION, AND THE POLICIES…
TO PROTECT VICTORIA'S
FUTURE.
PETER COSTELLO, FEDERAL
DEPUTY LEADER AND TREASURER.