Hansard debates

  Ms HUPPERT (Southern Metropolitan) -- Thank you  for the opportunity to  speak
today. I  wish to acknowledge the traditional  owners of  the land  on which  we
stand, the Kulin nation. It  is a great privilege to represent the electorate of
Southern Metropolitan Region and to be a member of the Brumby Labor government.
Southern  Metropolitan Region is a diverse electorate, and its residents include
representatives from many different walks of life and backgrounds.

The  electorate  includes  the vibrant Southbank arts precinct and  cosmopolitan
Acland Street, and is  home  to sporting facilities such as the Melbourne Sports
and Aquatic Centre and the world-renowned golf courses.
The  percentage of residents in the electorate born outside Australia is greater
than the Victorian average and many have  been  long-time  residents not only of
Australia but  of  the Southern  Metropolitan  Region. Those  residents  in  the
electorate who have migrated to Australia  have done so for a variety of reasons
-- some fleeing persecution and others  looking  for  a  better  life  for their
families. To some extent my background reflects this diversity.
I have lived  in the  electorate of Southern Metropolitan Region all my life, as
has  my  mother,  Janice,  and  her  mother,  Esther  Rosengarten.  In  fact  my
great-great-grandparents  moved  into  the  electorate some 90 years ago, having
migrated to Melbourne from England in 1898.

My maternal  grandfather, Bernie Rosengarten,  arrived from England in the 1920s
and lived in the  electorate for the rest  of  his life. My late  father, George
Huppert, who was born in Vienna, arrived in Australia with his  parents in 1941.
My paternal grandparents, Eugene and Mina Huppert, were born in what are now the
Czech  Republic and Poland  respectively. My father moved  into the electorate a
few years  after arriving in  Australia and stayed. My  husband, Bobby Guttmann,
migrated to Australia 25  years ago,  and he,  too, has  lived in the electorate
since his arrival.
My family  has  a long  history of  service to  the community.  My parents  have
committed many hours to community and service organisations, including scout and
guide groups, the  Melbourne Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society, Rotary and  B'nai
B'rith.  Most recently  my  father  worked tirelessly  for  Courage  to Care,  a
travelling exhibition and educational program dedicated to promoting respect and
acceptance of all people.

My parents'  commitment to the ideals  of community service, social  justice and
human rights  has been a profound  influence on my life. I  know that my father,
who passed away only a few  months  ago, would have been very proud  to  see  me
standing here in this place.
My interest in issues of public policy stems from a number of different sources.
Some of the policy issues of particular interest to me are  issues around social
justice and social inclusion and ensuring that development of our great state of
Victoria occurs in a manner which delivers benefit to all.
As a geography  student at  Monash University  in the  early 1980s I studied the
effect  of  unchecked  and  unplanned  development on Melbourne, particularly on
those living in the new  suburbs springing up on  the  edge of the city  without
access to infrastructure such as public transport and community services.

I also looked at the different but just as  difficult challenges facing the more
established suburbs,  such as those  in Southern Metropolitan Region,  of coping
with ageing infrastructure. My concern with these issues led me to join the ALP.
The  Premier,  in  his  statement   of   government   intentions,  restated  the
government's  commitment  to  planning  for  Victoria in a  sustainable  manner.
Melbourne 2030  and Melbourne@5 million provide a framework  for managing  the
growth of Melbourne through cooperation with local councils  so that new suburbs
are  properly serviced by  infrastructure such as  schools,  health services and
transport.  The  development of six  central  activity  centres  located  around
transport  hubs  and in areas  of  high population density  will enable existing
infrastructure in more established suburbs to be 

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properly  utilised.   The   blueprint  for   regional  growth  will   facilitate
opportunities for the creation of regional development strategies.
Community building  requires  more  than  infrastructure,  as  recognised by the
government's focus on support for community organisations and  volunteers, which
provides opportunities for people to participate in their communities.
There are  many people who have  provided support, encouragement  and friendship
during my years  in the ALP. In the mid-1990s I  had the opportunity to work for
Clyde Holding, then federal member for Melbourne  Ports, who made a  significant
contribution to both the  Victorian and commonwealth parliaments. I also wish to
mention the support of the Treasurer, John Lenders; the Speaker of the Assembly,
Jenny Lindell; Marsha Thomson; Michael  Danby, the federal  member for Melbourne
Ports; and  Michael Borowick, assistant secretary of the AWU (Australian Workers
Union).

I have been  a member of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia since
the early 1980s. Through my involvement with NCJWA I have had the opportunity to
meet many remarkable volunteers, who devote hours of their time to programs such
as senior  citizens clubs, support for  migrants, training for women  seeking to
return to the workplace and developing interfaith relations.
I would not be standing here today without the support of my family and friends.
In particular I would like to thank my husband, Bobby; my sons, Benjamin, Daniel
and Nathan; and my mother, Janice. My family has always supported  me in both my
career  as a lawyer and  my  involvement in the community  and the ALP, and  has
encouraged me to accept the opportunity to serve as a representative of Southern
Metropolitan Region.
Debate adjourned on motion of Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan).

Debate adjourned until later this day.