Hansard debates

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) — It is a privilege to serve the government of Victoria. It is an honour to make a contribution to an administration delivering for individuals, families and communities, driving our great state with a financial management and economic development record, reshaping the face of the world's most livable city through the biggest public transport project in Victoria's history — the Metro Tunnel — delivering new opportunities for businesses and creating jobs.

The government business program adds to the big-picture vision of the Andrews government by delivering on affordable housing, improving health care and providing greater protection to our environment and heritage. We have not heard one reference to these important reforms in the public interest from the opposition or the Greens political party. They have nothing positive to offer. That is the reality, and that is the take-out from this debate.

Let us go to the propositions that the Victorian government is actually offering the people of Victoria. The Planning and Building Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability and Other Matters) Bill 2017 is significant because it establishes a framework for voluntary arrangements to facilitate the provision of affordable housing in Victoria through the planning system. This is an issue of national and generational significance. What does this bill actually do? It will give developers, the community and local councils certainty about how these arrangements will be applied in Victoria. That is of absolute significance to people right throughout the state. It is a generational debate that is going on with the community. First home buyers are struggling to see how they can get into the market, and this is an issue that looks at that strategy. The bill implements the policy framework set out in the Victorian housing strategy, Homes for Victorians: Affordability, Access and Choice, to facilitate the provision of affordable housing through the planning system. That is what this government is about. This is the big picture that we are actually addressing. This bill addresses other matters, including facilitating the process of variations to so-called wind farm permits, which will reduce time delays and costs for applicants seeking to amend wind farm permits. It addresses that environmental issue also.

Then we look at the Health Legislation Amendment (Quality and Safety) Bill 2017. This is designed to improve safety and quality in Victorian hospitals. This is another reform as part of a raft of reforms, and I want to compliment the Minister for Health on bringing it to the Parliament. This will look at how we instigate these reforms right through the hospital system. People know that Victoria has a world-leading health system and hospital system, but there are gaps and issues that have to be addressed. I compliment the Minister for Health for taking these on, looking at what needs to be done, bringing the legislation to the house and doing the other reforms throughout the system as well. That is important.

Then we have the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Bill 2017. This bill is important in that it recognises the importance of the Yarra River, its parklands and associated public places to the economic prosperity, vitality and livability of Melbourne and the Yarra Valley. I also want to note that language is important to cultural identity. I am pleased to see that the bill carries the full weight of history and heritage in its title. That is an important initiative that I want to register.

Then we have the Environment Protection Bill 2017. We have had the Victorian government put record funding into the Environment Protection Authority Victoria to make sure that our environment is protected. As the member for Broadmeadows, I want to raise that we have had a fire in Coolaroo during the recess and that scrutiny, accountability and compliance are critical issues. I want to actually acknowledge that they are being addressed and to compliment the Premier, who came out to my electorate. We had the minister there and we had the Deputy Premier there as well, so this was a government coming together to try and address these issues. The funding is there. Now we have got the legislative reforms being put through as well.

The issues that the opposition have raised have been irrelevant to the point of this government business program.