Suzanna’s Weekly Blog

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The government provides me with briefings on all bills introduced into the Parliament.

 At the next sitting commencing on 6 October 2015 we will be dealing with: –

  • Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Amendment Bill 2015
  • Public Health And Wellbeing Amendment (No Jab, No Play) Bill 2015 Victims Of Crime Commissioner Bill 2015
  • Wrongs Amendment Bill 2015
  • National Parks Amendment (No 99 Year Leases) Bill 2015
  • Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2015
  • Children, Youth And Families Amendment (Aboriginal Principal Officers) Bill 2015

 During the remainder of the week I met with many constituents and local organisations including representatives from Valley Sport, the Tatura Bulletin and the Williamson Foundation.

 

I also heard from people concerned with HACC funding cuts for respite services, the lack of autism specific schools and the need for a residential mother baby unit.

Much of my week focussed on the proposed drug rehabilitation centre to be run by a partnership between ASCO and Odyssey House. 

  • I attended a community information meeting on Wednesday night at ASCO where many concerned Mooroopna residents voiced their opinions.  
  • On Thursday, I took a drive out to the proposed site. The community overwhelmingly supports the need for a drug rehabilitation centre but residents adjoining the proposed site are concerned about the proximity of the proposed location to residential homes given that many of the clients come via the Justice system. They naturally have some concerns about how this might impact on their security.
  • On Friday I visited the Odyssey House drug rehabilitation centre at Molyullah about 17 km out of Benalla. I was taken on a tour of the facility by several of the residents. This is a hard journey for the residents. It takes bravery and commitment. The location is tranquil and several commented that they prefer to be away from the distraction of a township.
  • The government has not committed funding to this project yet. It is something that is desperately needed to deal with the drug problem, particularly ice. We need to work together to get this facility properly located within our community.

On Sunday I attended the St Georges Road Food Festival. This is a great event and highlights what a rich and multicultural community we live in here in the Goulburn Valley. Because Peter and I live in the St Georges Road area we have joined the committee working on our local community plan supported by Greater Shepparton City Council. It brings home to me the great importance of community and what a nice feeling it is to get to know so many people in your own neighbourhood.
Suzanna.

Sheed addresses local fire issues in parliament

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With the coming fire season being described as ‘above normal’ the Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed raised a question in parliament this week regarding fire management.

Addressing a concern from constituents in the Barmah National Park area, Ms Sheed asked the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville what preparations had been made for the forthcoming fire season.

She referred to The Southern Australia Seasonal Outlook 2015-2016  released by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC that indicated most of Victoria will see an ‘above normal’ season due to the lack of rain and drying conditions across southern Australia.

 

“The Barmah National Park is in my electorate and I have been made aware of the risks posed by the current fuel load should there be high fire danger days with strong winds.

“The locals from the Barmah area know the landscape only too well and are fearful of the inferno that could result in such circumstances endangering not only the Ramsar listed National Park but also adjoining farmland and towns,” Ms Sheed said.

In discussions gained at her Community Catch-up meetings with the Barmah CFA, Ms Sheed saw for herself the fire danger issue including lack of access to the park in a time of danger.

 

For information:

Historically, the August to October period is the wettest time of the year in Victoria, and it sets the scene for fuel growth and fuel conditions over the summer.  Current climatic signals indicate a slightly better than average chance of above average rainfall and below average daily maximum temperatures across most of the state, leading to an improved outlook for grass growth.  However, given the long-term rainfall deficits, significant rain would be required over the spring period to alter the outlook for an above normal fire potential for most of Victoria.

Extract from The Southern Australia Seasonal Outlook 2015-2016 

 

 

Media contact:                  Ronni Druitt, ronni.druitt@parliament.vic.gov.au 03 5831 6944

Click here for a pdf

Suzanna’s Weekly Blog

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Parliament was very busy filled with meetings with crossbenchers, ministerial and departmental staff for briefings on water, Goulburn Valley Health Community Advisory Group, drug issues and legislation.

I also had my fortnightly meeting on the Family and Community Development Committee. This committee has members from all parties and is commencing Stage 2 of the inquiry into abuse in disability services. I would urge local people to make representations now.   You can get detailed Terms of Reference and a submission guide by calling 03 8682 2843 or by visiting the website: www.parliament.vic.gov.au/fcdc

The week began with another All Aboard Shepparton launch of our next event, “Bake a train cake”.  SheppShow has agreed to extend the due date for entries to Monday 5 October.   You can find entry forms here: http://www.sheppshow.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Art-and-Craft.pdf

On Tuesday, I was honoured to stand side by side with Paul Briggs, a senior Yorta Yorta man as the Aboriginal flag was raised and will be permanently flown at parliament house.  You can read my speech here: http://hansard.parliament.vic.gov.au/isysquery/0d3a1411-42f0-40fb-944d-5c43f65c13b5/4/doc/

In Parliament I called on the Minister to advise what steps are being taken to prepare for the forthcoming bushfire season particularly in the Barmah National Park. You can read my question here:  http://hansard.parliament.vic.gov.au/isysquery/523b844c-b86f-4c19-a170-0ef240dd28f5/3/doc/

 I attended and spoke at the launch of Meanjin, Spring 2015 edition on Thursday night.   I was honoured to be asked to write an article for this edition where the topic was “Is there a crisis in Australian democracy?’  To learn more about Meanjin, you can visit their website: http://meanjin.com.au/

It was a pleasure to host the Treasurer, The Hon Tim Pallas in Shepparton on Friday.  Mr. Pallas visited Pactum Dairy, Kreskas Bros Transport, Intercontinental Spares and other key importing and exporting businesses.  We discussed rural and regional development, water, health, transport and the proposed lease of the Port of Melbourne.

Ministers have visited Shepparton sixteen times so far this year.  By visiting, they see first-hand what our needs are.

Expressions of interest for the G V Health Community Advisory Group have closed on Friday.   I would like to thank everyone who has expressed an interest and I look forward to the next step in the process.

Light the Night at the lake on Friday was another special Shepparton showing of welcome to refugees to our community.

I will be back in the electorate next week where I have many constituent meetings planned.  Have a great week everyone.

Suzanna.

Aboriginal Flag permanent at Victorian parliament

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When the Aboriginal flag was raised this week to fly permanently over Parliament House, Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed was there with Yorta Yorta senior elder Paul Briggs.

Ms Sheed later spoke in parliament acknowledging that many local organisations had already decided to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently on their public buildings, including the Greater Shepparton City Council which has flown that flag since December 2006.

 

“The Shepparton district electorate sits in the region that has the highest indigenous population living outside Melbourne and while this was a very symbolic event we must not lose sight of the fact that there is still much to be done to ensure justice and recognition for our first Peoples.”

 

In parliament Ms Sheed went on to say, Aboriginal people in our own state are working hard to achieve better outcomes in their own communities.

 

“I see this in my electorate.  So many policies of the past have not achieved their desired outcomes no matter how well-meaning they may have been at the time.  

 

“Now new regional models are being devised from within our Aboriginal communities. These initiatives should be supported and the knowledge and contributions of the elders of these communities acknowledged.

 

As the flag rose above Parliament house, Paul Briggs, commented to Ms Sheed “Another step forward.”

 

For information:

The top half of the aboriginal flag is black to symbolise Indigenous people and the red of the lower half represents the earth the colour of ochre, used in many Aboriginal ceremonies and the circle of yellow in the centre of the flag represents the sun.

Media contact:                   Ronni Druitt, ronni.druitt@parliament.vic.gov.au 0401 638 720

Click here for a pdf

Sheed disappointed in Minister’s response

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The Minister for Agriculture has responded to the call by the Independent Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed to conduct a socio-economic impact statement on the effects of the Murray Darling Basin plan on northern Victorian irrigation communities.

The Minister says that “monitoring the socio-economic impacts associated with the MDBP is a Commonwealth responsibility, and is being addressed through the Murray Darling Basin Futures Collaborative Research Network (“MDBfutures”). The Minister said this program includes modelling and surveying of regional economies and communities.

 

In calling on the Minister to conduct this study Ms Sheed said “The Goulburn‑Murray Irrigation District is regarded as the food bowl of Victoria. It has a $1.8 billion irrigation modernisation project underway to strengthen agricultural productivity in the region, but the region has lost over one‑third of its water from productive use because of the basin plan.”

“At a time when we are being told that there are great opportunities for growing our food exports, this is being put at risk because further water could be taken from productive use”, Ms Sheed said.

In her response the Minister stated that the Victorian Government supports the aim of the Murray Darling Basin Plan to deliver strong regional communities as well as healthy River systems. She said “this must include securing sufficient water for agriculture to meet the significant opportunities and challenges which it faces”.

Ms Sheed said that she had viewed the MDfutures work and was not satisfied that it provided the in-depth information about the socio-economic impacts of the plan in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.

She said that while she welcomed the release of the independent study Sustainable Diversion Limits Adjustment Stocktake Report she believed that the Victorian Government needed to be well armed with credible information about the adverse effects of more water being removed from the GMID.

“I continue to call on the Victorian Government to immediately commence preparation of a socio-economic impact statement on the effects of the Murray Darling Basin Plan on northern Victorian irrigation communities and in doing so to engage with the local community to hear and understand their stories. It is important that a local consultancy well-versed in our regions issues be engaged to undertake this work” Ms Sheed said.

 

Media contact:                   Ronni Druitt, ronni.druitt@parliament.vic.gov.au 0401 638 720

Click here for a pdf

All Aboard Shepparton Bake Off

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To highlight the need for improved passenger rail services on the Shepparton Line, State Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed and the All Aboard team has launched a new fun event for the All Aboard Shepparton campaign at the SheppShow.

Joining her today at the Shepparton Railway station was the Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Dennis Patterson, Committee for Greater Shepparton Chief Executive, Matt Nelson and member of Shepparton Rails, Michael Welk.

They have issued a challenge for rail users, rail enthusiasts and would be chefs including children to enter a train shaped cake into the novelty section of the SheppShow on 9 and 10 October.

 

“We want to show the Minister for Public Transport that we are still campaigning strongly for faster, more frequent and regular train services to and from the Shepparton District,” Ms Sheed said.

 “We want these cakes to focus on drawing attention to our lack of rail services for our community and I know the community wants me to keep the pressure on the Minister.

“Entries are due by Friday18 September so all our ‘train cake chefs’ are being urged to put in an entry and that will give them a couple of weeks to design their train cake before submitting it on 8 October, a day before the show begins.” Ms Sheed said. 

The All Aboard Shepparton campaign is urging the public to visit the Shepp Show website for an entry form into the novelty section at: http://www.sheppshow.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Novelty.pdf or call her office on 03 5831 6944 for more information.

Media contact:                  Ronni Druitt, ronni.druitt@parliament.vic.gov.au 03 5831 6944

Click here for a pdf

Suzanna’s Weekly Blog

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I was out and about in the electorate last week.

  • On Tuesday, on the 5:15am train with the Fairley Leadership participants headed to Melbourne for their study tour. Great to sit with them, listen to their views and hear of the diverse backgrounds they represent. What an impressive group of future leaders.

 

  • I was in Barmah on Wednesday and visited the Yenbena Indigenous Training Centre culturally appropriate training for Indigenous young people. 

 

  • Then on to my Community Catch up at the Barmah CFA station.  Many issues raised for me to follow up.  I visited Barmah National Park to view for myself concerns about lack of access to the park.  Then on to Ulupna to see the condition of the levee banks. Thanks to everyone for welcoming me at Barmah and along the river and for helping to organise a very productive day.  

 

  • I was honoured to be asked to be a key note speaker at the Latrobe University for their “Social Cohesion and Regional Development” lecture along with Professor Kate Auty. Good to hear the interesting research and discussions and about Latrobe’s desire to conduct further research in our area. 

 

  • On Friday, I welcomed the Attorney General Martin Pakula to Shepparton to announce the design of the new Shepparton Law Courts building.   He discussed justice issues, met with local lawyers and Koori Elders, the Greater Shepparton City Council and visited the Shepparton Harness Racing Club.

 

  • In my office, I met with many constituents including members of the Numurkah Flood Action Group.

 

  • I heard from constituents on a wide range of issues including advertising regulations on gambling machines, traffic noise reduction in Numurkah and subdivision of land.

 

  • A quick reminder that The All Aboard Shepparton campaign are at work again with a new event planned. We want everyone to get on board and bake a “train cake” to enter in the novelty cake section of the Shepparton Agricultural Show (Shepp Show) on 9 & 10 October.   Entry forms are due by 18 September 2015.   They can be found here:  http://www.sheppshow.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Novelty.pdf

 

It’s back to a very busy week in Parliament this week with some significant legislation to be debated.

Suzanna

Sheed calls on Minister for Roads to fund Shepparton Bypass

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Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed last week questioned the Minister for Roads and Road Safety regarding infrastructure funding for the Goulburn Valley Highway Bypass.

 “This is one of the four major campaign platforms on which I stood for parliament and the Goulburn Valley Highway Bypass Committee has already identified that it would need approximately $15 – $20 million dollars to commence the early stages of the works.”

“This committee has been lobbying successive governments for years to commit to the construction of a second river crossing taking traffic between the Echuca-Mooroopna Road and the Goulburn Valley Highway,” Ms Sheed said.

 “Currently the only avenue to cross is the Peter Ross-Edwards Causeway and we desperately need a second river crossing over the Goulburn,” she said.

Roads Minister Donnellan said that in 2006 land was set aside for this project and that VicRoads is currently investigating the initial stage to connect the Goulburn Valley Highway to the Echuca –Mooroopna Road including a river crossing. 

The Minister said the bypass was a major piece of infrastructure and the Andrews government will obviously look to the federal government to co-invest.  

In this initial stage “we will move as quickly as we can to seek this initial funding to get this project started.”

 "A commitment to the first stage of the Shepparton Bypass would send a very clear signal that after several decades the project is happening," explained Peter Johnson, Chair of the Goulburn Valley Bypass Committee. "Not only will a second river crossing linked to the Shepparton Alternate Route deliver productivity benefits, it will also assist with the redevelopment plans of the Shepparton CBD."

 

Media contact:                  Ronni Druitt, ronni.druitt@parliament.vic.gov.au 03 5831 6944

 

Click here for a pdf

 

Suzanna’s Weekly Blog

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It was another purposeful week.

The All Aboard Shepparton campaign members are at work again with a new event planned. We want everyone to get on board and bake a “train cake” to enter in the novelty cake section of the Shepparton Agricultural Show (Shepp Show) on 9 & 10 October.   Entry forms are due by 18 September 2015.   They can be found here:  http://www.sheppshow.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Novelty.pdf

In Parliament this week:

  • I congratulated Kerrilyn Bassett who won the award for Victorian trainee of the year.  Ms Bassett is a student at GOTAFE at Shepparton and is studying a Certificate IV in Agriculture (Dairy Production).
  • Recognised the University of Melbourne’s new Bachelor of Agriculture degree during my Member’s Statement.   Next year the University of Melbourne will have 75 enrolments in its bachelor of agriculture course, a big increase. Around 90 per cent of graduates gain full-time employment within four months of graduation. Great that the University of Melbourne will again use Dookie College and that students will again become a part of the landscape of the college.
  • Questioned the Minister for Roads and Roads Safety highlighting the need to get to work on the Shepparton Bypass, a project vital to the electorate.
  • Called on the government to take steps to relieve the pressure in our emergency department at GV Health.
  • Met with the Girl Guides of Victoria on the steps of parliament. Girl Guides received state funding of $457,000 to assist with engaging disadvantaged youth.
  • Also met with local staff from Berry St about the work they do in the Shepparton District. More information on their website:  http://www.berrystreet.org.au/HumeRegion
  • Many local schools visit parliament and I was delighted to welcome students from G V Grammar, St. Brendan’s and Shepparton Christian College.  
  • Met with crossbenchers, ministerial and departmental staff for briefings on issues like perinatal care, local government reforms, water and the GV Health Community Advisory Group. Nomination forms for this Group are due in by 18 September 2015.   You can find information by visiting this website: http://www.capital.health.vic.gov.au/Community_advisory_groups/Goulburn_Valley_Health/
  • I attended the Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) function at Parliament House where Shepparton was represented by the Mayor and CEO. 
  • My office heard from constituents on a wide range of issues including City Link, proposed changes to firearms laws, improving kinship care for children in care in Victoria and the lack of mental health resources.

 

I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  I think we can all agree that we are happy Spring has arrived!

 
Suzanna.

Sheed urges community to get behind Goulburn Valley Health Community Advisory Group

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Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed has urged the community to become involved and express their views on a vision for a redeveloped hospital. This can be done by applying for membership of the Goulburn Valley Health Community Advisory Group and by making submissions to the group.

“It is not often that a community gets an opportunity to be consulted in relation to a major infrastructure development in this way. Our health facility is one of the most important services we have in our community. It is essential that the wide range of interest groups we have across the region have the opportunity to put their views and be heard” Ms Sheed said.

 

Ms Sheed said the redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health was something that our community has needed for a very long time and it was a major part of her election platform. “I have been working tirelessly with the government to progress the redevelopment and am very pleased that I have been asked to lead the consultation process by chairing the Community Advisory Group.”

Ms Sheed said that it is important to remember how large the catchment is for our major health service and that voices from across the region need to be heard in the consultation process. This is not just about Shepparton but about the wider region. It is anticipated that up to 230,000 people live within the catchment area of Goulburn Valley Health.

Ms Sheed said that she met this week with representatives from the Department and from the Minister for Health’s office to discuss the processes to establish the Community Advisory Group.

“After so many years in the wilderness I am now very pleased that this redevelopment project is on the agenda and I look forward to continuing to lobby the government for this important project” Ms Sheed said.

The advertisements seeking expressions of interest from members of the public to apply to become a member of the Community Advisory Group will appear in local media for one week starting on 5 September.   

The membership of the panel will be within a range of 10-14 people.   Membership will be representative of the Goulburn Valley Health catchment and will consist of individuals from the following categories:

 

  • Patients
  • Carers
  • Health professionals (medical, nursing, allied health)
  • Primary Care Networks
  • Educator provider representative/s
  • Representative(s) that are broadly representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community services (including a representative from the local aboriginal community)
  • Hospital volunteer organisations
  • Representatives from local government, trade associations and business groups.

The closing date for nominations to be submitted is 18 September 2015.

A selection panel will review applicants and create a list of recommended nominees to be forwarded to the Minister for appointment.

“I am confident that stage one of the hospital redevelopment will be funded during my first term in office and I look forward to chairing the Community Advisory Group. After years of neglect I believe we can now be confident that the needs of our health service are being recognised” Ms Sheed said.

“Our region is now well placed to have a say in how our redeveloped health facility will look. We can build on the work that has been undertaken by the Board and the Department to date to ensure that we have a modern health facility that meets the needs of our growing region for many years ahead.” Ms Sheed said.

 

Media contact:                    Ronni Druitt, ronni.druitt@parliament.vic.gov.au 0401 638 720

 Click here for a pdf

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5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton
T 03 5831 6944
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Get in touch with Suzanna

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5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton
T 03 5831 6944   F 03 5831 6836
E suzanna.sheed@parliament.vic.gov.au

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