Suzanna Sheed leans on a column on the steps of Parliament House.

Sheed welcomes Treaty Bill

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed spoke in parliament in support of the introduction of the Treaty Authority, which aims to help advance the Treaty process.

Speaking on the Treaty Authority and Other Treaty Elements Bill 2022 Ms Sheed said the passage of this bill would help Aboriginal Victorians and the Victorian Government take another step on the pathway towards Treaty by making provision for the Treaty Authority.

The Treaty Authority aims to act as an independent umpire for treaty negotiations.

“It has been a very long, hard journey for the Aboriginal people of Australia to achieve recognition, land rights, native title and now a process towards treaty making,” Ms Sheed said.

“This journey has been hard fought and filled with disappointment along the way, but communities here in Victoria have never given up hope, and they have continued to work hard to get to this point today where we are debating a very important bill that is part of that process.

“I think it is so important that we are here today talking about treaty, about walking side by side with Aboriginal people of our community, because it is really saying we acknowledge that this journey has been so hard and so painful, and that so many people have been lost in so many ways along the way.”

Ms Sheed encouraged the members of parliament and Treaty Authority members who were present in the chamber, to continue their work towards Treaty.

“Let us hope that agreements can be reached,” Ms Sheed said.

“Let us hope that on a national level there will be the leadership that is required to make the acknowledgements, to look at the Uluru Statement from the Heart, to listen to Aboriginal people’s voices and to let the, have a significant say in the running of the whole country but particularly in relation to their own self-determination.”

 

ENDS

Media Contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466 | elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

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Sheed asks for cash incentive for private health staff

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed asked the Health Minister Martin Foley if he would consider extending the Healthcare Worker Winter Retention and Surge funding to private healthcare workers as well as those in the public healthcare sector.

The Victorian Government recently announced incentive payments of $3,000 for all staff working in public hospitals and ambulance services.

During a speech in parliament this week, Ms Sheed spoke about the private healthcare workers who were excluded from the incentive, despite their hard work assisting the public health system.

“Throughout the pandemic there has been a partnership between the Victorian Government and private hospitals to assist their local public hospitals by taking public patients, when necessary,” Ms Sheed.

“This has certainly happened in Shepparton between Goulburn Valley Health and Shepparton Private Hospital.

“It has also assisted the State Government get through the elective surgery backlogs.

“One medical employee said she often worked late or was called back to make sure public patients received the services they need.

“She did this because she cares about the health of everyone in the community, not whether they are public or private, and feels that it’s been unfair that the $3,000 was not extended to them.”

 

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466 | elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

PDF Available Here

Sheed airs concerns about democracy in the Victorian Government

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed strongly advocated for more democratic processes in the Victorian Parliament during question time today following a question being directed to her by the Independent Member for Mildura Ali Cupper.

In what was a very rare use of parliamentary procedure, the Independent Member for Mildura Ali Cupper used her question to ask why there was a need to debate Ms Sheed’s notice of motion, which seeks to make provision for a non-government business program.

Ms Sheed has been raising the need for the independents and opposition members to be allowed to have their own business program for several years. Victoria is the only parliament in Australia where there is no non-government business program in the lower house.

Speaking after question time, Ms Sheed spoke about how important it was for independent members to work together to achieve democracy in the Victorian Government.

“Independents are on the march,” Ms Sheed said.

“Just look at the outcomes of the federal election – people are realising that independents are working with and for the community and can make serious changes in parliament.

“I will not be silent about the reintroduction of non-government business in the Victorian Parliament.\

“The Victorian Labor Party should pay attention to this request for basic democracy because they may see more independents on the crossbench following the November election, who will unite to have their voices heard.

“We all need the opportunity to bring on motions and private members bills, and debate them in detail rather than be afforded such limited opportunity to have our say.

“I hope the Victorian Government will hear our calls and introduce non-government before the 59th Parliament term ends.”

 

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

PDF Available Here

Sheed welcomes Nazi symbol ban

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed welcomed the Victorian Government’s ban on the Nazi symbol as the bill was debated in parliament this week.

Ms Sheed showed her support for the Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol prohibition) Bill 2022 and outlined the impact of Nazism on her constituents in the Shepparton electorate and on the Victorian Jewish community.

The bill prohibits the display of the Nazi symbol in public areas and large fines will apply for those responsible of this offence.

“We have many communities in Australia who have fled persecution to find a place to feel safe, to live with their families and not have a symbol such as (the Hakenkreuz) …put before them to create that fear,” Ms Sheed said.

“It is a step towards saying that we will not tolerate certain behaviours in our community.

“We will not tolerate the hate speech and the hate symbols that people might choose to put before us and them thinking that that is their right.

“I think by…presenting this bill, by debating this bill, and by passing this important piece of legislation, we are all coming together to say, ‘No, we won’t have this’.”

Ms Sheed spoke of the history of Judaism in the Shepparton District and some influential Jewish people such as chair of Visy Industries and president of Carlton Football Club Richard J Pratt.

“His philanthropy to Shepparton has always been greatly valued because of his years of association with Shepparton, and that generosity is reflected in our hospital and other facilities,” Ms Sheed said.

“None of us have been immune from coming to understand what happened during that period of the great terror in Germany under the reign of Hitler.

“For me, in my early years, it was from reading The Diary of Anne Frank, the documentaries, the films.

“The horror portrayed of the things that happened to individuals, families, and communities during that time is so hard to comprehend, but we have to comprehend it and we have to be reminded of it.

“And when I see people in our community displaying symbols such as they do, that remind us so clearly that of that hatred, of that capacity for human beings to behave in ways that are so inhumane, that are so cruel and that are really so wicked, then I feel proud to be part of a parliament where everyone has come together, everyone is on the same page in relation to this piece of legislation.”

 

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Sheed invites new water minister to GMID

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has extended an invitation to the new Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek to visit the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID).

Ms Sheed asked Ms Plibersek to meet with the GMID Water Leadership group, which she co-chairs with David McKenzie, to discuss the continued roll-out of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

“David and I visited the Federal Parliament in Canberra before the election to highlight to members of parliament our region’s issues surrounding the 2024 audit of the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” Ms Sheed said.

“We met the then shadow Minister for Water Terri Butler and put forward our case and we would like to have the same opportunity with Australia’s new water minister.”

The GMID has outlined its issues in its advocacy document Achieving Balance in the Basin Plan – How to avoid taking southern basin regions to the brink in 2024, which Ms Sheed sent to Ms Plibersek.

“Our main concern is that the government will continue the roll-out of the Murray Darling Basin Plan with a hard deadline of 2024 and buy back water from our district here in the GMID when the water recovery targets are not met,” Ms Sheed said.

“We know now that many water efficiency projects will not be completed by 2024, so the most sensible option is to extend that deadline to allow this good work to continue instead of again depleting water permanently from our vital irrigation system here in the GMID.”

 

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Sheed welcomes new media funding

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed welcomed the Victorian Government’s injection of $2.7 million to the Australian Associated Press, which will assist news coverage in regional areas.

Ms Sheed has constantly highlighted the importance of regional media to the Victorian Government and has stressed how it has been declining year after year.

“I was delighted that back in February the Premier Daniel Andrews responded to a question I raised in Parliament by committing to amend a bill so as to require the publication of government notices in local print media instead of a proposed online platform,” Ms Sheed said.

“Today marks another win for regional media outlets, with the backing of a three-year grant for AAP, an organisation that provides professional news stories to print and broadcast media outlets across the country.

“Our local news plays an important role in our community. It offers a platform to raise local issues and advocate for better services as well as informing regional areas about what is happening in our communities.

“Country newspapers in regional Victoria have suffered during their transition to digitisation and this impact was exacerbated during the lockdown period of the pandemic.

“I am delighted to see that this grant will help AAP employ the journalists and resources it needs to provide news service to other media outlets in our regional areas.”

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466 | elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Suzanna Sheed leans on a column on the steps of Parliament House.

Sheed calls for more youth mental health beds

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed asked the Mental Health Minister James Merlino to ensure young people would be supported at the new Goulburn Valley Health mental health unit through the provision of allocated youth inpatient beds.

Speaking in parliament recently, Ms Sheed highlighted the impact the pandemic had on mental health in the community and especially for young people.

Ms Sheed asked Mr Merlino if the new $163 million mental health unit to be built at Goulburn Valley Health, which was announced in the recent budget, would offer inpatient services for children and adolescents in the Shepparton District.

“Molly, a young constituent of mine, has raised her concerns with me about access to mental health services,” Ms Sheed said.

“In the Shepparton district, there are no inpatient facilities for children and adolescents.”

Ms Sheed said she was concerned that the closest youth-specific mental health facility was Eastern Health in Box Hill and asked the minister to advise whether there would be capacity in the new mental health unit for inpatient services for children and adolescents who need such services in their own town.

ENDS

Media Contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 366 | elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Sheed takes aim at politicking of new school

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has taken aim at the State Liberal and National Party members of parliament for using the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College as a political football.

Ms Sheed said that while Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell constantly sought out negative elements of the school to raise in the Victorian Parliament, the leader of the Nationals Peter Walsh also found ways to criticise the new school.
“As with all schools in Victoria, Australia, and across the world, you will find that there is bullying and other issues and I know that complaints of bullying are being taken seriously at the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College,” Ms Sheed said.
“But to constantly seek out negative issues and ignore the successes of the school is not only misleading but is damaging to our students who feel tremendous pride studying at a brand-new school.
“Do they not think that our young people in Greater Shepparton Secondary College want to be proud of their school; want to value their school; want to be able to say; ‘I go to Greater Shepparton Secondary College’; want to grow up one day and say: ‘That’s the school I went to,’ and know that they have achieved something?
“I would have thought these politicians could leave their politicking aside and put the aspirations of young people first.
“Every day our Shepparton and district students have their aspirations raised by attending one of the best schools in Victoria with a learning place that reflects the professional environment they will eventually transition to through tertiary education, training, apprenticeships, or heading directly into the workplace after Year 12.
“Instead of four underfunded and underperforming schools, resources are now pooled together, and our deserving students can have the very best facilities, teachers, and additional services they need.
“While Shepparton’s students continue to reach for the stars, they are dragged down by these politicians who are just trying to get scores on the board against me ahead of the November election.
“I am proud to have convinced the Victorian Government to fund this state-of-the-art school to the tune of $140 million.
“Taking political digs to criticise me is really only dispiriting our children and it needs to stop.”
ENDS
Media contact
Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

Sheed co-chairs inaugural Diverse Learners Focus Group

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed co-chaired the first Diverse Learners Focus Group this week.

The group is made up of Shepparton district community stakeholders, including parent, teacher, medical, multicultural, and student representation.

“We want to explore options on what type of education model will suit diverse learners in mainstream education and bring it back to the students, teachers, and parents of the Greater Shepparton Secondary College,” Ms Sheed said.

“As it stands, there are some students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder who receive a level of financial support, others with the same characteristics but who are not diagnosed and therefore unfunded, and also students who may have some autistic characteristics.

“These young people can be described as diverse learners and face significant challenges in the mainstream education system.

“There needs to be much greater awareness of these young people’s needs with a range of individual plans and innovative learning programs put in place for them.

“Our small group was briefed by a member who had lived experience of the effects of the lack of resources, understanding, and sometimes intolerance of the issues that he faced at schools such as light or noise sensitivity.

“There is still a significant lack of understanding of the needs of diverse learners across our community and while our teachers are more informed than the general public, there is still much to be done to create a learning friendly environment for these students.

“With all our secondary school students not on the one campus, the capacity to design innovative programs across the nine schools at Greater Shepparton Secondary College has never been better. The capacity to pool resources, undertake professional education and design spaces to ensure better educational outcomes must be a priority for this group and we look forward to continuing to have further meetings and discussions to eventually achieve a model that will suit our students.

“Once a new model is widely supported by students, their families, and teachers, it can be adopted and amended as needed by the school with the ongoing support of the group. This will be an inclusive approach which will fit with government policy and enable us to seek any additional supports we need from government to implement it.”

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466 | elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

PDF Available Here

Suzanna Sheed

Sheed secures almost half a billion dollars for health, education, and transport

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has secured almost half a billion dollars investment across a range of budget lines including mental health, maternal health, education, and trains for the electorate in today’s Victorian Budget.

The government committed $196 million to establish a mental health facility to replace and expand Goulburn Valley Health’s outdated facility and also to purchase land and undertake planning to deliver mental health beds in Ballarat and Wangaratta.

“I have fought hard to get this funding by raising Shepparton’s mental health crisis in parliament and with ministers, but I have to commend the bravery of our residents who spoke at the Royal Commission into Mental Health, which definitely helped secure this enormous funding,” Ms Sheed said.

“When the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was handed down at the Exhibition Building, we heard from two people about their experiences with mental health services in regional Victoria.”

“They spoke about being turned away from a regional health service when they needed help, and this is not the way we should be treating our most vulnerable residents.
“The Victorian Government has listened to us and is providing us with a brand new – and much needed – mental health facility to support our community to recover from mental health issues, with 15 additional beds.”
“In addition to this new facility, Shepparton will share a $3.5 million investment with two other regional centres that will go towards planning for Shepparton’s mental health, alcohol, and drugs crisis hub.

“I am delighted that we received $25 million to build a 10-bed early parenting centre, which was something our community has been campaigning for since 2014.

“The centre will offer support to families with children up to four years old to enhance the family bond and give parents strategies they need to thrive in their roles.

“Without this facility, new parents had to make their way to Melbourne for help with parenting at a time in their lives when it is most inconvenient, so this new facility right on our doorstep will be welcomed by new parents.

“This was the brainchild of the leadership team of the children’s ward which included my husband Dr Peter Eastaugh, Wendy Lewis, and Diane Halloran, who back in 1997 wrote the proposal for a much-needed mother baby unit.

“The GV Health Foundation has stood by this proposal in the intervening years and strong advocacy has come from those parents in our community who understand the importance of investing in early childhood.
“I am happy the government saw the importance of the Verney Road School by investing $24 million on its upgrade.

“The school was built for 70 students and has accommodated many more over the years.

“It will be great to see those students provided with a fit-for-purpose facility.

“We have also been given an investment of $250 million for 12 VLocity trains servicing both the Shepparton and Warrnambool lines.

“This was always the plan with the Shepparton line upgrade, so I am not surprised to learn that that the government followed through with its promise to deliver these trains to our line.

“The Goulburn Valley Highway and Graham Street intersection will receive an upgrade as part of a $3.5 million regional road investment, with support from the Federal Government.

“I am delighted with the outcome of today’s budget.”
ENDS
Media contact
Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

MEDIA RELEASE SUZANNA SHEED MP – Sheed secures almost half a billion dollars for health, education, and transport

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