Bronwyn Pike -- State State Member of Parliament for Melbourne

Welcome to Bronwyn Pike’s website. Bronwyn is the State Member of Parliament for Melbourne and the Minister for Education in Premier John Brumby's Labor Government.

Bronwyn always wants to know about the issues that are affecting you and your thoughts about the city in which we live. Please use her contact page to give your feedback in a way that best suits you.

Information about the results of the state election in Melbourne and throughout Victoria is available here.

About Bronwyn

Before entering Parliament, Bronwyn Pike worked as a secondary and tertiary teacher, a community services manager and as the Director of the Unit of Justice and Social Responsibility in the Uniting Church. She is also a former Board Director of Greenpeace Australia. More

What has Bronwyn delivered for Melbourne

Clickhere to find out more about what Bronwyn has delivered for the residents of Melbourne.

Melbourne Diary

PAY DEAL A WIN FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES and TEACHERS

May 5, 2008

I am pleased to inform you that Victorian teachers will now be the highest paid in Australia and secondary students will get an extra six days of tuition each year under an agreement reached with the teachers union.

I regard this as a win for students, teachers and the education system demonstrating why education remains the Brumby Government’s number one priority.

The agreement will see all teachers receive pay increases. Victoria will now offer the most rewarding and exciting career structure in the nation, with graduate teachers currently on $46,127 now earning $51,184 under this agreement. This will make them the highest paid graduate teachers in the country. An experienced classroom teacher will receive a $10,000 pay rise to $75,500.

I am also pleased that the new arrangement will give families certainty around pupil free days with the ad hoc scheduling of the three pupil free days to be replaced with three state-wide planning and professional development days to occur before the start of the student school year. All schools will retain one marking and report writing day at the end of semester one – in order to give parents up to date information on their children’s progress.

The agreement means Victoria can continue to build its excellent education system and continue to attract the best and brightest into the teaching profession.

VICTORIA’S ALCOHOL ACTION PLAN TO RESTORE THE BALANCE

A five-year $37.2 million Alcohol Action Plan will address the significant human and economic impact of alcohol abuse by tackling the areas of health, community education, alcohol advertising and enhanced enforcement.

Under the plan, alcohol-related violence in the inner city will be targeted through the introduction, by the Director of Liquor Licensing, of a three-month trial of 2am late entry bans for pubs, bars and nightclubs.

During the trial, licensees in the inner city council areas of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Melbourne including Docklands and Yarra councils cannot allow patrons to enter their venues from 2am to 7am. Patrons who are already in a venue can remain until closing time but cannot leave and re-enter the premises.

A 12-month freeze on new late-night liquor licences in Port Phillip, Stonnington, Melbourne and Yarra municipalities will also be implemented and will prevent any new applications for liquor licenses that would operate after 1am.

A $17.6 million Liquor Licensing Compliance Directorate will be established in the Department of Justice to significantly strengthened enforcement of liquor licensing laws across Victoria. The directorate will look at innovative ways of enforcement such as using underage operatives as has been done to prevent tobacco sales to minors. It will be responsible for the inspection and enforcement of liquor licence laws and will be staffed by 30 inspectors and six lawyers. This will free-up police from doing routine licence checks and enable their liquor licensing squad to focus on licensing issues that are directly causing violence in and around venues.

These initiatives build on the significant work the government and Victoria Police have been doing with the establishment last year of the 50 person strong Safe Streets Taskforce and the introduction of banning notices from entertainment precincts of which 111 have already been issued.

Alcohol abuse is the biggest social issue facing Victoria and decisive action was needed to restore the balance between our vibrant nightlife and the increase in alcohol-related violence, anti-social behaviour and alcohol related health problems.

Late last year a taskforce chaired by Mental Health Minister Lisa Neville was established to bring together a range of work that was being done across government to address this serious issue. The plan they have delivered will enable Victoria to tackle both the root causes and the outcomes of alcohol abuse.

The case for action was overwhelming with 64 per cent of 18-24 year olds and 32 per cent of 14-17 year olds binge drinking and alcohol directly linked to 24,714 inpatient hospitalisations, 759 deaths and 57 road deaths and 8850 assaults each year.

Key features of the Victorian Alcohol Action Plan include:

$9.4 million for the Quality Care for Alcohol Problems Project to help GPs and primary health teams by providing support for specialists trained in treating addiction and alcohol-related problems;
$4.3 million for an awareness campaign to encourage a safe and sensible approach to alcohol use;
Higher definition standards for security cameras at late-night venues to allow police to better track offenders;
$4.7 million for early intervention and prevention initiatives to encourage problem drinkers to seek help or change their drinking habits, which includes an online and telephone screening service for people to determine the risk of their alcohol problems
$1.2 million for a Safe Streets research project led by Victoria Police into the triggers of street crime; and
a review of how maximum patron numbers in licensed venues are set.

Due to Victoria’s great bars and restaurants we have the best nightlife in the country but we need to get the balance right. The challenge is to preserve our famous 24-hour city as the safest in Australia while addressing the misuse of alcohol.

The late entry ban has occurred after government requested that the Director of Liquor Licensing consider using her powers to implement a late entry ban and following consultation with Victoria Police the Director has advised that she will implement a three-month trial.

In deciding to implement a trial, the Director has drawn on her experience of successfully implementing late entry bans in Ballarat, Warrnambool and Bendigo. The trial will begin on the morning of June 3.

Late entry bans control the movement of people and allow police to target key times around 2am. This gives police a greater ability to manage people not in a venue late at night.

Licensees who breach the lockout by allowing people into their venues after 2am will face fines of up to $6800. The Director of Liquor Licensing has advised exemptions from the lockout will only be granted to restaurants, the Crown Casino floor and licensees with full club licenses such as RSLs.

Only members and guests of members can enter Clubs. People who have been locked out of other venues cannot enter these venues as a substitute. These venues will be a focus of compliance and enforcement activities to ensure they are operating within the conditions of their license.

$2 MILLION FUNDING BOOST FOR ARDEN STREET

March 19, 2008

The North Melbourne Kangaroos redevelopment of the Arden Street Oval has received a $2 million funding boost.

The funding which is part of the Victorian AFL Club Facilities Funding Program, is a wonderful result for the Kangaroos and the local community. It will guarantee the completion of a new football department facility at the ground, as part of the larger redevelopment, which will revitalise the area.

The Arden Street complex will be a professional training and administration centre, including a multi-purpose sports hall and meeting rooms, a high performance fencing centre, an elite gymnasium with shared community use and improved access to open space in the reserve.

The new and upgraded facilities at Arden Street will be used by community organisations, sporting groups and associations, as well as improving training facilities for the Kangaroos.

As a local resident I think it is fantastic to see a project that so harmoniously balances the needs of the club and our community.

This latest funding brings the Brumby Government’s total contribution for the North Melbourne sporting complex to $5.7 million. The Government initially provided $2 million for the original project, then committed $1.7 million for the State Fencing Centre to be built at the site.

It will ensure that the Government’s vision of transforming our iconic suburban former AFL venues like Arden Street into multi-purpose sport and recreation hubs comes to fruition. This builds on the Brumby Government’s commitment to sport at all levels, with the funding boost to assist local community sporting clubs as well as elite AFL clubs.

Right - Bronwyn and James Brayshaw

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

March 2, 2008

On Sunday, I attended the Clean up Australia Day event to Clean Up Moonee Ponds Creek. The clean up was followed by lunch provided by local African Women's Groups at the Flemington Community Centre.

The event was designed to bring together many different groups with the aim of creating a better, cleaner and more harmonious place to live and play. It is a wonderful way of encouraging various communities to come together to participate in a positive activity that has an immediate impact on the way their local environment looks, which contributes to changing the way they feel about their neighbourhood.

I would like to congratulate Bronwyn Riddell and her colleagues on a fantastic effort.

LAUNCH OF THE SOMALI WOMENS' RESOURCE FOLDER

February 29, 2008

I recently had the honour of launching the United Somali Womens' Organisation in Victoria’s Resource Folder at the opening of their new office at 12 Holland Court, Flemington.

Somali refugees have been migrating to Australia for the past ten years and in that time over 10,000 Somalis have settled in Melbourne.

Some Somali women have been unable to enjoy a normal life because of traumatic experiences in Somalia and during their resettlement. Regrettably, many women are not aware of the so called ‘hidden’ forms of mental illness and therefore go untreated.

The Resource Folder follows on from the Somali Women’s Mental Health Project that was funded with a $60,000 grant from the Department of Human Services.

Participants in the mental health project expressed a wish for ongoing knowledge and skills so that mental illness can be prevented within their community.

Written in Somali and English, the Resource Folder discusses each of the major issues faced by younger and older Somali women and provides information about Somali Culture. This valuable information is used to assist both Somali women and service agencies when developing services for these groups.

It was an honour to attend and personally witness the success of this project and that of the United Somali Women’s Organisation.

Bronwyn and women from the United Somali Women's Organisation in Victoria

Latest News

KENSINGTON AND NORTH MELBOURNE SPLIT NO LONGER

Kensington and North Melbourne are to be reunited under the City of Melbourne following an independent review of the council boundaries in the two suburbs.

Bronwyn, who initiated the review process, has welcomed the announcement as it will create a stronger, more united local community.

After close consideration of the review panel findings, Kensington and North Melbourne are now to be reunited under the City of Melbourne. The Racecourse Road retail precinct is also retained under the authority of the Moonee Valley City Council. These new arrangements will promote more responsible and accountable government, and foster better community cohesion in the area.

In 1993, the then-Kennett government split Kensington along Epsom and Macaulay roads and North Melbourne along Melrose Street. The review panel was appointed to investigate the adequacy of the Melbourne and Moonee Valley municipal boundary and found there was “a sufficient feeling of disconnection” and “exceptional circumstances” to warrant action. Almost 500 submissions were received from the community about this issue.

The new boundary is to come into effect on 1 July 2008, allowing both councils sufficient time to prepare for the transfer of relevant assets and services.

A map of the new boundary and copy of the panel’s report on the boundary review can be viewed and downloaded from

www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au

10 YEARS OF COMMON GROUND

On Thursday November 22, Bronwyn joined the local community, consumers, staff and organisation representatives to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the Common Ground Day Program.

Operating as part of Doutta Galla Community Health Services in North Melbourne, Common Ground provides day programs for people living in the inner metro area who have had or are experiencing serious mental health issues.

Common Ground provides a wide range of structured activities that focus on learning new skills and relearning old skills for consumers who may otherwise be isolated and disconnected from their local community. Just some of Common Ground’s activities include art programs, drama, poetry, visits, a women’s group, cooking programs affiliated with Neighbourhood Houses and the highly successful Salvation Jane Project. Common Ground also hosted the first Mental Health Festival in 1998.

“We are celebrating ten years of Common Ground, the first Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Service of its kind in Victoria,” Ms Pike said.

“The program is an important service for the diverse residents of Melbourne and Moonee Valley.”

The program provides services to consumers of different ages, cultural backgrounds and with a variety of complex health needs. However, the collaborative approach provides staff and consumers access to other services within in Doutta Galla as well as other service providers in the area.

Doutta Galla CEO, Ms Caz Healy said the program has and will continue to help people who have experienced mental illness to improve the quality of their life.

“The program gets the balance right - focussing on providing psychosocial support and a safe and supportive environment where access to services can be found,” Ms Healy said.

All speeches and celebrations were encapsulated when a Common Ground consumer gave a background of her experience with the program and spoke of the sense of belonging and strength she had found through the support and activity structure provided.

PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY

Bronwyn joined more than 140 business and community leaders across the state to take part in Principal for a Day, which aims to strengthen links between government schools, business and the wider community.

The Principal for a Day program, now in its seventh year, was introduced by the Victorian Government in 2001 and has grown in popularity ever since. More than 800 business and community leaders from all walks of life have taken on the challenge of running a government school as part of the program.

Research shows that effective leaders have significant influence on student outcomes. Bronwyn commented on how principals have an important role to play in making our schools even better and therefore the Victorian Government is investing an additional $11.6 million over the next two years on professional learning programs for aspiring leaders and assistant principals.

Inspiring and committed teachers and principals, record low class sizes, higher year 12 retention rates, literacy rates at or above the national average and a world class curriculum are helping shape this great system.

REUNIFICATION RETURNS DEMOCRACY TO DOCKLANDS

The Docklands has officially become part of Melbourne City Council (MCC), doubling the size of Melbourne’s central business district and giving Docklands residents and ratepayers a vote in the 2008 council elections. The MCC will now provide many essential services, including waste collection and street cleaning, as well as management of parks, public spaces and recreation areas. VicUrban will continue to be responsible for ongoing development of the area as Melbourne’s premier waterfront precinct.

Cultural Precinct Enhancement Fund

In the 2007 state budget the Labor Government announced an $8 million dollar investment to enhance Melbourne’s cultural precincts. The Lygon Street Italian precinct, Little Bourke Street’s china town and Lonsdale Street’s Greek precinct are all to benefit from the upgrade. There have been public meetings held in each area so the local community can have input on the future of the cultural precincts.

If you have any ideas for the future of Melbourne’s cultural precincts or would like more information please contact my office.

$14 million boost for mental health and drug and alcohol services across Victoria

Mental health and drug and alcohol agencies across Victoria will share in an extra $14 million to upgrade services, facilities, equipment and training. This additional funding delivers on the commitment the Labor Government made to Victorians to meet the challenges of substance abuse and invest in the services that matter to the community.

Victorian pubs and clubs now smoke free

Staff and patrons of pubs and clubs across Victoria can breathe easier because licensed premises are now smoke free. The latest tobacco reforms provide a range of measures to protect bar staff and patrons from the effects of cigarette smoke. Tobacco smoke is responsible for close to 4000 deaths in Victoria each year and costs the community more than $5 billion annually in health care and social costs. The landmark laws will reduce the risk of chronic disease such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.