LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT (IMPROVED GOVERNANCE) BILL 2015
Introduction and first reading
Ms HUTCHINS (Minister for Local Government)—I move:
That I have leave to bring in a bill for an act to amend the Local Government Act 1989 to improve the governance standards of councils, amend arrangements for local government elections and provide for other matters, to amend the City of Melbourne Act 2001 to repeal part 4A of that act and to consequentially amend the City of Greater Geelong Act 1993, the City of Melbourne Act 2001, the Electoral Act 2002 and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 and for other purposes.
Mr CLARK (Box Hill)—I ask the minister to provide a brief explanation of the bill, further to the long title.
Ms HUTCHINS (Minister for Local Government)—This bill will raise the standards of behaviour by councillors and generally improve——
Honourable members interjecting.
The SPEAKER—Order! I remind members to remain silent while the Chair is on his feet. That applies at all times during parliamentary proceedings. I request members to comply with that.
Ms HUTCHINS—The bill will raise standards of behaviour by councillors——
Mr R. Smith interjected.
The SPEAKER—Order! I warn the member for Warrandyte!
Ms HUTCHINS—It will generally improve council governance in Victoria and improve the conduct of the general council elections to be held in 2016.
Motion agreed to.
Read first time.
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SouthernMetropolitan Region
Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan)—My constituency question is to the Minister for Education, Mr Merlino. Recent reports have suggested that a local councillor is campaigning for a third secondary school in the Glen Eira area, very close to two existing secondary schools. The land which the Labor mayor of the City of Glen Eira, Cr Jim Magee, is campaigning for the government to acquire in order to build a secondary school is in Virginia Park. Virginia Park is only 500 metres from the existing Bentleigh Secondary College.
The shadow Minister for Education, Nick Wakeling, and I visited Bentleigh Secondary College only last week to meet with the newly appointed principal. Bentleigh Secondary College has an excellent reputation and we were both fortunate enough to meet the dedicated teachers and a number of students. It was confirmed to Mr Wakeling and myself that Bentleigh Secondary College has capacity for further student enrolments. Nearby McKinnon Secondary College also has additional capacity and the principals of both McKinnon and Bentleigh secondary colleges do not think a third secondary school in such close proximity is necessary.
Constituents are confused and concerned about comments from the mayor. Does the government support the campaign by Cr Magee and what is the government’s position on acquiring the land at Virginia Park, as suggested by Cr Magee?
NOTE: no response to this query from Minister Noonan (Minister for Police)
Glen Eira Debates 
September 3, 2015 at 11:09 AM
Can’t stop laughing. Buffoons in council and buffoons in parliament. We’re up shit creek without a paddle for sure.
September 3, 2015 at 1:17 PM
How strange that State Government wishes to be seen doing something about local council governance but does nothing about lifting its own poor governance. I notice The Age documents today yet more examples of poor governance under both Labor and Liberal governments.
As for a school on the Virginia Park site, you might have thought the need would be documented in the Planning Scheme. Instead there is no such mention. The purpose of Virginia Park is explicitly to provide employment opportunities, and that is why a considerable chunk of it is zoned C2Z. Rather than shoving 3 or more government schools into the same area, Council should be looking where there are significant gaps. The entire seat of Oakleigh perhaps, since it has no government secondary school. Not that Cr Magee could give a rats’ about the other 2 wards in Glen Eira. Or to paraphrase GECC’s motto: never let the truth get in the way of an opportunity for self-promotion.
September 3, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Self promotion is right. Say anything that will appeal even if it’s plain stupid, contrary to previous statements, and hasn’t a hope in hell. Anyway, what happened to the Magee claims that this was his last term on council? From all this he is gearing up for another tilt. Tucker Ward beware.
September 3, 2015 at 6:01 PM
Strategically, financially and even logically, the call for a school on the Virginia Estate does not make sense. With three schools nearby, the cost of land, and even assuming that Gillon would be prepared to sell, or that the government would compulsorily acquire, the costs would be prohibitive. Magee’s campaign cannot be anything more than an attempt to curry favour with locals. This doesn’t exonerate him of course for voting in favour of the original amendment that established half of the estate as commercial to begin with. All of Magee’s pronouncements of late are in my opinion self serving electioneering.
September 3, 2015 at 9:55 PM
well that’s what it will cost to put back what Kennett and his Lis sold to their mates, the longer you wait the more it will cost, a tax on overseas developers exporting their profits would pay for replacement schools in no time
September 3, 2015 at 9:43 PM
You’re all misinterpreting Magee.
What he is really saying is that the second proposal is coming and residents should be getting ready for it. Although it will only be marginally different from the rejected proposal (and those marginally differences will not be related to major issues), this time around, rather than supporting the residents very valid concerns, I will be voting with the Administration and Gillon.
It’s called taking the path of least resistance, it aint called leadership or representing the electorate.
September 4, 2015 at 6:53 AM
Put simply, Magee is a dope. As mayor he thinks no one has ever done the job as good as him. He is bereft of good thinking. He will soon be ex mayor and then ex councillor. Even his ALP mates have him worked out. Back to driving the bus for you Jim.
September 4, 2015 at 1:27 PM
Magee is a dope for sure but he was elected by all Councillors which would show he had the support. He is very good at dual role and the ALP is well aware of that. Rumours are that he is not an ALP member anymore?? Is this true??
September 4, 2015 at 8:41 AM
Delahunty for Mayor! Magee is an empty vessel. The most surprising thing was that he was elected by all Councillors. Magee and Pilling have not contributed an iota of service to GE.
September 4, 2015 at 3:19 PM
There is nothing outstanding about Delahunty other than her ability to use her name and political connection to further her political ambitions. I can assure those ambitions leave Glen Eira far behind, it is but a stepping stone.
Sure when contacted by residents she follows always responds. But that is where it ends. When the rubber hits the road she only delivers for the Administration.
Mayoral material she is not.
September 5, 2015 at 4:35 PM
If Delahunty is in Council to deliver to Administration, who then is the next choice?
Magee again?