Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Clark appointed Shadow Minister for Planning, WorkCover

News Release - 9 November 1999

The Member for Box Hill, Mr Robert Clark, has been appointed as the Shadow Minister for Planning and the Shadow Minister Responsible for WorkCover in the new Opposition front bench.

The new Shadow Ministry was announced by the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Denis Napthine, last Friday [29 October].

"Planning is an issue with which I have had a long involvement as a local Member, and I am looking forward to working to bring about further improvements in Victoria's planning regime," Mr Clark said.

"The Labor Party found it easy to criticise while in Opposition. However, the real test is whether they are able to deliver in Government, particularly with only a part-time Planning Minister.

"The Coalition's election policy recognised that changes are needed to the planning regime in areas such as minimum setbacks, placement of windows on property boundaries and protection of restrictive covenants.

"Changes in these areas, which have wide community support, should be made as soon as possible, and not be held up awaiting the outcome of Labor's proposed general review of the Good Design Guide."

Regarding WorkCover, Mr Clark said the minority Labor Government's policy of reintroducing common law legal proceedings for workplace injuries risked a return to high premium levels and massive unfunded liabilities, putting businesses and jobs at risk, while also providing a less fair system for injured workers.

Mr Clark has been the Member for Box Hill since 1992.

He was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer and Minister for Multimedia and Information Technology, Mr Alan Stockdale, in the previous Government.

Mr Clark was nominated to be Minister for Multimedia and Minister for Small Business if the Coalition had formed Government after the September State election.

He has been a Member of Parliament since 1988, having first been elected for the electorate of Balwyn at the age of 31.

Following the abolition of the Balwyn electorate in a redivision of electorate boundaries in 1991, he was elected as Member for Box Hill in 1992 and re-elected in 1996.

From 1988 to 1992, he was a member of the all-party Economic and Budget Review Committee, and a member of the Treasury and Attorney-General's Committees of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and then the Liberal-National Party Coalition.

Before entering Parliament, Mr Clark was a solicitor practicing in commercial, financial and labour law. He attended St Albans High School and University High School before undertaking his tertiary education at Melbourne University. As well as a law degree, he has an honours degree in commerce and an Arts degree in politics and philosophy.

Mr Clark is married with 2 children, and lives in Surrey Hills.