December 1999

Government to deregulate milk prices

The Government will deregulate the farm gate price for market milk from 30 June 2000 on the basis that the $1.74 billion dairy industry adjustment package is available to Victoria's dairy farmers. (23 Dec)

Parliament passes amendments to FOI Act

The Parliament has passed amendments to the Freedom of Information Act amending the definition of "Cabinet document", and the circumstances in which ¨ documents concerning commercial, business or financial undertakings are exempt, providing that the $170 appeal fee to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is no longer payable by applicants where a government agency has failed to respond to a request within the statutory time limit of 45 days, amending the provisions relating to protection of personal information and providing that decisions by agencies to appeal VCAT decisions must be explained publicly by relevant Ministers and published in the Government Gazette. (21 Dec)

Dairy farmers support deregulation

Victorian dairy farmers have voted to pursue deregulation of their industry and access the national support package, with 7001 YES votes (89 per cent) to 856 NO votes (11 per cent) and four informal votes. (21 Dec)

Record building activity in Victoria

Building activity in Victoria had exceeded $1 billion in October, establishing the highest monthly level on record. There was a $356.4 million increase in the total value of Victorian building activity for October 1999 compared to the same period last year,   a 52 per cent.  More than $2.4 billion of building work has been approved in the September quarter, the highest level of activity recorded by the Commission since its inception in 1994. (16 Dec, republished in HTML format 21 Dec)

Government retains City Link fine arrangements

The Government has announced that it is retaining the fine arrangements for City Link established by the previous Government, with some amendments to set specific standards for record keeping and some new offences and "on the spot" fine notices for alleged breaches of the requirements by Transurban.  Under the arrangements established by the previous Government, if Transurban claims that a motorist has travelled without paying the relevant toll, the details are provided to a government agency which can issue a fine notice.  Fine proceeds go to the Government, not to Transurban. (16 Dec)

County Court building to proceed

The new Government has announced that it will proceed with the new County Court building initiated by the previous Government, and that The Liberty Group have been selected as the preferred bidder to build, own and maintain the facility. (16 Dec)

New Bill on juries introduced

The Government has introduced legislation into Parliament which it says aims to make juries more representative of the community, spread the obligation of jury service more equitably and modernise the procedures for selecting people for jury service. It clarifies when potential jurors can be excluded from jury service and outlaws jury vetting. People may apply for their jury service to be deferred to a more convenient time and people who might have ongoing difficulties with jury service, such as the elderly or incapacitated, can apply to be permanently excused. (16 Dec)

New day pass arrangements, agreements on City Link

The Government has announced that Transurban has decided to introduce several cheaper and more flexible day passes for motorists using only parts of City Link and for weekend use. Transurban have also agreed to pursue the introduction of a day pass account, under which motorists would not have to nominate the day of use, but pay, on use, the day pass fee plus an administrative fee. As well the Government have reached  in principle agreement  to allow Transurban to open the Domain Tunnel once all construction, environmental, safety and operational requirements set down in the City Link contract are met and agreement that the new outbound lane of the Monash Freeway will be fully opened 'toll free' prior to Christmas. A settlement has also been reached of all claims between Transurban and the State arising from the construction of the Southern Link for a total of $500,000. (15 Dec)

1998-99 tourism success welcomed

The new Government has welcomed the results of the International Visitor Survey by the Bureau of Tourism Research which show that 1,057,147 international visitors travelled to Victoria in the year to June 1999. This represents a 5% increase over the previous year, compared with 2% for Australia as a whole, and with New South Wales and Queensland both recording falls of 1%. "Victorians should feel proud of the State's tourism industry and the effort that has gone into continuing to draw more international visitors," the Minister said.  He added that the increase in the number of visitors to Australia from Asia " is another example of the success of Tourism Victoria's decision not to abandon the Asian markets". (14 Dec)

Government back-down on self-governing schools

The Government has agreed to provide transitional funding for the 51 former self-governing schools, honour all legally binding contracts and not reduce student services.  This follows lengthy negotiations  and public protests following the initial announcement that the self-governing school arrangements would end from the start of next year. (14 Dec)

State Planning Agenda announced

The Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites, has announced the new Government's "State Planning Agenda", which the Opposition has described as "much ado about very little". (13 Dec)

Design guide for patient handling launched

New guidelines for the design of health and aged care facilities were an example of Victoria leading the way on health and safety in building design The Minister for WorkCover has launched the publication, Designing Workplaces for Safer Handling of Patients/Residents: Guidelines for the Design of Health and Aged Care Facilities, at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.  The guidelines were developed by a working party as part of WorkCover's Health and Aged Care Project. (13 Dec)

Tourism facilities at Twelve Apostles to go ahead

The Government has announced that it will go ahead with new "environmentally friendly" tourism facilities at the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park.   The total cost of the project which is being developed on three hectares of private land leased for 50 years by the State Government outside the Park and on the other side of the Great Ocean Road, is $4.735 million. (13 Dec)

Docklands' Victoria Harbour to be re-bid

The Government has approved a recommendation by the Docklands Authority to re-bid the 30 hectare Victoria Harbour Precinct.  Expressions of Interest for Batmans Hill have been re-opened until 28 January 2000. (10 Dec)

LAP results released

The State Government has released this year's statewide Learning Assessment Project (LAP) results, which were provided to schools in October.  The Government says it will "replace and expand" the LAP. (9 Dec)

Minister supports HIA survey

The Planning Minister has congratulated the Housing Industry Association on their survey of residents and neighbours of recently constructed medium-density housing, which he said showed that medium-density housing is "clearly catering for smaller households".  The Minister also said that "It is not the Government's intention to limit opportunities for medium-density housing" and foreshadowed the release in March 2000 of an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey of population mobility in Victoria. (8 Dec, republished in HTML format 21 Dec)

School capital funding

The Government has announced that more than 60 schools have been added to the capital works planning program for works totalling almost $60 million, with construction likely to begin within the next two financial years.  Much of the funding has already been announced by the previous Government. (7 Dec)

Changes on 7 km rule, single dwelling permits

The Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites, has announced two interim planning measures - one relating to the "7km rule"  and the other to allow councils to require planning permits to be obtained for single dwellings on lots of up to 500 square metres. (7 Dec)

For earlier news stories see our Archives.  For the latest New Releases from the Victorian Government's main media releases page, see All - By Date.

Page last changed Friday, 04-Jun-2004 05:08:04 EDT

(other news based on the Government's web site main media releases page, Opposition media releases and other sources)

Standard and Poors have maintained the AAA credit rating of Victoria restored by the previous Government.  (23 Dec)

The State Government has negotiated special arrangements for tickets to Olympic soccer games at the MCG to be made available to Victorians. (23 Dec)

The Government has approved a $6.5 million dollar redevelopment of the Warragul Hospital. (21 Dec)

The State Government has substantially increased penalties for trafficking anabolic steroids under new regulations. (21 Dec)

The State Government has abolished tendering for the provision of drug and alcohol services and instead will provide ongoing funding to agencies. (21 Dec)

The Minister for Health has launched a new ambulance subscription package offering discounts on various goods and services, under an agreement between the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Rural Ambulance Victoria and private sector businesses. (21 Dec)

The Government has announced projects to be funded under the latest round of the Public Heritage Program established by the previous Government. (21 Dec)

The Attorney-General has announced the appointment of barristers Kathryn Auty and John Hardy as new Magistrates. (21 Dec)

The Government has announced terms of reference for the Intergraph Royal Commission. (21 Dec)

Free public transport will be provided on New Year's Eve by Bayside Trains, Hillside Trains, Swanston Trams, Yarra Trams and on Melbourne metropolitan bus services (other than non-Metcard services such as Nightrider buses) between 6.00pm and 6.00am and National Express will provide free travel on V/Line passenger services after 6pm. (21 Dec)

The Minister for Manufacturing Industry has announced a $400,000 grant to support the international marketing of the Axcess Australia Concept Car 2 Hybrid Electric Vehicle. (21 Dec)

The Government has endorsed the Department of Human Services' Working Together Strategy developed under the previous Government to foster better relations between the key areas of Child Protection, Mental Health, Drug Treatment Services and Juvenile Justice. (21 Dec)

The Minister for State and Regional Development  has launched a $1.7 million microwave link between the University of Ballarat and its five regional campuses, supported by $600,000 in funding from the previous Government. (17 Dec)

The Government will provide $440,000 to promote waste reduction in the industrial and business sectors through 5 proposals approved by EcoRecycle Victoria. (17 Dec)

The Government will provide a one-off $125,000 grant to the Victorian Crime Stoppers to replace the loss of its major sponsor at the end of the year. (16 Dec)

Government funding for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been increased by $200,000 to $500,000. (16 Dec)

The Government has announced the establishment of  feasibility studies to provide fast train services between Melbourne and Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon and Geelong. (16 Dec)

The Government has welcomed the announcement that the Grocon Group has been named by Melbourne City Council as the preferred developer for a $500 million redevelopment of the historic Queen Victoria site. (16 Dec)

Legislation abolishing CCT and introducing "Best Value Victoria" has been passed by the Legislative Council. (16 Dec)

The Government has alleged that the cost to taxpayers of establishing an International Fibre Centre in Geeelong has blown out by more than $30 million. (15 Dec)

The Minister for Major Projects, Mr John Pandazopoulos, has given the "thumbs up" to the $18.5 million refurbishment project for the Sidney Myer Music Bowl initiated by the previous Government. (15 Dec)

The new Government has reached agreement with retail and shopping centre organisations to reaffirm the agreement reached by the previous Government in 1997 that small retailers in major shopping centres would not be forced to open on Sundays or public holidays. (15 Dec)

The Government has announced grants of nearly $8 million for Victorian non-government arts organisations under Arts Victoria's Organisations Development Funding Program. (15 Dec)

The Government has announced the establishment of an Audit Review panel to examine major contracts entered into by the previous government. (15 Dec)

The Legislative Council has passed the Government's Regional Infrastructure Development Fund Bill even though the Government refused to accept amendments which would have increased public accountability of the Fund. (15 Dec)

The Minister for Planning has announced details for the Independent Panel considering the permit application for a boatshed at 7 Merrylands Avenue, Portsea, continuing the process adopted by the previous Minister. (14 Dec, republished in HTML format 21 Dec)

Legislation relating to the cross-vesting of jurisdiction between State and Federal courts has been passed by both Houses of Parliament to address problems arising from a recent High Court decision. (14 Dec).

The Government has announced changes to the consultation process for Regional Forest Agreements in Victoria, (14 Dec)

The Government has announced announced leadership and professional development support for Victorian arts organisations and individuals totalling $460,725. (14 Dec)

The Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites, said he accepted the broad thrust of the recommendations of an independent Panel the proposed Blairgowrie Safe Boat Harbour under the Environment Effects Act 1978 and agreed that the proposal should be approved, subject to certain conditions. (14 Dec)

Australia's first World 500cc Motorcross Championship competition will be held at the State Motorcycle Sports Complex in Broadford in 2000. (13 Dec)

The Minister for Community Services has foreshadowed "increased service flexibility and people-focused funding" for disability services. (10 Dec)

The Government has announced funding for inner city organisations assisting homeless people. (10 Dec)

The Member for Melbourne West Province, Ms Kaye Darveniza, has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier (Multicultural Affairs). (10 Dec)

The new Government has retained the previous Government's Community Business Employment (CBE) program and launched it for 2000, claiming it has "revamped" it to make it more targetted. (10 Dec)

The Minister for Health says the Government has implemented those aspects of the Smallwood review of blood transfusion arrangements which are within the responsibility of the Department of Human Services, and that the Government is providing $100,000 to the Australian Red Cross to allow directed parent to child donations in Victoria. (9 Dec)

The Government will permit a race meeting involving Australian thoroughbred, Arabian and Quarter horse races on the one program at Great Western Racing Club on Saturday, January 22, 2000. (9 Dec)

The State Government has no plans for further licencing pet owners the Government has said, following reports that the Lost Dogs' Home and RSPCA have called for the compulsory testing and licensing of cat and dog owners. (9 Dec)

The Premier has announced the appointment of Mr Lex Lasry QC to conduct the Integraph Royal Commission.  There Terms of Reference have not yet been developed.  (9 Dec)

A shortlist of four bidders has been announced for Melbourne Docklands' hi-tech precinct, Commonwealth Technology Port (Comtechport). (9 Dec)

The Minister for Industrial Relations, Monica Gould, has changes agreed to by the parties to the 'Co-Invest' construction industry long-service leave scheme, involving "clarification" of anomalies in the current scheme and some extensions to coverage. (7 Dec)

The Minister for Planning has provided his Assessment of an Independent Panel Report and Environment Effects Statement for the development of Maryvale Coalfield in the Latrobe Valley and diversion of the Morwell River around the site of the proposed mine, stating that he was satisfied with the findings of the EES and Independent Panel that the Morwell River can be diverted with only a minimal impact on water quality, water flow and flora and fauna. (7 Dec, republished in HTML format 21 Dec)

Former Labor MLA Jan Wilson has been appointed to the Greyhound Racing Control Board. (7 Dec)

The Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby, today announced a "major milestone for the highly successful Skills.net program" established by the previous Government - member number 30,000. (7 Dec)

Education Minister Mary Delahunty has launched a $3 million research and development project on teaching and learning in the middle years of schooling. (7 Dec)

In an implicit endorsement of the previous Government's major events strategy, Racing Minister Rob Hulls says the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival has once again confirmed its status as the most important sporting event for Victoria, generating a record breaking $238.2 million in 1999. (6 Dec)

The Minister for the Arts, Ms Mary Delahunty, has announced 19 grants from the Regional Arts Fund totalling more than $280,000. (3 Dec)

Finance Minister John Brumby has delivered the Victorian Government's final Year 2000 Public Disclosure Statement reporting a 99.7 percent public sector completion rate, and encouraging a "business as usual" approach. (2 Dec)

Best Practice Guidelines for Cleaning Hospitals are currently being finalised by the Department of Human Services and should be ready by the end of this month. Health experts will conduct random inspections of hospitals to ensure the new guidelines are being followed, and $2.1 million has been allocated to assist public hospitals implement the new guidelines. (2 Dec)

The Minister for Environment and Conservation, Sherryl Garbutt has backed the "Give Your Garden a Christmas present" program to promote use of garden mulch, being run by Yarra Valley Water and Least Waste, the Eastern Regional Waste Management Group. (2 Dec)

Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites, has extended the Terms of Reference of the Standing Advisory Committee appointed to review existing housing codes to include car parking and density issues.  The Standing Advisory Committee’s final report, incorporating the extended Terms of Reference, is to be submitted to the Minister by March 31, 2000. (2 Dec)

The Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites has accepted the recommendation of an independent Advisory Committee that current lot sizes in the Cardinia Strategy Plan be supported and incorporated into the Casey Planning Scheme. (1 Dec, republished in HTML format 21 Dec)

The Minister for Planning, Mr John Thwaites has welcomed the findings of a Property Council of Australia Report that good urban design provides substantial economic returns to property investors as well as providing enjoyable places to live and work. (1 Dec)

The Continuing Care Unit for HIV/AIDS patients at the Alfred Hospital will be built as a priority, with construction of the $2.9 million facility staring in December and a completion date of August 2000. (1 Dec)

The Minister for Health has made a series of allegations about planning for the Knox Hospital proposed by the previous Government. (1 Dec)