Media Releases

The 2012 Victorian Disability Sector Awards are currently open and Western Victorians are being encouraged to nominate a member of the community or organisations who demonstrate excellence in service and a commitment to be development of people with a disability.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty said the awards celebrate and acknowledge those people who have a passion and vision to the advancement of people with a disability to achieve their life goads, through upholding their rights and choices in a way that promotes inclusion.

“It is important that we recognise this essential network of people and organisations who on a daily basis are supporting people with a disability and their cares.”
“These awards recognise the efforts of those individuals, teams, organisations and businesses for the significant contribution they are making to enriching the lives of people with a disability,” Mr Delahunty said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge, said the continued efforts of disability support workers, volunteers and businesses are important in helping ensure people with a disability can achieve their goals and participate within the community.

“These awards provide a unique opportunity for this commitment and valuable community contribution to be acknowledged and honoured.”

Members of the public can make a nomination in eight different award categories including: Support Worker (Individual); Support Worker (Team); Client Services Worker; Leadership; Emerging Leader; Volunteer; Business Supporting Disability and Lifetime Achievement Award categories.

Nominations close 7 March 2012 and ward winners will be announced at the disability Sector Awards ceremony on Thursday 26 April.

For guidelines and nomination forms visit http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disabilityawards

In a move that has been welcomed by the Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, Victoria will soon have legislation that sets out clear expectations for organisations that engage with carers.
“The Coalition Government has honoured an election commitment with the introduction of the Carers Recognition Bill 2012 which recognises all carers, including young carers, kinship and foster cares and acknowledges the valued role of cares in Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Over 700,000 Victorians are caring for a family member or friend with a disability, mental or chronic illness or someone frail aged and carers need to be recognised for the enormous contribution they are making to the community and deserve our full support.”

“Family carers save the Australian Federal Government more than $40 billion every year and many struggle with the demands of the role.  This legislation will help carers gain better support when dealing with agencies and organisations,” Mr Delahunty said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge said that the Bill which she outlined in Parliament will raise the status of these cares and care relationships in the community and sets out principles recognising cares for their contribution.

Ms Wooldridge said the Bill would bring Victoria into line with legislation in other states and territories and the Commonwealth.

“However, the Bill is unique in recognising care relationships.  Carers and the people they care for are in a shared arrangement and if the care relationship is strong, the carer and the person being cared for will have better lives,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“This approach to recognising the significance of care relationships has been the subject of extensive consultation.”

The legislation requires government and funded agencies to reflect the care relationship principles in the conduct of their business and report annually on the actions they have taken to comply with the principles.

The Victorian Charter “Supporting People in Care Relationships’ will be updated to reflect the new legislation and will support implementation of the Bill.

The taxi rank on Wilson St, trialled over the Christmas period, will become a permanent feature in Horsham thanks to a $13,000 State Government grant announced today by the Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty.
 
Mr Delahunty said a permanent rank would make it safer and easier for people to catch a taxi, particularly at night.  “This funding will provide a safe, well lit and well monitored place to catch a taxi in Horsham,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The $13,000 will help build a weather shelter at the site with seating and prominent signage.

“It will also fund improved lighting and closed circuit television cameras, making it safer to catch a cab, keeping the community, passengers and taxi drivers at ease.

“The rank has the strong support from local Police and is a huge boost to safety in Horsham.

The rank will be located on Wilson St, outside ‘Cheap as Chips’ between Firebrace and Darlot Streets.

The funding was awarded to Horsham Rural City Council through the third round of the $4 million Taxi Rank Safety Program (TRSP), announced in October by the Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder .

Minister Mulder said the TRSP was making real improvements to taxi safety and amenity all over Victoria.

“So far the Taxi Rank Safety Program has allocated over $1.5 million to councils across the state.”

“This round an extra $840,000 has been allocated across 13 municipalities.

“The TRSP is part of the Coalition Government’s commitment building better taxi services for passengers, taxi drivers and the local community.”

The Taxi Rank Safety Program is administered by the Victorian Taxi Directorate. 

Under the program, councils can apply for grants to improve safety through such works as the installation of CCTV systems, upgraded lighting or the provision of shelters and seating.

For more information and a full list of recipients, visit www.taxi.vic.gov.au.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is encouraging residents of the Lowan electorate that the 2012 Telstra Business Award nominations close on 2nd April, 2012.
“I encourage residents to publicly recognise outstanding local businesses by nominating them for the 2012 Telstra Business Awards,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Some of the most innovative and successful businesses in Victoria can be found right here in western Victoria”, Mr Delahunty said.

Mr Delahunty said 2012 is another milestone year for the Telstra Business Awards as they now include the new “HTC Start-Up Award” for small to medium businesses which have been operating between one and three years.

“The Telstra Business Awards provide a great opportunity for small and medium local businesses to gain recognition on a national stage for all the hard – and excellent – work they do in and around the community.”

Awards are offered in the following categories:
• HTC Start Up Award – for businesses that have been operating for between one and three years and have up to 200 employees
• News Ltd Micro-Business Award (businesses with up to 5 employees)
• MYOB Small Business Award (businesses with 5 to 20 employees)
• Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award (businesses with 20 to 200 employees)
• Telestra Regional Business Award (for businesses located outside metropolitan Melbourne)
Mr Delahunty said this is the 20th year Telstra has run the awards recognising excellence in small and medium business both nationally and in every state and entrants would complete for a total prize pool of $500,000 in cash and prizes.
To Nominate visit www.telstrabusinessawards.com or phone 1800 262 323.
Nominations close on 2nd April 2012.

Media release

Local students Gracie Ostapiw from St Brigid's College in Horsham and Kate Maddern from Kaniva College are two of 10 Victorian high school students who will be spending their Term 1 school holidays on an overseas study tour visiting significant military sites at Gallipoli in Turkey, and in Malaysia and Singapore where Australians have served in war.

Premier Ted Baillieu and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Member for Lowan Hugh

Delahunty were at a reception today at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne to

announce the recipients of the 2012 Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize overseas study tour.

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore in World War II. Gracie and 

Kate, along with the eight other successful prize winners will set off on a trip of a lifetime

visiting significant ex-military sites including Singapore’s Changi Museum, which is dedicated

to those who lived and died in World War II,” Mr Delahunty said.

“They will also have the chance to delve into Australia’s overseas military history by exploring

ex-battlefields and learning about those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who

survived.”

“What better way to encourage young Victorians to gain an insight in to the service of our

veterans; learn more about family members who may have served; discover for themselves

the ANZAC legacy, and better understand Australia’s military history,” Mr Delahunty said.

Gracie and Kate, along with the other eight students on the study tour will receive expert

guidance and history of the battlefields from Professor Bruce Scates, Professor of History and

Australian Studies at Monash University. Professor Scates is the author of several books

including Return to Gallipoli – Walking the Battlefields of the Great War, and the recently 

published history of the Shrine of Remembrance.

Students entering the 2011-2012 competition were asked: “What does the spirit of ANZAC

mean to them?” and “Are the values displayed by the ANZACs at Gallipoli and the Western 

Front still relevant today?”

Gracie Ostapiw submitted a project that compares the ANZAC spirit forged in Gallipoli to

Australian characteristics still evident in today's society, such as the willingness to sacrifice for

a just cause, friendship, loyalty and a sense of humour.

Kate Maddern submitted an essay highlighting the power of the human sprit to rise above

adversity, comparing the qualities of mateship and ANZAC spirit forged in WWI with the same

qualities shown by Australians in overcoming recent tough times including bushfires, floods

and financial crisis.

Mr Delahunty also announced Kate Bedworth from Hamilton and Alexandra College in

Hamilton as one of the 17 Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize regional finalists who will

participate in a Canberra study tour of Parliament House, the National Film and Sound

Archive, the National Portrait Gallery and the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Delahunty said this year was the first time regional finalists also received a trip.

“Through the Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize the Victorian Coalition Government is delighted

to provide even more opportunities for Victorian students to experience Australia’s proud

ANZAC legacy,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The prize is an important way of ensuring future generations of young Australians never

forget the sacrifices that help define us as a nation, especially in the lead-up to the important

centenary of ANZAC commemorations in 2014,” Mr Delahunty said.

Further information on the Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize 2011-12 visit

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty today announced Nhill Neighbourhood House Learning Centre will be better placed to provide a bank of laptops to support local ESL students to enhance their learning and provide the skills required to participate effectively in the workforce and wider community thanks to a $16.350 Victorian Coalition Government grant provide to Nhill Neighbourhood House Learning Centre.

Mr Delahunty said funding would be provided under the governments’ Community Information and Communication (ICT) Technology Skills Grants program.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the Community ICT Skills Grants program supported community organisations to increase and develop the use of information and communication technology.

Mr Delahunty said, “Through this program it is particularly important in assisting those groups within the community who have been traditionally unable to access the benefits of computer technology.”
“Through this program, senior citizens, people with a disability, migrant and refugee communities and Victorians living in remote and isolated locations are being encouraged to get online and develop their skills and knowledge using computers and the internet.”

“Effective use of technology not only promotes increased independence, it also provides another setting for social interaction and expands opportunities for employment and education.”
“The Victorian Coalition Government is proud to support communities across the state through programs such as this which enable individuals to access resources and make the most of opportunities that might otherwise not be available,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty today announced $323,000 in Coalition Government funding to repair community facilities at Horsham and Dadswells Bridge. 

Mr Delahunty said “the Coalition Government funding to Horsham Rural City Council includes $102,300 for the St Michaels Tennis Club to relocate six tennis courts as well as $151,264 to replace the launching facility for the Wimmera River Jardwa Apex and Rowing Clubs.  The Dadswells Bridge Hall will also receive a toilet upgrade with $70,000 in funding.”

“The January 2011 floods were the worst floods in living memory in our part of the State.  Many important community facilities were damaged, and this funding is important to enable community organisations to recover and bring their facilities back into use,” Mr Delahunty said.

Deputy Premier and Minster for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the funding was part of the $30 million Floods Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund, designed to help rebuild the repair infrastructure in flood affected communities across the state.

“It has been over twelve months since Victoria was hit by flooding and the Coalition Government is continuing to support recovery efforts across the state,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Delahunty said “It is important that we work with flood damaged communities as they continue to rebuild and recover from these devastating events.”

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty is convinced shopping around for property insurance will reveal huge variations both in cost and what is covered by property insurance following a meeting with a major insurance company at Parliament House this week.

Mr Delahunty said “I have been involved in meetings with other National Party Members to discuss this situation which revealed most properties across Australia will fall into low risk, medium risk or high flood risk categories”.

In percentage terms, approximately three per cent of properties fall into the high risk category and four to five per cent fall into the medium risk category. The balance, more than 90 per cent, are low risk, Mr Delahunty said.

Some insurers have an ‘opt out’ clause for flood coverage while for others it is a compulsory component of their insurance coverage.

Following last year’s Natural Disaster Insurance Review, the Federal Government is proposing mandatory flood insurance with every home insurance policy, with home owners to be given the choice to opt out if they do not wish to be covered for floods.

The review also recommended a standard definition of flood.  It is hoped the standard definition will remove the ridiculous debate about riverine flooding versus flash flooding, which has caused so much trauma for many people, often with neighbours being treated differently by their individual insurance companies, Mr Delahunty said.

Some companies are using the one in 10,000 year, but most are still based on the one in 100 year flood event and maps from the National flood industry data base through the Insurance Council of Australia, Mr Delahunty said.

Some companies appear to be basing their premiums on post codes, whilst for others it is an individual risk assessment, he said.

In terms of opting out, some companies will require the ticking of a box to opt out, so it is clear that you have made that choice.

I suggest all insurance purchasers speak with your insurer if you’re not satisfied, get other quotes in writing, and read all the fine print, so they know just what they are paying for, Mr Delahunty concluded.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty said Horsham can expect a graduating class of bright, well-prepared and enthusiastic Year 12 students from Horsham College this year thanks to today’s announcement the school has received an $32,500 grant to encourage students to complete secondary school.

Horsham College received the grant under the Victorian Coalition Government’s $5 million Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund awarded to the school as a result of its commendable proposal for retaining students through to Year 12.

The Fabulous Futures program will offer an expanded range of career and course opportunities through a Careers Expos, and encourage students to broaden their pathway aims and understand the opportunities that emerge from remaining at school longer, Mr Delahunty said.
Minister for Education Martin Dixon said while the number of metropolitan students finishing school was going up, the government was committed to ensuring the same opportunities were available to rural and regional students.

“We know when a student completes school, the likelihood of them going on to achieve, succeed and become a skilled and valued contributor to society dramatically increases,” Mr Dixon said.
“Almost nine out of 10 metropolitan students are finishing school, but nearly a third of country students are leaving school early, and these new grants are a step toward addressing this issue.”
The Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund was created upon advice from the Rural Education Reference Group; a cross-sectoral group established by Minister Dixon to advise the government on initiatives specifically designed to support rural and regional schools.

“I am really keen to see the success of these retention programs as they are rolled out across Victoria,” Mr Dixon said.

“It is this government’s belief that schools are the ones best placed to determine what measures will be most effective for their students and I think the community will agree as graduating students become active members of the community and valuable contributors to the local economy.”

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said that Balmoral Community College can expect a graduating class of bright, well-prepared and enthusiastic Year 12 students from Balmoral Community College this year thanks to today’s announcement the school has received an $10,350 grant to encourage students to complete secondary school.

Balmoral Community College received the grant under the Victorian Coalition Government’s $5 million Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund awarded to the school as a result of its commendable proposal for retaining students through to Year 12.

The program will coordinate academic group days between schools such as Edenhope College and Goroke P-12, where Year 11 / 12 students are completing similar subjects.  This program will significantly assist students from small schools in rural areas in broadening their experience and developing relationships that can be sustained through the challenging VCE years, Mr Delahunty said.

Minister for Education Martin Dixon said while the number of metropolitan students finishing school was going up, the government was committed to ensuring the same opportunities were available to rural and regional students.

“We know when a student completes school, the likelihood of them going on to achieve, succeed and become a skilled and valued contributor to society dramatically increases,” Mr Dixon said.
“Almost nine out of 10 metropolitan students are finishing school, but nearly a third of country students are leaving school early, and these new grants are a step toward addressing this issue.”
The Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund was created upon advice from the Rural Education Reference Group; a cross-sectoral group established by Minister Dixon to advise the government on initiatives specifically designed to support rural and regional schools.
“I am really keen to see the success of these retention programs as they are rolled out across Victoria,” Mr Dixon said.

“It is this government’s belief that schools are the ones best placed to determine what measures will be most effective for their students and I think the community will agree as graduating students become active members of the community and valuable contributors to the local economy.”