Mr BURGESS (Hastings) (11:44:25): (515) My question is directed to the Minister for Mental Health, and the information I seek is on behalf of the Western Port Men’s Shed, which is seeking funding for a dust-extraction system at the shed that will be based in Bittern. This wonderful men’s shed, like so many men’s sheds across the state, is growing in numbers with new members and visitors and is open to people from all walks of life and of varying ages, abilities and experience. These people breathe in the fine sawdust materials that come naturally from the woodworking activities, and as such they need a system to help capture that sawdust. The men’s shed regularly holds community barbecues, raising much-needed funds for equipment, maintenance, machines, running costs, insurance et cetera; however, they require roughly $30 000 to purchase this important health aid.

Mr BURGESS: The Pearcedale community recently came together to remember a wonderful young man tragically taken from his family and community far too early with the unveiling of a memorial bench in his honour at the Pearcedale Football Netball Club on 4 April. Jayden Kyle Morgan, affectionately referred to as a gentle giant, a man with a beautiful heart, was tragically killed late last year at the age of 21 when he was struck by a car in Pearcedale Road, Cranbourne, at around 11.00 p.m. on Saturday, 17 November. This very special bench was erected in his honour as a lasting memory of a man who loved his footy and his club. May Jayden rest in peace. I doubt there was anyone among the crowd that gathered to celebrate this solemn dedication that was not roused by the Pearcedale Football Netball Club’s rendition of their song.

Mr BURGESS: Congratulations also to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Crib Point, who celebrated their family fun day on Friday, 29 March. The event was well attended, with lots of arts and crafts stalls, rides for kids and even a show bag or two. I was struck by the enormous talent among St Joey’s students, singing, dancing and playing instruments. There were also quite a few good voices in the audience, whether those parents were supposed to be singing or not.

Mr BURGESS (Hastings) (09:59:31): On Saturday, 23 March, I was thrilled to be invited to the High Society Hastings Community Open Day, where a wide range of foods, services and just plain fun were displayed by a mix of community groups, local traders and residents. It was a wonderful living, working and breathing display of the broad and diverse mix of things that Hastings has to offer. There was information from local community groups, giveaways, prizes and activities for the young and old. Congratulations to Kristy Horsfall, president Jason Dowler, the outstanding committee of the Westernport Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the more than 40 stallholders who put together such an outstanding event—yet another great production the Hastings community can be proud of.

On Wednesday in Parliament, the Andrews Labor Government confirmed they had cut their school asbestos removal program, which will affect local schools such as Langwarrin Primary School.

In Question Time, the Andrews Labor Government did not rule out that there has been a 75% reduction in planned burning to minimise the risk of bushfires in areas such as the Mornington Peninsula.  

Mr BURGESS — Over the past four years I have visited the majority of electorates across Victoria, many of them numerous times, to meet and talk to many hundreds of small and medium‑sized businesses. Often it is not what they say that you learn from; it is what they do not say. Numbers of these businesses described how they had met with their local MP and a few had even met the minister, but the feeling they were given was that they were expected to sit there and listen while the MP and/or minister spoke.

Mr BURGESS — I want to acknowledge Bayside Christian College, Langwarrin. On 12 September I was pleased to be invited to address year 9 Bayside Christian College students, which was great fun because it was about the role and responsibilities of a member of Parliament. I get a real buzz out of meeting with students and telling them about the role of an MP —

Mr BURGESS (Hastings) (11:37:45) — (15 000) My question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. I am seeking information on behalf of my Blind Bight and Warneet communities about the provision of a new public toilet in Warneet. Blind Bight and Warneet constituents have stated that a new public toilet with facilities for people with disabilities is badly needed on Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning land at the Warneet boat ramp. The old toilet is unusable. It has no lights, it is too far from the boat ramp and the local council has stated that the area is in fact snake infested. Local residents have stated that on weekends, when over 1000 people visit the town to use the boat ramp, visitors are forced to use the surrounding brush as a makeshift toilet, creating not only a hygiene problem but an embarrassing situation for adults and children alike, while the situation is immeasurably worse for people with a disability.

Mr BURGESS — I am again asking this government to provide badly needed natural gas reticulation to the coastal villages of Tooradin, Blind Bight, Warneet and Cannons Creek. The shadow minister for energy and I were in Tooradin to discuss the need for natural gas to be made available. Following the shadow minister’s visit, I surveyed the residents in the villages and gauged the local uptake of reticulated gas. The support was overwhelming. The needs of the residents of this village are most important.