Another week is over in Victorian parliament as political reporter James Bennett reports what you might have missed.
Waiting in the waiting room
Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed wants to know — where is the waiting room at the Shepparton railway station?
According to Ms Sheed, the new area was supposed to be completed nine months ago but was yet to ‘‘materialise’’.
On Thursday, she asked the Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne to investigate.
‘‘The project was meant to deliver a sealed waiting area to protect commuters from the elements and realign the ticketing window to make for easier access,’’ she said.
‘‘Over 12 months later and the waiting room is yet to materialise. My constituents would like to know why.’’
As it was during a constituency question session, Ms Horne doesn’t respond immediately.
How did they vote?
One of the big talking points coming out of Spring St earlier this week was passing the Birth, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill 2019.
By passing the bill a trans person can choose their gender on their birth certificate without undergoing surgery.
The bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly two weeks ago (54-27), leaving the final decision to the Legislative Council.
Although the Victorian Government does not have the majority of the upper house, it was able to secure the support from the crossbench, including The Greens and other social justice individuals and parties (26-14).
Two weeks ago in the lower house, Ms Sheed voted in favour of passing the bill.
Member for Euroa Steph Ryan, Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy all voted against the bill.
On Tuesday, the vote was split from the five Members for Northern Victoria Region.
Labor members Jaclyn Symes and Mark Gepp with Liberal Democrat Tim Quilty voted in favour passing the bill, while Liberal’s Wendy Lovell and Derryn Hinch Justice Party Tania Maxwell voted against the bill.
Spent no more
The Legal and Social Issues Committee, which visited Shepparton last month on a fact finding mission into spent convictions, has tabled its report in parliament.
The upper house committee, which included Ms Maxwell and Ms Lovell, has made a recommendation to the government it must introduce legislation into spent convictions.
If adopted by the government, the new law will make it easier for people with criminal records of minor offences to obtain jobs, as it was often seen as a deterrent.
Committee chair and Reason Party leader Fiona Patten said on Tuesday part of the committee’s visit to Shepparton played a part in its findings.
‘‘We heard in Shepparton from an employment agency that the major reason for people not getting jobs was a historical criminal conviction that was very much a conviction irrelevant to the work,’’ she said.
The committee has also been asked by parliament to inquire if a sex offender register should be introduced in Victoria after a motion was moved on Wednesday.
This has been one of the key policies for Ms Maxwell and her Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party.
Mr Quilty and Ms Patten were two of four upper house members to vote against the motion.
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