Parliament
Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2021
June 24, 2021 - Parliament
Let me contribute to this debate on the Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2021. My comments today will submit that this bill is needed as Victoria transitions to new forms of energy which will not only drive down emissions but ensure we meet our emissions targets...
Business Support Following Circuit-Breaker Lockdown
June 24, 2021 - Parliament
My question is for the Minister for Industry Support and Recovery and concerns the support being provided to businesses in my electorate of Hawthorn during the circuit-breaker lockdown. The more than $500 million circuit-breaker business support package is helping Victorian businesses directly affected by the...
Safety on Toorak Road & The Pasifika Youth Research Project
June 24, 2021 - Parliament
TOORAK ROAD, CAMBERWELL, ROAD SAFETY Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (09:56): I rise today to provide two important updates from the Hawthorn electorate. Standing alongside the member for Burwood, I am glad to represent a Victorian government improving road safety on Toorak Road near Hartwell Primary School....
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership) Bill 2021
June 23, 2021 - Parliament
It gives me great pleasure to contribute to the debate on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership) Bill 2021. As the founding principal of a non-government secondary school for nearly 29 years, a recent recipient of a masters degree...
Gardiner’s Creek Loan of $5.4M
June 10, 2021 - News, Parliament
Constituency Question My question is for the Minister for Community Sport and concerns the $5.4 million loan provided to the Gardiners Creek corridor trail in my electorate of Hawthorn in the latest round of the government’s community sports infrastructure loans scheme. The scheme provides low-interest...
My First Jab of the Astra-Zeneca Vaccine
June 10, 2021 - News, Parliament
Member’s Statement Although currently unable to visit a gym, I recently received my first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine at Access Health and Community in Hawthorn. Today I want to encourage my constituents, fellow Victorians and Australians to get vaccinated as soon as possible. If...
Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Safe Standards Compliance and Enforcement) Bill 2021
June 9, 2021 - News, Parliament
Bill Speech Over lunch the discussion was with the German philosopher Goethe, who said, ‘As knowledge grows, so does doubt’. I have sometimes observed that this is a problem for some of us here in this place—but nonetheless, let me just say there appears to...
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) Bill 2021
June 8, 2021 - News, Parliament
Bill Speech I rise today to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) Bill 2021. As a former educator I will contend that this bill is essential in ensuring schools are safe places of work and learning for staff and...
Compass Education
April 1, 2021 - News, Parliament
Member’s Statement Given on 16 March 2021. “I recently visited the offices of Compass Education, an education technology platform, and met with founders John de la Motte and Lucas Filer and their friendly staff. Compass is a popular all-in-one school management system that helps schools...
Honouring Hawthorn’s Citizen Of The Year
February 4, 2021 - News, Parliament
It was my pleasure on Thursday the 4th of February 2021, to take a moment in Parliament to honour Yvonne Giltinan, a Hawthorn constituent who was recognised by the City of Boroondara on the 26th of January as both Citizen of the Year, and Outstanding...
On Behalf Of Hawthorn: Budget Reply
December 11, 2020 - News, Parliament
It was an honour on Wednesday to make my final speech in Parliament for the year of 2020, and in doing so, to reply to the fantastic Budget that the Andrews Government delivered last fortnight. When Governments hand down budgets, they reveal two important things;...
Standing Up In The Windfarm Debate
November 30, 2020 - News, Parliament
It was brought to my attention, from a member of the opposition, that apparently people in Hawthorn are not interested in effective action on climate and transitioning to renewable energy. This has not been my experience. Since becoming the Member for Hawthorn, and well before...
Welcome New And Re-Elected Boroondara Councillors
November 30, 2020 - News, Parliament
The recent local council elections are bringing forth exciting times in Boroondara. In Parliament last week, I expressed my congratulations and best wishes to the six women and five men who will have the privilege of serving this great community. In particular, the seven councillors...
Parliamentary Praise For Hawthorn Heroes
November 12, 2020 - News, Parliament
It was a joy to take a moment in this sunny week in Parliament to celebrate some of Hawthorn’s wonderful constituents. Even in the most challenging times, as the COVID winter behind us has certainly been, I am constantly amazed by the selflessness and generosity...
Important Amendments For VCE
October 29, 2020 - News, Parliament
I was pleased to speak in Parliament this Wednesday, the 29th of October, commending the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill to the Legislative Assembly. It was also a joy to take the opportunity in my opening to thank educators, students and parents alike for their...
Rising To Speak On A Bill To Support Victims Of Crime
October 29, 2020 - News, Parliament
*Content Warning: mentions sexual assault. Speaking my support for the Justice Legislation Amendment (Supporting Victims and Other Matters) Bill was another true honour in Parliament this week. Whether through institutional abuse or in the criminal justice system more generally, the often-shattering effect of crime upon...
Advocating For Equitable Social Housing
October 15, 2020 - News, Parliament
Today I was pleased to speak on the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, to ensure equity and to right system-inadequacy for some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged citizens. You can watch my speech here. Ensuring that social and affordable housing continues to be available to as...
Member’s Statement: Funding For Mens’ Sheds
October 15, 2020 - Parliament
Statement made 14th October, 2020.
Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2020
October 15, 2020 - Parliament
It is very pleasing to speak in support of such important legislation as is currently before the Assembly. The Bill contains far-ranging provisions designed to both ensure equity and to right system inadequacy for some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged citizens. In ensuring that social and...
Members Statement: R U OK Day and Hawthorn AFC
September 23, 2020 - Parliament
Speaker, Last Thursday was RUOK day, an important day to empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with anyone who may be struggling with life. In recognition of this day I want to acknowledge and share some of...
Adjournment Matter: Mr Kennedy To Ask The Minister
July 14, 2020 - Parliament
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide me with an update on the rollout of the government’s mobile phone ban at schools in my electorate of Hawthorn. Last year I visited Auburn...
Safe Patient Care (Nurse To Patient And Midwife To Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2020
June 18, 2020 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (15:02): It is always good when you can get up and speak about bills that you have had some sort of involvement in, and at the end of January I had a few days in hospital—bit of elective surgery—just preparing me for the...
Early Childhood Education
June 18, 2020 - News, Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (21:30): I am very pleased to be speaking on this motion. It has been quite some time since I was a three-year-old, and I certainly did not have the benefit of a three-year old kindergarten. It has caused me to think a...
Education And Training Reform Amendment Regulation Of Student Accommodation Bill 2020
June 16, 2020 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (14:30): I rise to speak on the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Regulation of Student Accommodation) Bill 2020. As a former school principal and assistant boarding housemaster I appreciate the benefits for the many students across Victoria who attend boarding schools. Students...
Retail Leases Amendment Act 2019
June 4, 2020 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (15:40): In Hawthorn there are three strips of cafes, shops and what have you—Burke Road, Glenferrie Road and Burwood Road—and these are very lively, very engaging places and very, very popular. However, in Hawthorn and indeed in other parts not too far...
Auburn South Primary School
June 3, 2020 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY: Twice in 2019, in February and August, I visited the lively Auburn South Primary School, founded in 1925—with the original two-storey block building still standing—and educating over 600 children 95 years later. The gateway to the school presents a place rich in history,...
Constituency Question To The Minister For Education
April 14, 2020 - Parliament
My question is for the Minister for Education. What will the minister do to support the hardworking kindergartens in my electorate of Hawthorn as they are faced with growing demand for four-year-old kindergarten and braced with excitement for the rollout of three-year-old kindergarten? Early childhood...
North-East Link Bill 2020
March 19, 2020 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn): I am very pleased, delighted, excited to speak on the North East Link Bill 2020, a project that will bring many benefits to the east, where my electorate of Hawthorn is situated. This project has been spoken about for many years, but...
Adjournment Matter For The Minister For Transport And Infrastructure
March 6, 2020 - Parliament
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, who just happens to be here at the moment. The action I seek is that she ensure that the Glen Iris Junior Football Club, the Gladiators, continue to have access to their playing facilities at...
Rossbourne School
March 5, 2020 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (09:51): Last week it was a delight to meet parents, staff and students of Hawthorn’s Rossbourne School and present student representative badges to Amy, Jake, Ariel, Bella, Elliott, Chris, Sam, Nikita, Ella, Jack and Jake. Rossbourne is a non-government school for...