I also rise to make some comments on the Environment and Planning References Committee’s report on its inquiry into environmental design and public health in Victoria, which was tabled in this chamber on 24 May. As is the norm, on that day members of the committee were afforded the opportunity to make comments on the report, as are all members of the chamber in sessions such as this on a Wednesday afternoon.
Since 24 May we have witnessed government members of the committee continuing to take up that opportunity to speak, several times each, on this report. Unfortunately, essentially in all of those contributions they have made accusations about the workings of the committee.
There have been personal attacks, and there has been a general attempt to undermine the credibility of the report.
All the standing orders that apply were complied with in the work of the committee. Again today in this chamber we have had two separate instances of the continuation of that behaviour.
Mrs Peulich interjected.
Ms TIERNEY — All that I can say is that it demonstrates to everyone why the work of the committee has been problematic and difficult.
As I said on 24 May, my purpose is to deal with the issues that were before the committee and the issues I have covered in terms of the content of the report.
My purpose today is also to go through some of the issues and consider how the stakeholders have received the report.
Mrs Peulich interjected.
Ms TIERNEY — Mrs Peulich has had ample opportunity in the committee hearings and in this chamber to speak.
Mrs Peulich interjected.
Ms TIERNEY — Enough. We need to hear what the stakeholders have to say.
Mrs Peulich interjected.
Ms TIERNEY — Important stakeholders have received this report warmly, unlike Mrs Peulich. They are organisations such as the Planning Institute of Australia, Doctors for the Environment Australia, the Heart Foundation, the Public Health Association of Australia, the Victorian Council of Social Service and COTA Australia, an organisation that advocates on behalf of older Australians. They have congratulated committee members on providing a landmark report and demonstrating the strong link between urban design and public health. They have asked for the implementation of the report’s key recommendations — that is, they have asked the government to go ahead with those recommendations.
Those organisations have written detailed letters to the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Health, encouraging them to adopt the views of the committee. They have asked that recommendations 3, 12, 14, 20 and 22 be adopted. They say that those important, practical recommendations are cost effective and they would have a very positive effect on Victoria if they were adopted.
Mrs Peulich interjected.
The ACTING PRESIDENT (Mr Elasmar) — Order! Enough, Mrs Peulich!
Ms TIERNEY — I do not think Ms Kathy Bell, the CEO of the Heart Foundation, Dr Eugenie Kayak, the Victorian representative of Doctors for the Environment Australia, Mr Steve Dunn, the president of the Victorian division of the Planning Institute of Australia, Dr Bruce Bolam, the president of the Victorian branch of the Public Health Association of Australia, Ms Carolyn Atkins, the acting CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Service, and Mr David Craig, the acting CEO of COTA Victoria, would appreciate what has occurred in this chamber in the past few minutes. I know that these people and their organisations are credible and are great advocates on the issues that were presented to committee members.
We have also had the Obesity Policy Coalition write to us saying that it is supportive of the report. That coalition includes Cancer Council Victoria, the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University and VicHealth.
All these people support this report, and all we ask is for the government to get on board.
