The resort is already gaining a strong reputation as a great destination for high altitude training outside of the snow season.  Some of Australia’s great athletes such as the Geelong Football Club, Steve Moneghetti and Melbourne Rebels (Rugby Super 15’s) are already the reaping the benefits of having a high altitude training facility here in Victoria.

The proposal includes plans for sophisticated multipurpose gymnasium and pool, an open playing filed (suitable for union, league, soccer and AFL) and water training facility exploiting Rocky Valley storage.
While at the resort I also viewed post bushfire tree maintenance. It was amazing to see the numbers of people enjoying our alpine resorts outside the snow season, this is a key part of the future of Victoria’s wonderful alpine assets.

Lion dancers, fire crackers, awesome hawker food and people from all walks of life helped mark the Lunar New Year.

I was pleased to join community leaders and the fantastic team from Springvale Asian Business Association to celebrate the 20^th Lunar New Year in Springvale.

“These job losses are devastating for workers at Toyota and in Melbourne’s western suburbs, and for their families” Mr Holding said.

“While Ted Baillieu plays the part-time Premier, there are now hundreds more workers and their families facing an uncertain future and wondering how they will pay their mortgages.

“These job losses won’t just hurt Victorian workers; they will impact on their families, the community and the state’s automotive industry.

“At the very least, the Baillieu Government must urgently provide affected workers with support to retrain and seek other work, as well as financial counselling and planning.”

Mr Holding said the Premier’s failure to deliver a jobs plan was hurting Victorian workers.

“Thousands of Victorians work in our automotive industry and the loss of hundreds of Toyota jobs will have a significant impact on the sector and the families who depend on it,” he said.

“These job losses will flow on to automotive parts manufacturers.

“We understand there are national and international factors affecting the economy, but the State Government has a special responsibility to support jobs and promote investment in Victoria.  Under Labor, Victoria was the powerhouse of jobs creation in Australia.

“Mr Baillieu’s failure to deliver a jobs plan to create and retain jobs and invest in the ongoing growth of the Victorian economy jeopardises the strong position that Victoria built over the last decade.

“If the Premier doesn’t wake from his year-long slumber soon, more jobs will be lost.”

When in Opposition, the-then Victorian Liberal Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Ryan Smith attacked the Labor Government’s support for manufacturing of the Toyota Hybrid in Altona, branding it nothing more than an “experiment”.

Just as the federal Liberal party remains divided over the question of support for advanced manufacturing in Australia, it’s clear that the same divisions exist in Victoria.

“Victoria’s manufacturing industry is the state’s largest employer, and under the Baillieu Government more than 20,000 jobs have already been lost from the industry.”

Member for Altona Jill Hennessy said the job losses would have a significant impact on the community.

“Ted Baillieu has let down workers and their families in the western suburbs,” Ms Hennessy said.

“The western suburbs have been hit with significant job losses during the past few months, and yet the community is still waiting to hear from the Premier about how he will support the area.

“Being Premier is more than just governing for Liberal-held seats – it’s about ensuring all communities are supported.”

New figures released today show the Baillieu Government’s decision to increase car registration and stamp duty was short-sighted, Shadow Treasurer Tim Holding said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that in December – the same month the Baillieu Government announced it would increase fees for vehicle owners – car sales in Victoria slumped by 1.5 per cent in just one month.

Car sales across the state fell by 4.3 per cent during the year – more than the national average of 3 per cent.

“These figures are just the latest evidence that Victoria’s economy is slipping backwards,” Mr Holding said.

“The Baillieu Government should be supporting jobs and industry, but instead has chosen to increase fees for car owners that could have serious flow-on effects for the automotive sector.”

Under Government changes, motor vehicle registration will increase by $35 per vehicle and the rate of stamp duty on new cars will rise from 2.5 per cent to 3.0 per cent.

“I’m concerned that when the price increases take effect, car sale figures will fall even further,” Mr Holding said.

“The Premier needs to admit that his cash grab to boost his budget bottom-line will cost jobs in the automotive industry.”

Mr Holding said the Baillieu Government’s failure to outline a jobs plan was hurting Victoria.

“The Premier claims the economy is his top priority but securing and creating jobs will take more than just words,” he said.

“Empty rhetoric without a solid plan to grow the economy means nothing to Victorian families.

“An economy going backwards will lead to fewer jobs for Victorians and that’s why Mr Baillieu needs a jobs plan now.”

While Australia’s GDP rose 1 per cent, Victoria recorded negative growth, with State Final Demand falling by 0.1 per cent.
The data shows a staggering fall in Government infrastructure investment, dropping 17.5 per cent over the quarter.
Shadow Treasurer Tim Holding said the state was going backwards under Ted Baillieu.

“This data is further evidence of the paralysis creeping through the Victorian economy,” Mr Holding said.

“Through its inaction, the dithering do-nothing Baillieu Government is letting investment and jobs slip to other states.

“The Baillieu Government has failed to invest in infrastructure and still has no plan to grow jobs.

“An economy going backwards will mean less jobs across the state.
“It will be Victorian families who will be hurt by the Baillieu Government’s failure to grow the economy.”

Featured in this video are Daniel Andrews (Leader of the Opposition, Member for Mulgrave), Adem Somyurek (Member for South Eastern Metropolitan), Anthony Carbines (Member for Ivanhoe), Brian Tee (Member for Eastern Metropolitan), Don Nardella (Member for Melton), Justin Madden (Member for Essendon), Khalil Eideh (Member for Western Metropolitan), Lee Tarlamis (Member for South Eastern Metropolitan), Steve Herbert (Member for Eltham), Tim Holding (Member for Lyndhurst), Wade Noonan (Member for Williamstown) and Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention Jill Hennessy.
To take the Oath visit http://www.whiteribbon.org.au.

The centre provides support for young parents and children during the challenging early years.

To the newly arrived CEO, Athina Georgiou, as well as Kirsty Evans, director of nursing, and all the staff and supporters of the Queen Elizabeth Centre, I say thank you for the work you do.

The centre provides a number of services including a day service, residential service and training in parenting skills development. I cannot imagine anything more valuable than supporting parents and children during those early formative years when so many of a person’s life opportunities are determined.

Street stalls, hawker food, music and other entertainment make for a great Saturday night. Held monthly the market will continue to grow and attract visitors to our area from afar.

I was thrilled to join Mayor, Councillor Roz Blades, Hong Lim MP Member for Clayton, Councillor Youhorn Chea and the Springvale Asian Business Association and other dignitaries.

Owned by the Northgate Minerals Corporation, it is Victoria’s longest continually operating gold mine and employs over 300 people. It was a great opportunity to see a working gold mine in action.

I also visited Frewstal Abattoirs, Carey Covers and AME Systems while in the region.

Last year, Geelong’s preliminary final loss to Collingwood found me washing John Brumby’s car to settle a bet made when water restrictions on car washing were eased.

This year, following Geelong’s dissection of the Pies, I was thrilled to join thousands of ecstatic Cats’ fans to watch Matty Scarlett crowned Mayor of Geelong for a day.

But my car could do with a buff. Please feel free to suggest the most obnoxious Pies supporter you know as a candidate to clean my filthy car!