2016-10-20
Ms DUNN (Eastern Metropolitan) — My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Labor is supposed to be the party of a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Given the evident need for organisations other than VicForests to conduct surveys for protected species and the countless hours put into this endeavour, will the minister commit to paying for the tireless work done by the citizen scientists of the flora and fauna surveyors alliance of Victoria, Wildlife of the Central Highlands, the Goongerah Environment Centre and other organisations that competently survey for protected species in our state forests? An invoice for survey work completed to date has been submitted by organisations. Will the minister give a commitment to the house that fair payment will be made for fair work?
Ms PULFORD (Minister for Agriculture) — I thank Ms Dunn for her excellent question and the terrific invoice that has been presented to the Victorian government for more than $2 million for volunteer effort rendered. I can confirm for Ms Dunn that the Labor Party is absolutely the party for a fair day's work and a fair day's pay, and we are very proud of our Labor traditions and our union traditions.
Much as I would like to talk about these questions of equal pay and pay equity and any number of extensions on that theme, what I would indicate also is that the government is greatly committed to supporting the work of volunteers, and it recognises the great work that volunteers do in our community in all sorts of different ways. I commend them for their dedication and service to the Victorian community in any number of different ways. On the specifics of Ms Dunn's stunt today, well, nicely played.
Supplementary Question
Ms DUNN (Eastern Metropolitan) — Thank you, Minister. I can only assume by supporting volunteers that that invoice for $2.3 million may well be paid for their fair day's work. However, my supplementary question is that the model used for funding VicForests for protected species surveys has been shown to be flawed. It is a misuse of the public purse. To regain the confidence of the people of Victoria, will the minister act and divert moneys for surveying for protected species in state forests to organisations other than VicForests?
Ms PULFORD (Minister for Agriculture) — I thank Ms Dunn, and I am sure the volunteers on whose behalf she makes this claim will appreciate her efforts greatly. I can certainly assure Ms Dunn that all VicForests employees are paid in accordance with appropriate legal standards and requirements, and I can also assure Ms Dunn that the staff at VicForests is a group of people in whom I have great confidence in relation to their ability to undertake their responsibilities professionally and diligently.