Colleen Hartland's Blog

On Australia Day I attended two citizenship ceremonies at Sunshine and Moonee Valley. Citizenship ceremonies for me are one of the best things I get to do as a Member of Parliament because I have the opportunity to welcome people who have made the huge decision to leave their country of birth to make Australia home.

With Victoria’s population continuing to grow at an alarming rate, earlier this year the Brumby Government announced the extension of the urban growth boundaries.  Areas under consideration for expansion include: Melbourne’s west around Caro

It's Monday morning, the week before the big container deposit debate (I hope), so it's all a bit serious in the office.

But not serious enough to prevent us coming up with the idea of a photo competition on the 10c deposit facebook site whereby people send pictures of littered bottles, cans and cartons "in the wild", and the winner gets a beanbag.  As always, we come up with these ideas, look at each other and say "can MPs do that?!". 

I thought I'd crank up the blog again, because there's so much going on behind the scenes.

On Friday I went to Hobart for the EPHC meeting  - this is where all the state and federal environment ministers get together to make decisions as a group. I wasn't invited, but I had heard that our own Victorian Environment Minister had decided not to attend, so I knew it was the best chance ever for a good environmental outcome.

Colleen Hartland, Sue Pennicuik and Greg Barber want everyone affected by the bushfires to know their hearts go out to them at this terrible time and they have nothing but admiration for all those who are working and volunteering in such extreme and very difficult circumstances. 

I spoke at a rally yesterday against the bombing and blockade of Gaza.  Thousands of people attended, and there was a real feeling of sadness, but also a feeling that the community was not going to be silenced.

I spoke at a rally yesterday against the bombing and blockade of Gaza.  Thousands of people attended, and there was a real feeling of sadness, but also a feeling that the community was not going to be silenced.

Last night I attended a community meeting organised by No Freeway 4 West Footscray, the Brimbank Transport Action Group and others.

I went to the announcement of the government transport plan this morning, thinking we would finally get the detailed information that our community needs.  There was such a build-up, we thought this would be the day.

But I was bitterly disappointed.  Yes, there will be a road tunnel, but we still don't know basics like where it will go, how many houses it will affect.

Parliament is over for the year, and I'm pretty relieved.  It's been quite a year.  I might blog about that later.

Last night I was appointed a counter for the vote on the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Bill, which will allow single women and lesbians to access IVF treatment.