* 2010 Annual Statement of Government Intentions, page 32.

Taking part in the 15th annual pride march yesterday, Greens MP Sue Pennicuik, reiterated her determination to resist the plan by Attorney General Rob Hulls to continue to allow religious schools to discriminate against job applicants on the grounds of sex, sexuality, marital and/or parental status.

"In September last year, the Attorney General announced his intention to allow these exemptions or exceptions to continue under the Equal opportunity Act", said Ms Pennicuik. "There is no excuse to allow such a blatant breach of human rights to continue under Victorian law".

Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Sue Pennicuik MLC, today welcomed the news that the final four defendants in the long-running Gunns 20 case can finally get on with their lives.

"More than five years has passed since Gunns issued their terrible writ against the 20 defendants", Ms Pennicuik said. "Now, on the eve of going to trial, Gunns Ltd has pulled the pin and opted to pay out the remaining four defendants, rather than go to trial".

The recent closure of the Tote in Collingwood has generated a lot of public debate about Victoria's liquor licensing regime. Contrary to recent reports, the security requirements for venues with live music were not part of the bill that passed state parliament late last year. The requirement for live music venues to provide security staff is not enshrined in any act of parliament – it is something the government started requiring of licensees long ago.

“The Commissioner can remove the link between live music and the requirement for security at any time, and she should do so now,” Victorian Greens spokesperson for the Arts, Ms Pennicuik said today.

Greens MP Sue Pennicuik today condemned the additional reprieve given to jumps racing in Victoria by racing’s ruling body.

“I have to say I am not surprised that Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) has caved in to fierce lobbying from the jumps racing industry and has backtracked on its decision to end jumps racing” said Ms Pennicuik. “I had been expecting it but it is still extremely disappointing.”

After a comprehensive review at the close of the 2009 season, RVL decided to abolish jumps racing at the end of 2010. “That was the right call even though it was to be allowed to continue for another year” Ms Pennicuik said.
 

At last night’s Port Phillip Council meeting, Mayor, Frank O'Connor, unexpectedly announced an in-principle agreement with the St Kilda Triangle developer to terminate the Development Agreement for the St Kilda Triangle.

"Along with many others in the audience who have fought for years to stop this insane development, I gasped when I heard the news, Sue Pennicuik, Greens MP for the Southern Metropolitan region said today.  “It's been such a long fight, it is hard to believe it's over, but people never gave up," she said.

Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik moved an amendment in state parliament today to try to prevent the government from handing over valuable Crown land just north of the Caulfield Racecourse to the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC).

"The MRC has been making huge profits for decades from using the public land at Caulfield Racecourse solely as a racecourse despite it being set aside under the Crown as a public park, public recreation ground and racecourse.

The Victorian Greens support Animals Australia’s current "Don’t buy into cruelty" media campaign which highlights the appalling conditions on intensive pig farms in Australia and congratulate 60 Minutes for airing the issue in its broadcast, "The Hidden Truth" last Sunday night.

"Greens around Australia are working with animal rights lawyers and animal protection groups to put a stop to practices that inflict extreme and unnecessary suffering on farm animals," Greens MP Sue Pennicuik said today.

"On World Farm Animals Day, we should take the opportunity to reflect on the plight of animals that are subjected to needless cruelty in factory farms and slaughter houses all around the world," Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik said today.

Greens MLCs Greg Barber and Sue Pennicuik expressed cautious optimism today in the long battle to save old growth forest at Brown Mountain from the loggers and the woodchippers.