Adjournment Debate- Victoria University Sunbury site

Mr J. BULL (Sunbury) — (12 636) The matter I raise in this adjournment debate is for the attention of the Minister for Creative Industries. The action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate and tour the Jacksons Hill site in Sunbury, currently owned by Victoria University. During this visit I would be thrilled to introduce the minister to members of the Sunbury Art Society who operate out of the Boilerhouse Theatre Company at the Jacksons Hill site. I would love the opportunity to discuss future opportunities and the challenges that currently face the art society.

On Friday night I had the great pleasure of joining Hume City Council mayor Cr Drew Jessop and Cr Leigh Johnson to officially open the 32nd Sunbury Art Show. The show featured artists of all mediums including a range of painters, sculptors and mixed media champions. I spoke to those who attended on the night about the Andrews Labor government’s proud record of funding for creative industries, and I want to commend the minister for his excellent work in this space, with announcements like $28 million for the National Gallery of Victoria, $40 million for the Arts Centre Melbourne and $5 million for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Of course $10.7 million will go to supporting Australia’s largest and longest running film festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival. All of these announcements were certainly warmly welcomed by the Sunbury Art Society.

These investments will continue to build on the objectives of Victoria’s first creative industries strategy, the Creative State, which since it was launched has seen significant activity in art, film, culture, music and talent initiatives. It was very clear to me that there was great passion in the room, lots of energy around local art and lots of discussion around the future provision of facilities.

As honourable members know, the Jacksons Hill site is of great interest to the Sunbury community. The Minister for Planning last year directed the Victorian Planning Authority to complete a master plan for the Jacksons Hill site, something that the former government unfortunately failed to do. The plan is one that will finally provide some leadership and direction on this issue, an issue that has gone on for far too long. I welcome the chance to talk to the minister about the opportunities the site may present in the creative industry space, and once again I ask the minister to join me at his earliest convenience.