VIC:57th Vic parliament opened

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2010
VIC:57th Vic parliament opened

By Catherine Best and Edwina Scott

MELBOURNE, Dec 21 AAP - The 57th Victorian parliament has been officially opened with
all the formal pomp and ceremony that traditionally precedes the grittier business of
state politics.

Hundreds of relatives and coalition supporters gathered at central Melbourne's Spring
Street on Tuesday as a Victoria Police guard of honour, the national anthem and the Skye
Boat song kicked off preceedings.

Victorian Governor Professor David de Kretser received the Royal Salute before proceeding
up a red carpet dressed in a kangaroo skin which had been provided by Aboriginal elders,
who also gave a traditional welcome on the parliament's steps.

The Usher of the Black Rod led Upper House president Bruce Atkinson into the Legislative
Council. Members from both chambers - new and returning - squashed into the velvet benches
to officially receive the new government.

Notable faces in the crowd included former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, police chief
Simon Overland and Plug the Pipe activist Jan Beer.

At 2.30pm (AEDT), members of both chambers were summoned to the Legislative Council
where Prof de Kretser officially opened the parliament.

The governor laid out the coalition government's legislative priorities for its first
term as hundreds of MPs, their families, friends and invited guests, watched on.

"The government's agenda will be based upon the principles of responsibility, fairness
and respect," Prof de Kretser told them.

"The government will carry out its responsibilities with stability, dignity, certainty,
and commonsense.

"This will be a government of inclusion and transparency, a government for all Victorians
and for all families."

The policy agenda was broken down into five key planks: economy and jobs growth; service
improvement, including transport, police and hospitals; community building; water and
environment; and integrity in government.

The coalition's immediate focus will be on improving community safety, with the first
bills introduced to the new parliament expected to include new laws for scrapping suspended
sentences and installing protective services officers on train stations.

The draft bills are likely to be introduced later on Tuesday.

AAP ees/mh/cdh

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