Nick Staikos MP

Families in Bentleigh are a step closer to benefiting from a new high school, with the Andrews Labor Government announcing $500,000 in funding for planning works. Detailed planning work is the first step towards a future school in East Bentleigh, which is one of 12 projects to share in $7 million to plan for the future. The funding is part of the Labor Government’s total $2.5 billion investment in our schools, including over 1,000 existing school projects and 56 new schools. Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino “Across our state, we want to make sure that our schools have the best facilities, our classrooms have the best teachers and that every child is given every chance to succeed.” “We’re building the Education State brick by brick, school by school, and that includes planning a new school in East Bentleigh.” Quotes attributable to Member for Bentleigh, Nick Staikos "People move into our area because of our fantastic local schools, and I’m determined to maintain their stellar quality." "Given the enormous growth in enrolments at McKinnon Secondary College, we should seriously consider a second campus." "We have a rare opportunity here, and this is the critical first step."

The Andrews Labor Government will fully implement a Specialist Family Violence Court model at the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court to better protect victims of family violence. The Victorian Budget 2017/18 will provide $130.3 million to fully implement five Specialist Family Violence Courts at the Ballarat, Frankston, Shepparton, Moorabbin and Heidelberg Magistrates’ Courts. This investment is an important step in implementing one of the key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence. The courts will receive extra resources, including specialist support staff, or security upgrades to keep victim survivors and their families safe. The investment will allow the courts to ensure that related matters, including criminal proceedings, intervention orders, family law and Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal cases, are able to be heard together. The funding will also increase the number of places available for men’s behavioural change programs and increase access to support services, such as interpreters and Koori Support staff to assist Aboriginal victims. The package also incorporates facility upgrades to create safer waiting areas and interview rooms to better accommodate family violence matters. Quotes attributable to Member for Bentleigh, Nick Staikos “This is an important investment for our local community because it will give vulnerable people access to safer courts and more targeted family violence support services.” “This funding will enable the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court to provide better victim support with more efficient proceedings, integrated services and safer facilities.” Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General Martin Pakula “There are more than 300,000 family violence related matters heard in the Magistrates’ Courts every year. We’re implementing the Specialist Family Violence Court model to help support those who need it most.”  “We’re making our courts safer, we’re holding perpetrators to account and we’re working to keep victims of family violence safe.”