Jill Hennessy MP

MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Jill Hennessy MP The Hon Melissa Horne MP State Member for Altona State Member for Williamstown Wednesday 19 May 2021 STATEMENT ON QENOS RECONFIGURATION Today Qenos, the nation’s largest petrochemical company, announced its decision to reconfigure its manufacturing assets in Altona, resulting in the loss of 150 local jobs. Sadly, 150 job losses means 150 families will be affected by this tragic news. Our most sympathetic thoughts are with these families today, but more importantly, so too is the full support of this government. There is no denying that this will be challenging news, which comes amidst a changing industrial landscape here in the west resulting from closure of the Altona refinery. For our community and its rich industrial history, this is devastating. We know that the west has long been home to highly skilled workforces such as this, and it is our absolute priority to see that these advanced skills are fed into manufacturing employment opportunities wherever possible. Rest assured that as your local representatives, we stand ready to assist in whatever way we can. We will work with Qenos, unions, and industry to understand the role that we can play in supporting workers and families as they grapple with this incredibly sad news.

Seabrook Primary will have a brand new toilet block with funding from the Labor Government's Minor Capital Works

16 March 2021 MORE FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR DINING IN HOBSONS BAY Popular outdoor dining areas for restaurants, pubs and cafes in Hobsons Bay will continue through a COVIDSafe autumn thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane today announced Hobsons Bay City Council will receive an additional $350,000 to expand outdoor dining and support local hospitality businesses. Hobsons Bay City Council will use the funding to expand its outdoor dining program and continue to support infrastructure improvements, maintenance, equipment hire and cleaning for outdoor dining areas. The new funding is part of a $5 million extension to the $87.5 million Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package released in September to support Victoria’s world-class hospitality industry. The package provided councils across Victoria with $29.5 million in grants to set up outdoor dining areas and pocket parks, as well as waiving permit fees, streamlining processes and investing in lighting and other infrastructure. Hobsons Bay City Council used this funding to set up its Hobsons Bay Business has Heart Outdoors program which set up shared areas for shops and hospitality businesses, expanded footpath trading and parklets with barriers, planter boxes and artificial grass, tables and chairs. The $5 million additional funding was prioritised to metropolitan councils, regional cities, and peri-urban areas that have faced significant additional costs supporting outdoor dining, due to their size, location, geography or visitation. For more information on local government support initiatives, visit www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au Quote attributable to Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane “Councils are key contributors to local economies and the Victorian Government is determined to give them the support they need to create jobs and support economic recovery in their communities.” Quote attributable to Member for Altona District Jill Hennessy  “Our communities across Hobsons Bay have really embraced outdoor dining this summer and with this additional funding Council can support more businesses to stay open and safe as we head into autumn.”  Quotes attributable to Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne “It’s been great to see the life brought back to Williamstown’s amazing cafes, restaurants and bars this summer and it’s fantastic we will see even more outdoor dining through the autumn.” “With this funding even more Hobsons Bay hospitality businesses can take advantage of outdoor dining opportunities for a COVIDSafe autumn like no other.”  

Local emergency services volunteer organisations recieve State Government funding

The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System's Final Report was handed down in an historic joint parliamentary sitting at the Royal Exhibition Building