I welcome Reverend Andrew Smith, who is the new Anglican vicar for the parish of Mount Dandenong, which covers St Michael's in Kalorama and St Matthew's in Olinda.

Congratulations to Ferny Creek resident Sam Jackel, who was presented with the Barnardos Mother of the Year 2014 Victoria award. The Barnardos Mother of the Year is the largest and most recognised of the national awards celebrating motherhood.

The Liberal government forced the closure of the Swinburne University of Technology Lilydale campus as a result of its savage cuts to TAFE. Since June last year the gates have been padlocked and the opportunity of a university or TAFE education has been lost to thousands of young people in the outer east.

The Liberal government is at it again. Members may remember the Baillieu Knight Frank advertisements, selling off a massive number of schools and ripping away educational opportunities for families and communities but making a fortune for everyone involved in the sell-off.

There are people we meet who quietly yet powerfully leave an indelible mark. I want to pay tribute to such a person in my community, Ken Dowling. Ken passed away last month after a long battle with cancer. I have known Ken and his partner, Chris, for many years, and worked with Ken in his capacity of the driver, the champion and ultimately the deliverer of the magnificent redevelopment of Montrose Recreation Reserve.

I grieve for Victorians. I grieve that Victorians are subject to the dysfunctional circus that is this government. Almost three years ago Victorians went to the polls. They elected a government which pledged that accountability and transparency would be its principles, and they elected a Premier who promised 'no spin and no secrecy'.

On 7 September Montrose Football Club, the Demons, achieved its long-held dream of victory in division 2 of the Eastern Football League (EFL) grand final. The victory secures the club its rightful place in the best metropolitan footy competition in Australia: division 1 EFL. This was the team's third grand final appearance in a row. After two heartbreaking losses, the club was determined not to let this opportunity slip.

Well done to the members of the Wandin junior footy club under-14s on their premiership victory. Led by young stars Joel Garner, Corey Whitchell, Matthew Brierley, Jackson Byrne, Luke Smith and Tom Merlino -- my nephew and best on ground -- the club defeated a brave South Belgrave.

I congratulate all the students who recently participated in the School Sport Victoria eastern metropolitan sports region cross-country finals. From the Dandenong Ranges there were about 80 students from 28 schools.

Volleyball is a particularly strong sport in my region. I want to congratulate two local girls, Kelly Lean and Alison Youlten. They have known each other since attending Selby Primary School together, and they remain great friends. Both have made the under-19 Victorian volleyball teams and will play in the national championships in Canberra next month, and both are captaining their respective teams.

I give a very belated congratulations to Mooroolbark Football Club, which beat Montrose Football Club by 1 point. Unfortunately the bragging rights for this season go to the member for Kilsyth

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Wes Fleming and his team on their outstanding and inspirational victory at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London. For the first time in 100 years an Australian team has won the coveted Best in Show award. In his ninth and final year competing at this world-leading event, Wes has triumphed.

I raise a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, and the action I seek is for the minister to support the establishment of a biological control program to combat the weed wandering trad.

It was a pleasure to last week attend the atEAST awards for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships in the outer east. I particularly want to congratulate two Upwey High School students, Jarrod Holt and Emma Brown, for being awarded first-year apprentice of the year and second-year trainee of the year respectively.

I raise an adjournment matter for the Minister for Education, and it is in regard to Tecoma Primary School, which is on the border of my electorate and the seat of Gembrook. It is actually in the seat of Gembrook but many families whose children attend the school are my constituents in Monbulk.

I raise a matter for the Minister for Planning the other place regarding the proposed McDonald’s outlet in Tecoma. The action I am seeking is that the minister intervene to ensure that the number of objections to a proposal are given appropriate weight at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings. In this case and in others members of VCAT have made it clear that the number of objections absolutely does not have weight.

Swinburne University of Technology's Lilydale campus is closing as a direct result of unprecedented funding cuts by the Baillieu government. At a public meeting organised by Yarra Ranges Shire Council on 26 September residents unanimously supported a motion to retain the Swinburne site for community, TAFE and university education.

Yesterday was another milestone in the community's campaign to save the Swinburne University campuses at Lilydale and Prahran. A petition signed by a massive 15 002 people was handed to the Leader of the Opposition. It was compiled by students at the Lilydale and Prahran campuses, the National Tertiary Education Union and the broader community. Congratulations to Aime Watson and her colleagues. This petition adds to the largest petition I have ever circulated in the seat of Monbulk, of some 2800 signatures, and the 25 000-strong petition tabled by the opposition leader last sitting week. This issue has resonated unlike any other in my 10 years as a member; the community outrage is quite extraordinary. This issue is not going away.