Thursday 8th June 2017
Inquiry into the Owners Corporations Amendment (Short-Stay Accommodation) Bill 2016
Findings & Recommendations can be found here.
Inquiry into the Owners Corporations Amendment (Short-Stay Accommodation) Bill 2016
Chair’s Forward can be read here.
Friday 12th May 2017
Mother’s Day
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11 May 2017
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COUNCIL | Members statements | DAVID DAVIS | ||
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) — The matter that I wish to bring to the chamber’s attention today — and I know many members will have strong views on it — is the extraordinary story that came from a Moonee Ponds school in recent days, a school that had sought to scrap Mother’s Day. It was an extraordinary decision, and whilst I am in favour of diversity and recognising the breadth of our community, I do think it is a sad, sad day when a great institution such as Mother’s Day is not recognised by a school. I note that the school has reversed its position, but its original idea was that it would celebrate the UN International Day of Families instead. The principal initially said:
I believe celebrating International Day of Families is a more inclusive way of celebrating the richness, diversity and complexity of living and loving as a family in the modern world …
The day highlights the importance of all caregivers in families, be it parents, grandparents or siblings and the importance of parental education for the welfare of children.
Of course that misses the central point that the purpose of Mother’s Day is to recognise the contribution of mothers. They do make a unique and special contribution, and I for one would not want in any way to diminish that. So I am glad the school has reversed its position, and I am glad that we are in a position where the broad community spoke very clearly and strongly to say, ‘Actually, yes, our mothers are special, and we should recognise them’, and, ‘This is something of great importance and social significance to the strength and foundation of our community’.
Wednesday 8th February 2017
See a copy of my letter to Her Majesty The Queen here.