The Leader of the Victorian Opposition Ted Baillieu prefers to give his second preference to “the Greeks… not the Greens” he jokes.
His good humor evaporates when discussing the rationale of placing the Greens last in Coalition preferences in next Saturday’s election. This is at a time when his party could reap benefits by preferencing the Greens. The growth of the Greens as an alternative to Labor in the inner city, added to a swing against Labor in the regions is causing headaches for Premier Brumby.
But principle overrules pragmatism according to Baillieu. “We wanted no mixed messages. Victorians have a choice between a stable committed Coalition or an unstable alliance between Labor and the Greens”.
He points out that in the 2006 State election the Coalition also placed the Greens last in their how to vote cards.
When asked by Neos Kosmos if a Coalition government will honour the State Government’s pledge to fund $2 million towards a Hellenic cultural centre Baillieu is adamant. “That commitment will be honoured without a shadow of doubt. We are keen to see a Hellenic Cultural Centre completed.”
He also emphasises his commitment to see Oakleigh receive the Government’s $1 million from the Cultural Precincts Fund and highlighted the Coalition’s pledge for $100,000 for a Greek festival, as well as $100,000 to the Cypriot Community for a 2014 festival. One area where the Coalition “stands head and shoulders above the State Government” according to Baillieu is the In Every School policy, which underscores a serious commitment to Languages Other Than English (LOTE) and Community Languages.
“We went out there and made the commitment, but we made commitments that the government never has made”, Baillieu says emphatically. “We made a commitment to restore second languages in every school by 2025 from Prep to year 10. “This is not hype we want to have serious language training”
The Coalition’s policy for community language schools currently stands at $32 million and Baillieu believes that the government is playing catch-up. “The Government has said they will match our commitment, or do a little more, but they are not doing it immediately, it’s in the longer term, and we are actually committing a lot more money than the government have actually tried to back-fill with.” The Opposition Leader believes that over 180 “community language schools are doing a terrific job teaching 40 languages”. “We are also adding money for 200 scholarships for undergraduates and experienced teachers to be trained in LOTE,” he adds.
“There is no use advancing the In Every Schools policy unless we have the teachers, so we have to produce more teachers,” Baillieu says. He waxes lyrical about the need to “convert some schools through start-up money for LOTE” and for “securing model agreements” with government schools, so community schools can get better access on a predictable basis.
“Across the board, the policy we outlined a few weeks by us ago stands out strongly. Arguably head and shoulders above what the government were forced to do something about,” says Baillieu.
Wedge politics plays no role in Victoria and Baillieu is a strong supporter of Victoria’s multiculturalism. “The best of Victoria is when aspirational culture is flourishing, that’s when Victoria prospers,” he says. “Because aspirational people, who are prepared to chase opportunity and make the most of it, have made Victoria what it is.” “In my view the Greek community are classic examples of that, and that family based culture is a culture about building the future from a deep tradition.”
Aspirational Greeks are also aware of the need to take care of the first and ageing generation which will need significant support from any government. “We will have a policy on aged care very soon, but there is more room for culturally based age care facilities,” he says. “Many communities do that now, like the Jewish, Italian and the Greek community, and the work of Fronditha and Greek Welfare is excellent and they will be supported.”
As part of the democratic process Ted Baillieu will be facing his second state election next Saturday and no doubting the challenge in facing the incumbent 11 year Labor government is significant.
At the same time, he is confident that on the November 27 he can lead a Coalition Government. “We have a good show” he says, adding “there is a core culture in Victoria which is aspirational and the Greek community understands this culture well.” ” It’s a culture which places us in a long historical timeline and the Hellenic community does that with its traditions.”
Next week Neos Kosmos will be talking to the Premier of Victoria John Brumby
