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Parliament at Monash Gippsland

22 October 2008

Victorian Parliament under way at the Gippsland campus of Monash University.

The Gippsland campus of Monash University hosted Victoria's state political leaders earlier this month.

The campus hosted the historic sitting of the Lower House of the Parliament of Victoria on Wednesday 15 October, only the third sitting outside Melbourne in the history of the Parliament.

A newly built auditorium was set up to create many features of the Parliament, including a despatch box, members' seating and a visitors' gallery. Parliament sat for most of the day and included a lively question time.

Standing orders were temporarily suspended and Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins granted leave to address the Parliament.

Professor Larkins welcomed the gathering of Liberal, National and Labor members of the Legislative Assembly to the University and told them the Gippsland campus was a proud economic and intellectual contributor to the region.

"Since becoming part of Monash University in 1992, research and research training have become a major priority for this campus," Professor Larkins said.

"The regional location allows the research to be conducted in partnership with local business and industry bringing in expertise from other Monash campuses where this is appropriate."

Professor Helen Bartlett, recently appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor at the campus, said the occasion enabled Monash University to showcase its highly regarded regional campus and provided the Gippsland community with an opportunity to position itself with the State's political leaders.

"It is significant that 20 Members of the Victorian Parliament are Monash alumni, including three ministers and two shadow ministers," Professor Bartlett said.

"The sitting was particularly timely in this year when the campus is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

"The sitting of the Victorian Parliament in Churchill gave the campus an opportunity to highlight the importance of building partnerships with government, industry and the community".

Professor Bartlett thanked staff and students for their work on and leading up to the day.

"The coordination of the event ran extremely smoothly with assistance from across the University and the wider Gippsland community, resulting in a comprehensive display of Gippsland produce and icons," Professor Bartlett said.

She said that during the community lunch, many Gippsland people spoke to politicians from outside the area about matters concerning the local community and feedback from the Victorian Parliament was that the event gave politicians a greater understanding of the importance of university education in the region and the issues that affect the broader Gippsland community.