Ted Baillieu's Column

Salaam Namaste  Shubh Holi

Victorians struggling to get to work or school on overcrowded trains or roads are entitled to ask why the arrogant Brumby Government has been so obsessed with introducing the myki public transport ticketing smartcard instead of getting the transport basics right.

Salaam Namaste

Much has happened over the last month that has reflected badly on Victoria and has done this State’s reputation a great deal of damage.

Salaam Namaste

Many of Victoria’s colleges catering for the thousands of international students, many from the Indian sub-continent, are in difficulty and at risk of closure.  The Brumby Labor Government has been in power for over ten years but has done little in that time despite the obvious problems, with the closure of nine colleges in the last six months throwing the plans of thousands of students into confusion.

Salaam Namaste

Shubh Nav Varsh to everyone in the South Asian community and I would like to wish all Victorians a very Merry Christmas and a rewarding, productive and Happy New Year.

I hope everyone has had a very enjoyable Diwali during October.  I can say that I have had a tremendous time and had the pleasure of attending several Diwali celebrations.  Diwali is now celebrated all round the world and I would say there is no place it is more enthusiastically celebrated than here in Melbourne.