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School cleaners across Cardinia may soon be jobless following the State Government’s decision to slash their contracts next month.

As of 1 July, the Victorian Government’s state school cleaning reforms will see regions across Melbourne divided into eight zones, with a single cleaning contract awarded for all schools in each.

The move has been described as a bid to stop staff being routinely underpaid and exploited by rogue operators.

“The Government has zero tolerance for poor labour practices,” Education Minister James Merlino said.

”Our reform will provide greater assurance that school cleaners receiving their legal wages and entitlements.”

As a result, over 92 cleaning contracts have been torn up and the jobs of hundreds of cleaners now hang in the balance.

Member for Bass Brian Paynter said the move punished the many for the wrongdoings of the few.

“There’s little evidence of it, and if there really are problems with underpaying in the industry then we have the correct systems in place to identify those problems and fix them,” he said.

“Don’t penalise the small local family businesses that are doing the right thing.”

One Pakenham cleaning company owner, who have opted to have their name withheld for fear of compromising future employment prospects, has held the cleaning contract at a local state school for nearly 12 years.

“To lose the school is pretty devastating,” the company’s owner said.

“The government said they are doing it to look after the cleaners but I don’t believe that.”

The company owner said his cleaners haven’t even been spoken to and don’t know whether they will have a job in a week.

“All the cleaners are locals and they are fantastic people. What is happening to us is so unfair; we’ve done everything right for all these years and lost out through no fault of our own.

“My cleaners don’t know where to go now. One lives two blocks from the school and doesn’t drive, and might be posted to a school 45 minutes away. How is that going to work for her?

“We went to a rally and met some people who are going to lose their whole business because of this. It’s been so badly handled.”

A local principal, who asked not to be named, said they also saw no need for the reforms.

The principal said the concerns raised by the government “genuinely aren’t an issue here”.

“The company we use does a number of smaller schools. When we put out the tender we avoided the bigger companies because we wanted that personalised service,” they said.

“Now we’re losing control of the decision-making.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) have called for better enforcement of existing workplace rules, and “not a kneejerk response that puts people out of businesses.”

“This appears to be contradictory to Government procurement principals that allow small and medium business to compete in a competitive space with ‘big business,’” Chief Executive of VCCI Mark Stone AM said.

Shadow Minister for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Neale Burgess said wiping out local school cleaning businesses was “just further proof that Daniel Andrews is nothing more than a bully.”

“Labor’s unfair changes to school cleaning contracts have wiped out over 700 small, mum and dad family businesses with the stroke of a pen. They have installed six major cleaning companies, one of which, ISS Facility Services, was fined $132,000 for underpaying their workers,” he said.

“This unionised takeover of our school cleaners is a disgrace and the community should be outraged.”

School cleaners across Cardinia may soon be jobless following the State Government’s decision to slash their contracts next month. As of 1 July, the Victorian Government’s state school cleaning reforms will see regions across Melbourne divided into eight zones, with a single cleaning contract awarded for all schools in each. The move has been described as a bid to stop staff being routinely underpaid and exploited by rogue operators. “The Government has zero tolerance for poor labour practices,” Education Minister James Merlino said. ”Our reform will provide greater assurance that school cleaners receiving their legal wages and entitlements.” As a result, over 92 cleaning contracts have been torn up and the jobs of hundreds of cleaners now hang in the balance. Member for Bass Brian Paynter said the move punished the many for the wrongdoings of the few. “There’s little evidence of it, and if there really are problems with underpaying in the industry then we have the correct systems in place to identify those problems and fix them,” he said. “Don’t penalise the small local family businesses that are doing the right thing.” One Pakenham cleaning company owner, who have opted to have their name withheld for fear of compromising future employment prospects, has held the cleaning contract at a local state school for nearly 12 years. “To lose the school is pretty devastating,” the company’s owner said. “The government said they are doing it to look after the cleaners but I don’t believe that.” The company owner said his cleaners haven’t even been spoken to and don’t know whether they will have a job in a week. “All the cleaners are locals and they are fantastic people. What is happening to us is so unfair; we’ve done everything right for all these years and lost out through no fault of our own. “My cleaners don’t know where to go now. One lives two blocks from the school and doesn’t drive, and might be posted to a school 45 minutes away. How is that going to work for her? “We went to a rally and met some people who are going to lose their whole business because of this. It’s been so badly handled.” A local principal, who asked not to be named, said they also saw no need for the reforms. The principal said the concerns raised by the government “genuinely aren’t an issue here”. “The company we use does a number of smaller schools. When we put out the tender we avoided the bigger companies because we wanted that personalised service,” they said. “Now we’re losing control of the decision-making.” Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) have called for better enforcement of existing workplace rules, and “not a kneejerk response that puts people out of businesses.” “This appears to be contradictory to Government procurement principals that allow small and medium business to compete in a competitive space with ‘big business,’” Chief Executive of VCCI Mark Stone AM said. Shadow Minister for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Neale Burgess said wiping out local school cleaning businesses was “just further proof that Daniel Andrews is nothing more than a bully.” “Labor’s unfair changes to school cleaning contracts have wiped out over 700 small, mum and dad family businesses with the stroke of a pen. They have installed six major cleaning companies, one of which, ISS Facility Services, was fined $132,000 for underpaying their workers,” he said. “This unionised takeover of our school cleaners is a disgrace and the community should be outraged.”

 A planning oversight is allowing “overzealous” council officers to slug ratepayers with fines for parking in their own driveways.

Townhouses on Manna Row, Officer have been allocated just 1.5 metres of driveway space due to a bizarrely-placed footpath cutting through the front of their properties.

The issue has reportedly been exacerbated in recent weeks, with inspectors “targeting” the precinct.

When the Gazette visited Manna Row, six ratepayers said they had been fined for parking in “their own” driveways in the past three months alone.

They are also prohibited from parking four wheels on the adjacent nature strip – forcing them to leave their vehicles on a thin road beside a sudden turn, prone to hoon drivers.

Deborah Hughes has vowed to contest her $100 infringement, which she labelled “unjust” and “ludicrous”.

“This footpath has been placed in its location for no other reason than to revenue raise when shire funds are low,” she said.

“There is no legal, safe parking available for guests of residents living within Manna Row.

“The footpath is placed over the middle of the driveway and it’s not used by anybody except residents and guests.”

Approximately 20 properties on the Officer backstreet have the same design, leaving them susceptible to fines.

Jim Harper, who has lived on Manna Row for five years, said he has received three fines in the past six months.

Before then, he claims he never had an issue.

“For some reason the council has realised that they’ve got a goldmine here and they’ve come along fining everybody,” he said.

“Both of my neighbours have been fined, my son has been fined and I’ve been fined – they’re getting everybody out here.

“The real issue is that somebody’s car is going to be cleaned up while it sits on the road, and then who will be responsible.”

Cardinia Shire has reportedly informed the residents that parking across the footpath is an impediment for the local letter carrier, who has to navigate around the vehicles onto the road.

Residents hit with the fines are encouraged to use council’s dispute process if they believe the infringement was unfairly issued.

 

 A planning oversight is allowing “overzealous” council officers to slug ratepayers with fines for parking in their own driveways. Townhouses on Manna Row, Officer have been allocated just 1.5 metres of driveway space due to a bizarrely-placed footpath cutting through the front of their properties. The issue has reportedly been exacerbated in recent weeks, with inspectors “targeting” the precinct. When the Gazette visited Manna Row, six ratepayers said they had been fined for parking in “their own” driveways in the past three months alone. They are also prohibited from parking four wheels on the adjacent nature strip – forcing them to leave their vehicles on a thin road beside a sudden turn, prone to hoon drivers. Deborah Hughes has vowed to contest her $100 infringement, which she labelled “unjust” and “ludicrous”. “This footpath has been placed in its location for no other reason than to revenue raise when shire funds are low,” she said. “There is no legal, safe parking available for guests of residents living within Manna Row. “The footpath is placed over the middle of the driveway and it’s not used by anybody except residents and guests.” Approximately 20 properties on the Officer backstreet have the same design, leaving them susceptible to fines. Jim Harper, who has lived on Manna Row for five years, said he has received three fines in the past six months. Before then, he claims he never had an issue. “For some reason the council has realised that they’ve got a goldmine here and they’ve come along fining everybody,” he said. “Both of my neighbours have been fined, my son has been fined and I’ve been fined – they’re getting everybody out here. “The real issue is that somebody’s car is going to be cleaned up while it sits on the road, and then who will be responsible.” Cardinia Shire has reportedly informed the residents that parking across the footpath is an impediment for the local letter carrier, who has to navigate around the vehicles onto the road. Residents hit with the fines are encouraged to use council’s dispute process if they believe the infringement was unfairly issued.  

A 21-year-old Narre Warren man who drove on the wrong side of Churchill Park Road, Lysterfield with several drugs in his system and killed an oncoming driver has been jailed.

Jacob Braithwaite-Deegan was on his way to work when his Hilux crossed 1.5 metres over the centre line on the 70 km/h road and struck the front right side of the victim’s car, Victorian County Court judge Julie Condon said on 18 June.

There was no evidence of him speeding; neither driver had braked ahead of the crash shortly after 8.30am on 20 February 2017.

The other driver – a husband and father of two boys – died at the scene.

“By your actions you’ve caused loss of life,” Judge Condon told the accused.

“All too often courts are faced with the tragic consequences of young men such as yourself who fail to understand the potentially fatal ramifications of driving dangerously.”

In sentencing, Judge Condon said she had to deter other young men doing the same.

The wife was unable to console herself given the great hole left in her and her sons’ lives by the loss of her husband – who was her “best friend” and “rock”, Judge Condon said.

In her victim impact statement, she said part of her died on the day of the crash.

Braithwaite-Deegan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and seven counts of drug trafficking, after police seized a variety of drugs as well as $39,588.50 from his car and home.

He was clearly trafficking drugs for profit, not just to support his habit, Judge Condon said.

Braithwaite-Deegan was heard to comment after the crash that he’d had a “big weekend” and was “really tired”, the court heard.

Another witness heard him say “I think I started dozing off”.

There was evidence of a “cocktail of drugs” in Braithwaite-Deegan’s blood samples – including MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and metabolites of cocaine.

There was not sufficient proof that the drugs were at a level that directly influenced his driving. However it was relevant to Braithwaite-Deegan’s moral culpability.

Another witness said she’d had to take evasive action to avoid Braithwaite-Deegan’s erratic driving shortly beforehand.

The accused appeared to be looking down, she told police.

Braithwaite-Deegan had no explanation for the crash. He told police he was “feeling just normal”, and honestly thought the other driver may have crashed into him, Judge Condon said.

The day after the crash, he was arrested and had since been in remand in adult prison.

There he demonstrated remorse, leadership qualities as a mentor and role-model, and a commitment to his drug rehabilitation.

He showed maturity in pleading guilty and not applying for bail but accepting his fate in custody, Judge Condon noted.

Braithwaite-Deegan, who had no prior convictions, was jailed for up to four-and-a-half years, with a 34 month non-parole period.

His term included 483 days in pre-sentence detention.

 

A 21-year-old Narre Warren man who drove on the wrong side of Churchill Park Road, Lysterfield with several drugs in his system and killed an oncoming driver has been jailed. Jacob Braithwaite-Deegan was on his way to work when his Hilux crossed 1.5 metres over the centre line on the 70 km/h road and struck the front right side of the victim’s car, Victorian County Court judge Julie Condon said on 18 June. There was no evidence of him speeding; neither driver had braked ahead of the crash shortly after 8.30am on 20 February 2017. The other driver – a husband and father of two boys – died at the scene. “By your actions you’ve caused loss of life,” Judge Condon told the accused. “All too often courts are faced with the tragic consequences of young men such as yourself who fail to understand the potentially fatal ramifications of driving dangerously.” In sentencing, Judge Condon said she had to deter other young men doing the same. The wife was unable to console herself given the great hole left in her and her sons’ lives by the loss of her husband – who was her “best friend” and “rock”, Judge Condon said. In her victim impact statement, she said part of her died on the day of the crash. Braithwaite-Deegan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and seven counts of drug trafficking, after police seized a variety of drugs as well as $39,588.50 from his car and home. He was clearly trafficking drugs for profit, not just to support his habit, Judge Condon said. Braithwaite-Deegan was heard to comment after the crash that he’d had a “big weekend” and was “really tired”, the court heard. Another witness heard him say “I think I started dozing off”. There was evidence of a “cocktail of drugs” in Braithwaite-Deegan’s blood samples – including MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and metabolites of cocaine. There was not sufficient proof that the drugs were at a level that directly influenced his driving. However it was relevant to Braithwaite-Deegan’s moral culpability. Another witness said she’d had to take evasive action to avoid Braithwaite-Deegan’s erratic driving shortly beforehand. The accused appeared to be looking down, she told police. Braithwaite-Deegan had no explanation for the crash. He told police he was “feeling just normal”, and honestly thought the other driver may have crashed into him, Judge Condon said. The day after the crash, he was arrested and had since been in remand in adult prison. There he demonstrated remorse, leadership qualities as a mentor and role-model, and a commitment to his drug rehabilitation. He showed maturity in pleading guilty and not applying for bail but accepting his fate in custody, Judge Condon noted. Braithwaite-Deegan, who had no prior convictions, was jailed for up to four-and-a-half years, with a 34 month non-parole period. His term included 483 days in pre-sentence detention.