Constituency Question – Victim Support
Sadly, I refer the minister to the example of the Chilcott family in Wangaratta. Two people died in their house and four children became orphaned in early 2017 while they were trying to help stop a horrific act of neighbourhood family violence. They face ongoing trauma as they continue to wait for years for any information from the coronial inquest.
Government Business – 2019 Budget
The Centre Against Violence, or CAV as it is commonly known, provides services to women and children who have experienced family and domestic violence, and this new funding will help them and those they support in two specific areas.
Members Statement – Young Achievers & Kyle Michel
The Young Achiever Awards acknowledges the positive achievements of young people throughout Australia. The awards gala Presentation for Victoria was held on 10th May and I am very pleased to congratulate the finalists from the Northern Victoria Region who were recognised for their achievements across a variety of fields but all of which demonstrate vision, commitment, pride and positive role modelling.
Adjournment – REBOOT program
My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Corrections, and is about the Government’s administration of the Reboot youth crime prevention program. I should start by acknowledging the ongoing commitment of the Minister and Government to funding a range of initiatives aimed at minimising the proclivity for criminal behaviour among young Victorians. In Reboot’s case, it is a program targeted specifically at 10 to 14 year-old children who have already engaged in low-level offending and/or who pose a potential for further criminal behaviour. It is collaboratively delivered by a number of different agencies. Anglicare leads the work, and is supported by organisations such as Berry Street, Quantum Support Services and local police officers, as well as coaches who work individually with the young participants.
The need for a public register of sex offenders
The Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence estimates 40,000 Australian children will be sexually assaulted each year. In 2017, there were over 4000 active persons on the Sex Offenders Register in Victoria.
Member Statement – Good Friday Appeal 2019
Each year the Good Friday Appeal provides an opportunity for all Victorians to dig deep in aid of the Royal Children’s Hospital. Last year more than 338,000 children were treated at the hospital’s specialist clinics, they had more than 50,000 admissions and treated more than 86,000 children in emergency. Many regional families rely on The Royal Children’s Hospital, thousands making the often long and repeated journey for treatment. These regional communities always respond strongly to the call to shake the tin on Good Friday.
Constituency Question – Council Vegetation
My constituency question is to the Minister for Local Government, and is about what seem to be an unusual set of Planning Act and planning scheme requirements applying to some Northern Victorian Councils. In short, planning schemes in my electorate often state that exemptions for buildings and works carried out by landowners (including Councils) do not extend to the removal of vegetation.
Adjournment 24 hour police stations
My adjournment matter is directed to the Police Minister, in the other place. The action I seek is an update on progress on the Premier’s commitment last year that a re-elected Labor Government would institute minimum service standards for Victoria Police. Including clarification of statistics on how many (and which) of the State’s police stations are manned for the full 24 hours each day. As well as what changes, if any, will occur to the number of 24-hour stations as a result of the deployment of new officers through the Government’s commitments in their Community Safety Statement.