Border Mail-Transparency call for child porn
I called on the Victorian Government to publicly release crime data specific to child pornography offences and asked if any changes are being implemented to ensure adequate sentences for offenders.
Constituency Question- Relocation Incentives
My question (on behalf of a constituent) is to the Treasurer. Recently, the Education Minister announced that teachers will be offered incentives of up to $50,000 to re-locate to regional schools – including, I assume, to any school in the Northern Victoria electorate.
Member’s Statement-Caroline Chisholm Society
I am pleased to speak today on the Caroline Chisholm Society as they celebrate 50 years. My advocacy for primary prevention and early intervention programs is very well known in this place. As stated by the Caroline Chisholm Society, if we can get perinatal mental health right, we will improve the wellbeing of every Victorian child during the critical first 1000 days of their life.
Adjournment- Child pornography and exploitation
My matter for the Minister for Child Protection is about the topics of child pornography and exploitation. I raise it not only because of a recent spate of horrifying news stories in these areas, like the conduct of Westpac, the starved four-year-old in Gippsland and a series of child neglect cases in Queensland; I also raise it because of my longstanding concerns about Victorian sentencing practices and data for child pornography crimes.
Question without Notice- Council resourcing for bush fire prevention and management
My question is to the Minister for Local Government, Mr Somyurek. It is about the status of the ‘Councils and emergencies project’ overseen by Local Government Victoria, especially as it relates to bush fire management and prevention activity in regional areas of the State.
Constituency Question- Police resourcing in North East Victoria
My question is to the Police Minister. It is my understanding that 10 new police officers have been recruited to North East Victoria, and have been recruited to work on family violence matters.
Adjournment-‘Lost, not forgotten’ report on child protection
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Child Protection. It follows the recent tabling of the ‘Lost, not forgotten’ report of Victoria’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Liana Buchanan. By any measure, the revelations in the report are chilling. Specifically, it scrutinised the actions (or, more to the point, the lack of actions) of Child Protection and child and family services in relation to the repeated and severe neglect of each of 35 children, in particular.
Constituency Question- North East Rail Line
My constituency question is to the Minister for Public Transport, and it is about the ongoing Third World performance of trains on the north-east rail line.
Child Protection
The 'Lost, not forgotten' report of Victoria's Commissioner for Children and Young People is a chilling read, and reveals continued failures across child protection and family services. The findings of this report are unacceptable, and we need to prioritise sustained funding to address the root cause that leaves vulnerable children exposed. We need to stop failing these children.