I have once again called on the Attorney General to close the loophole for minimum sentencing for assaults on emergency workers. The mandatory sentence applied to a case in January was encouraging but the legislation still needs to be strengthened to ensure greater rights for victims and so that a meaningful deterrent is delivered to offenders.
Since my previous question in Parliament last year, I again asked the Minister for Public Transport, to clarify for the long suffering passengers on the North East Rail Line, whether urgent and extensive improvements will be made, and if so, when?
Following the disastrous recent bushfires across the state, I asked the Minister to clarify what, if any, provisions are in place to ensure that CFA Volunteers are heard and understood by the government so that their views are genuinely reflected in policies and arrangements, including in relation to vehicle deployment, that govern their actions and operations.
I asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services if she could indicate what information the government possesses about the actual ignition sources of each of the recent bushfires. I asked the Minister if she could state how many separate bushfires began in Northern Victoria Region and in what cases has the ignition source been identified. I asked for further clarification with regards to what percentage of these fires where naturally ignited or ignited by human cause.
After months of lobbying I am very pleased that the government has now established a Prisoner Compensation Quarantine Fund Register, making it easier for victims to access information about about payments made to prisoners.
CFA volunteer brigades continue to be forced to individually fundraise for their own equipment, including essential operational equipment.
For my constituents and indeed others in regional areas, internet access is often unreliable at the best of times. Let alone in emergency situations, where power and phone coverage is often severely hampered. Being able to successfully click through to the URL is accordingly, in some cases, simply impossible. I therefore ask: why is far more comprehensive, meaningful information not included, in the first instance, in the text message?
It is with great sadness that I stand here today to pay respect to those who lost their lives either whilst performing their duties to save others’ lives and properties or whilst protecting their own homes here in Victoria during what has been a shocking fire season throughout our state. Bushfires have a devastating effect on our land, communities and animals, with the ultimate devastation being the loss of lives.
