Members Statement- International Women’s Day 2020
This Sunday 8th March marks a day to pay homage to women as we acknowledge International Women’s day. A dedicated day when women have the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of other women whom they respect; are influenced by; have friendships with; or to simply reflect on their own achievements throughout the year.
Constituency question- Avenel Road and Hume Fwy intersection
My question to the Minister for Roads, regarding the increasingly dangerous Avenel Road and Hume Fwy intersection.
Adjournment- Sex Offender
My matter is for the Attorney- General, and it is about a serious sex offender, Christopher William Empey. Empey is on the sex offenders register, having spent 12 years in prison for a rape in 2002 so extreme and violent that it included him stomping on the victim’s head and left her so grievously injured that she even had to learn how to walk and write again.
Constituency Question- Shepparton Court holding cells
My question is to the Attorney-General. It is about a serious sex offender’s failure (because of a lack of any available holding cells) to appear in the Shepparton County Court on 31 January for sentencing over his sexual assaults of three girls under the age of 10.
Adjournment- Tendency Evidence: child abuse
My matter is for the Attorney General. It follows a 26th February article in The Australian newspaper, which reported that an agreement has recently been struck between all Federal, State and Territory Attorneys General to allow juries in child abuse trials to hear evidence of an accused’s prior convictions and interest in children. This evidence has previously only been disclosed in exceptional circumstances – which has meant that the histories of most child abuse perpetrators have remained hidden.
Adjournment- Aroub Arop sentencing
My matter, for the Attorney General, yet again relates to the non-custodial sentencing of those who assault emergency services workers. Among all the instances of non-custodial sentences for these attacks, it’s doubtful there are many clearer examples of the problem than the Aroub Arop case from only two weeks ago.
Constituency Question- Murray Basin Rail
I ask the Minister if she can clarify whether the Government is now only contemplating delivering a significantly modified and abbreviated model rather than the full, original version of the project – given there are now widespread and growing concerns to this effect?
QWON- North East Rail Line
On 18 February, I addressed a constituency question to Minister Horne specifically about the urgent need for action to fix the atrocious rail line and services between Wodonga and Melbourne. That was just two days before the tragic Wallan derailment.
