Preliminary evidence suggests that medicinal cannabis could be a beneficial treatment option for opioid use disorder. Rachel asked the Minister for Health if the government would support greater investment into medicinal cannabis research, including its potential as a treatment for opioid use disorder.
Rachel questioned the government on the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025.
She inquired about the consultation process regarding leadership teams of affected organisations and individuals with lived experience of mental illness and psychological distress.
Rachel also asked how the changes of the bill royal commission’s commitment to lived experience leadership, rights-based practice and independent oversight.
Rachel made a contribution to the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025.
Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections to call for an end to strip searches in Victorian prisons. She also requested for data collection on strip searches to be expanded and published quarterly.
Rachel referred to a report co-authored by Human Rights Law Centre, Formerly Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne (FIGJAM) and Flat Out.
The report found that strip searches are often ineffective and that less invasive alternatives are available. It also noted the trauma of incarcerated children having to strip search in front of adult guards, and the compounding harms on disproportionately incarcerated First Nations people.
Rachel spoke on the Crimes Amendment Bill 2026, expressing why the bill will not be supported by Legalise Cannabis Victoria.
The amendment will make it easier for police to commence adult prosecutions for serious vilification offences, as police would no longer need consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This raises serious concerns around protest, as the government have been unable to answer as to which behaviours they are seeking to prosecute more readily.
On behalf of a constituent in her electorate, Rachel called for sustainable funding for valuable local community service, Knox Library (Ngarrgoo).
On the back of harrowing reports of serious surgical misconduct at Melbourne Private Hospital, Rachel noted a disparity of care within the health system, among women and people who menstruate, Rachel asked the Minister what is being done to ensure that mandatory reporting obligations are taken seriously.
Rachel intended to speak in support of a bill to expand the powers of the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).
Rachel intended to speak in support of a motion to require a committee inquiry into funding for the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), the Ombudsman and Integrity Oversight Victoria.
Rachel asked if the government would redirect resources from criminalisation of small amounts of cannabis to addressing serious violent crime.
