Protect kids, not reputations
Rachel asked if Victoria would follow suit with other states by banning good character references in child sexual abuse cases.
Prescribed ≠ Impaired
Rachel questioned the Minister for Police on the criminalisation of medicinal cannabis patients via roadside drug-testing. Unlike with other prescription medications, medicinal cannabis patients risk charges if a positive THC result is produced in a roadside drug test.
Data needed to justify landfill buffer reduction
Rachel asked a question on behalf of a Cranbourne constituent. Rachel’s constituent raised concerns over the proposed redevelopment of the golf course into more than 1,000 new homes, due to its proximity to an active landfill and proposed waste transfer station site.
Vicarious liability: protect legislation from evasive tactics
Rachel questioned the government on vicarious liability reform. Rachel asked the government how vicarious liability laws will be protected from tactics from institutions to avoid accountability for historical child sexual abuse offences.
Strengthen funding for recovery through theatre
Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections to ensure secure funding for theatre programs to engage vulnerable and marginalised community members. Programs including Somebody’s Daughter Theatre and Nobody’s Fool Theatre assist individuals to break cycles of abuse, addiction and disengagement. These programs are in desperate need of funding to continue producing positive outcomes for their participants.
Prevent landfill breaches
Rachel asked a question on behalf of a constituent. Waste company Veolia have recently received a $1 million fine for breaching environmental guidelines at the Hallam Road landfill in Hampton Park. As a Hampton Park resident who has been affected by odour pollution from the landfill site, Rachel’s constituent asked what the Minister for Environment would do to ensure these breaches do not reoccur.
Support Kingston bus campaign
Rachel asked if the government would commit to supporting recommendations from Kingston Council’s ‘Better Buses for Kingston’ report.
Road Safety in Casey
Rachel asked if the government would commit to implementing safety measures at a road accident and near miss hotspot on the South Gippsland Highway.
Misidentification of family violence aggressors
Rachel asked about family violence aggressor misidentification. With reforms underway to address misidentification of the predominant aggressor in family violence intervention order applications, Rachel inquired about data collection to track the prevalence of occurrences and success of proposed reforms.
Bring back drug infringement trial
Rachel asked if the government would consider bringing back a drug infringement trial that was previously proposed in 2022. With the guidance of an expert panel and working group, the drug infringement trial would have seen those caught with small quantities of drugs referred to education and/or treatment rather than incarceration. Not unlike the recommendations from the inquiry into cannabis law reform, this proposal has since been abandoned.