Casey residents can breathe a collective sigh of relief – VCAT has upheld a decision to deny a contentious waste-transfer station in Hampton Park. Residents didn’t want it, the EPA rejected it and local Member Rachel Payne stood with residents to fight against it. Veolia fought all the way to VCAT, but they lost!
Rachel asked the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence if they will extend the Alexis family violence response model program to the City of Casey.
Rachel asked the government if they would ensure funding for the long-overdue Cranbourne train line extension.
Rachel spoke on a family violence motion which would create a standalone offence for coercive control. She acknowledged the deeply disturbing prevalence of family and intimate partner violence, and its well-established connection with coercive control. Rachel spoke to the evidence arising from stakeholder consultation and law changes in New South Wales, noting that effectiveness of a standalone offence is contentious and could be underutilised or otherwise cause harmful, unintended consequences.
Rachel asked if the government would commit to implementing safety measures at a road accident and near miss hotspot on the South Gippsland Highway.
This year, over 7000 family and domestic violence incidents have been reported in Casey to date. Rachel asks for assurance that the Safe at Home initiative can be rolled out in areas of highest need – including the City of Casey – as soon as successfully proven.
South-eastern MP Rachel Payne has welcomed $80 million in the state budget to support victim-survivors of family violence, including specialised case management.
On Thursday the 29th of August, Rachel Payne MP asked a constituency question to the Minister for Mental Health, Minister Stitt, regarding a lack of affordable mental health services in Cranbourne.
