Bus shelter for Chelsea
On behalf of a constituent, Rachel raised the need for a new bus shelter in Chelsea, to provide weather protection for local commuters.
‘No excuse’ to ignore preventable gendered violence
Rachel presented a member’s statement, reflecting on the 16 days of activism against family and intimate partner violence. She spoke about the tragic murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children by their respective partner and father, with police ignoring multiple reports of violence and abuse until it was too late. Rachel calls on the government to direct their ‘tough on crime’ approach to address the systemic failures that lead to these tragic but preventable consequences.
Protect kids, not reputations
Rachel asked if Victoria would follow suit with other states by banning good character references in child sexual abuse cases.
A Sinking Feeling: Why on Earth are we Building Homes on Floodplains?
Residents in South-East Melbourne face skyrocketing home insurance premiums, high flood- related excesses and are struggling to get insured as new housing developments are proposed on historical floodplains.
It should not be a crime to ask for help
Rachel second read her private member’s bill, the Summary Offences Amendment (Begging) Bill 2025. If passed, this bill would decriminalise begging in Victoria. Rachel presented the bill’s compatibility with the Human Rights Charter, before speaking to the intersecting factors which cause people to beg for survival. Rachel urges the government to shift from a criminal justice response to begging, to a public health response.
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.
Protect workers without amplifying inequality
Rachel made a contribution to the Crimes Amendment (Retail, Fast Food, Hospitality and Transport Worker Harm) Bill 2025. She noted that a rise in retail theft is largely driven by cost-of-living increases. She asserted that while worker safety is essential, new laws must be fair and effective and not exacerbate inequality. As such, a two-year statutory review is essential to determine effectiveness and address any unintended consequences.
Waste not, want not: 2,000 Victorian Nurses ready to work with nowhere to go
Next year, more than 2,000 Victorian graduate nurses will be left without jobs.
Nurses are essential workers. During the Covid 19 pandemic, they got us through. We needed more and we got them. Record numbers of Victorians enrolled in nursing, but incredibly, many now can’t find jobs. An emergency funding package for graduate nurses is urgently needed, and we join the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) in calling on the Allan Labor Government to deliver it.
More Please: When Survival Becomes a Crime
Begging is a criminal offence in Victoria. It is punishable by up to twelve months in prison. In the most progressive state, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, you can go to prison for being poor.
Wellsprings for Women: Story is Connection
Rachel spoke about her visit to Wellsprings for Women to watch a performance. Wellsprings for Women is a non-profit organisation in Dandenong, which supports women from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. Their performance entitled ‘Story is Connection’ highlights issues that have affected the lives of these women, exploring their stories of overcoming barriers with strength, resilience and compassion.