Today is National Survivor’s Day and while we commend the Victorian Government’s recent announcement that they will introduce retrospective vicarious liability laws by the end of the year, we are concerned that loopholes will be left in place for other “volunteer” employees.
Rachel introduced the Summary Offences Amendment (Begging) Bill 2025. If passed, this bill would bring Victoria in line with NSW, WA and ACT in decriminalising begging. Currently in Victoria, begging is a criminal offence, carrying a maximum 12-month prison sentence, and hefty fines.
Rachel questioned Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes on the cost of continued cannabis criminalisation. Rachel noted that enforcing criminalisation costs Australia $4.66 million per day, while failing to legalise facilitates a booming black-market trade.
Rachel spoke on the Crimes Amendment (Performance Crime) Bill 2025. Rachel acknowledged community fears around an increase in crime, with criminals ‘posting and boasting’ about their offences. However, she expressed that this amendment creates a “slippery slope” that could lead to unintended consequences. Rachel questioned the Minister on the impacts of this bill on drug offences, youth incarceration and homophobic attacks.
Rachel urged on the Attorney-General to implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). To honour the OPCAT agreement, state and territory governments must create a National Preventative Mechanism (NPM) to conduct inspections at places of detention. With more bail amendments and evidence indicating the need for greater oversight in Victoria’s prison system, there is a clear necessity to implement OPCAT for the protection of incarcerated individuals.
Rachel questioned the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence about police responses to family and domestic violence incidents. Highlighting issues of police misconduct, police-perpetrated family violence, and self-investigation, Rachel asked if the Minister will push for increased funding for community-led responses and an end to police self-investigation.
Rachel asked the Attorney-General a question on victim-survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, whose cases will be decided before vicarious liability laws are reformed. In lieu of passing Rachel’s private member’s bill to effect change to vicarious liability laws, the Victorian government have committed to amending the Wrongs Act 1958. These changes would allow institutions to be held liable for crimes of child sexual abuse perpetrated by “non-employees”. However, victim-survivors who are already engaged in the judicial process could have their cases decided before these changes are passed. Rachel sought clarity on how the changes will affect these individuals.
Rachel asked a constituency question about proposed changes to the Wrongs Act 1958. Earlier this year, Rachel submitted a private member’s bill to the Victorian Legislative Council, which would hold institutions vicariously liable for child abuse committed by ‘non-employees’.
While this bill did not pass, the Government have agreed to reform the law so that victim-survivors can access justice. After concerns from community members that the reform will be limited to crimes of abuse perpetrated within the church, Rachel sought confirmation that the law reform will be inclusive of all relevant settings.
Rachel asked the Attorney-General to make steps toward ending the criminalisation of begging in Victoria, expressing the importance of acknowledging the intersectional factors which lead individuals to beg. Arresting and fining those who are experiencing hardship only serves to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and punish the community’s most vulnerable.
Rachel asked the government for assurance that proposed protest law changes will not infringe on Victorians’ rights to peacefully protest.
