Who’s cashing in as climate funding dries up?
Rachel asked the government about waste-to-energy caps and the subsequent impact on Victoria’s Sustainability Fund.
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.
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.
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.
Cannabis decriminalisation frees up police resources
Rachel called on the Minister for Police to decriminalise cannabis. Violent crimes have taken precedence in allocation of police resources. However, cannabis arrests are still occurring, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people statistically overrepresented. Decriminalisation would ensure that police resources can be prioritised where they are most needed.
Mandatory genetic testing for unexplained child deaths
Rachel asked the government to implement routine genetic testing, in cases where a deceased person is under 20 years old and cause of death is unclear. The ‘Coroners Project’ campaign was established by Danielle Green and her husband Leon, who tragically lost their two young children to a rare genetic mutation.
Needle and syringe programs save lives
Rachel spoke on the importance of needle and syringe programs in reducing harms associated with intravenous drug use. She noted politicised misconceptions that these programs facilitate drug addiction, asking the Minister what steps are being taken to address such misinformation.
Police responses to family and domestic violence
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.
Working with children check system needs national reform
In February, Rachel called on the Premier for greater safeguards to be implemented through the working with children check system, on a national level. This call was not responded to. Meanwhile, reports of serial child predators within the childcare system have horrified the nation.
Rachel again asked for a cohesive, nationally harmonised approach to ensure that working with children checks are serving their intended purpose.