Two years on from the official end of native timber harvesting in Victoria, Rachel Payne MP used Question Time to press the Minister for Environment on reports that logging is continuing under a different name — through forest management and forest produce licensing. “Native Forest…
Rachel has previously raised her concerns in the chamber about the dissolution of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA), which was responsible for the regulation of Assisted Reproductive Treatment, and education programs.
Rachel spoke about the increase of rough sleeping due to the ongoing cost-of-living and housing crisis, and punitive measures adopted by some councils. She asked the Attorney-General what is being done to protect vulnerable Victorians living on the streets and requested a timeframe for the decriminalisation of begging.
Rachel noted that reports indicate a denial of access to information on voluntary assisted dying, among terminally ill aged care residents. Rachel called on the Minister for Ageing to take steps toward ensuring that information on voluntary assisted dying is freely available to patients, and for greater oversight around respecting patients’ rights to end their own life with dignity at home.
Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections if the government would consider removing the prohibitive cost of prison phone calls and make communication more accessible. As Rachel states, phone calls in prison can be up to ten times more expensive than a standard call.
Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections to call for an end to strip searches in Victorian prisons. She also requested for data collection on strip searches to be expanded and published quarterly.
Rachel referred to a report co-authored by Human Rights Law Centre, Formerly Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne (FIGJAM) and Flat Out.
The report found that strip searches are often ineffective and that less invasive alternatives are available. It also noted the trauma of incarcerated children having to strip search in front of adult guards, and the compounding harms on disproportionately incarcerated First Nations people.
Rachel inquired on the proposed absorption of the Victim of Crime Commissioner position by the Victorian government.
Rachel asked the Minister for Mental Health where the decriminalisation of cannabis fits into the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2025 – 2035.
Rachel asked a question to the Minister for Environment, requesting clarification on waste-to-energy caps and licences.
New South Wales have committed to a law change, removing ‘good character’ evidence as a mitigating factor for offenders during sentencing. Rachel posed a question to the Attorney-General, asking when similar reform will be considered in Victoria.
