Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:25:19) — My question is for the Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, and it continues to relate to innovation spending. There are some wonderful innovations taking place in the hemp space, like the development of bioplastic polymers that are incredibly light and strong but also biodegradable and renewable, unlike petroleum-based plastics that we are using now. Last month I purchased an almost unbreakable bowl that just felt like plastic but was made from ground hemp stalk and water. Can the minister advise if, in the innovation space, Victoria is seizing upon these hemp-based manufacturing opportunities?...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:32:32) — My question is to the Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy and relates to medical technologies, including biotech and pharmaceuticals. I note that you made a statement that Victoria is one of the world's leading locations for the development of these technologies and that it effectively has a head start in this field on the rest of the world. However, Victoria is losing high-growth opportunities to other states, such as Queensland and South Australia, which have aggressive relocation and expansion incentive programs which have been very successful in attracting investment from local and international companies....

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:51:58) — My constituency question is to the Minister for Education. One of my constituents is the father of six-year-old and nine-year-old daughters and is concerned about school cyber safety. His daughters' primary school requires students to create online profiles on an Australian fundraising website that include their name, their school and their photo to participate in the school fundraiser. These profiles can be freely searched by anyone, which is a great safety concern to him. He asks whether the minister is similarly concerned and what he will do to address it....

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:02:24) — Similar to Dr Ratnam, my question is for the Minister for Public Transport. I too was contacted by a constituent concerned about the slow proliferation of fully accessible tram stops in Northern Metropolitan Region. We note that the minister proudly announced 10 additional stops and six on the number 96 tram route, which is in my electorate. That was 10 stops out of 420. So out of a total of 1763, this still leaves 1330 to be upgraded, and that is nowhere near the 90 per cent that has been promised to our electorate. My constituent asks: why is the government...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:48:28) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. I had a constituent come and see me the other week, and he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He is a professional firefighter of 32 years. In speaking to me he showed me some research studies that show the prevalence of Parkinson's disease amongst firefighters is 30 cases per 1000, whereas it is only three to four per 1000 in the general population. As a consequence of these findings the USA jurisdictions of Indiana and Massachusetts have introduced presumptive legislation for firefighters with Parkinson's disease. Sadly due...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:42:48) — My question is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, who is represented by Mr Dalidakis. On 24 April the minister announced a major new study into gambling and health to help prevent and reduce gambling harm in the future. Specifically the minister announced that the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation will provide $1 million to Central Queensland University to undertake research into emerging gambling products, consumer behaviours and gambling harm. We are advised that the university study of 11 000 Victorians will gather data on the prevalence of low, moderate and problem gambling in Victoria, which will be...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:47:23) — My constituent is a resident of Epping and is concerned about the welfare of the kangaroo population that has been landlocked by the surrounding developments. On 25 July 2017, using a five-year-old piece of advice, the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning issued an authorisation to cull these 400 landlocked kangaroos. My constituent's question is: why has the department opted for a cull when there is an alternative available consisting of the relocation of the Epping kangaroos to private sites where at least six landholders have offered to accept the kangaroos, particularly where those...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:00:31) — My question is for the Special Minister of State, representing the Treasurer in this place, and it relates to the fire services property levy. The 2016 annual report of Catholic Church Insurance, in its 'Notes to the financial statements' under 'Other assets', includes a line item 'Deferred fire service levy expenses' in the amount of $3.15 million. Can the minister explain why Catholic Church Insurance were holding assets of this class and whether these deferred levies have since been collected by the state? Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:01:30) — I thank the minister for his frankness there. Budget paper 5 lists...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:45:08) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. This week my constituent Graham Habgood wrote to me regarding the energy rebate that the government announced in November 2017. That announcement was that from 1 January 2018 nearly 300 000 Victorians would receive an energy rebate of up to $720. The government received a lot of good press from the story, with the Premier saying the rebates will make a real difference for families in Victoria and the minister describing it as a major win. Yet Graham, like many of my constituents, is yet to...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:01:37) — My question is for the Minister for Corrections. On Monday the opposition announced its plans for compulsory residential drug and alcohol treatment for young offenders. This plan was reportedly based on the proposal of the Churchill Fellowship fellow and magistrate Jennifer Bowles. As a member of the parliamentary inquiry into youth justice in Victoria and the inquiry into drug law reform and having met with Magistrate Bowles on a number of occasions, I am confident that her plan is well considered and based on world's best practice. Unfortunately I have to say that the breadth and...