Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:18): My constituency question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio.

Matthew Jenkins from Brunswick wrote to me outlining the trouble he and his wife have had accessing the solar panel rebate scheme. Matthew and his wife own an apartment in Manallack Street in Brunswick. There are eight apartments in the building, and it is set up on an owners corporation model.

Matthew believes that he is able to persuade the other owners to agree to...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:23): My question is for the Minister for Small Business.

The government has a COVID-19 Business Support Fund for those operations impacted by stage 3 and 4 restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire area. These are $10 000 grants that are available until 14 September.

I know many businesses in my area have welcomed this support during this difficult time, but I think you will all agree that businesses who have already received the support from this fund will in no...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan)

My constituency question is for the health minister, Minister Mikakos.

A constituent contacted my office seeking clarification on the stage 4 directions. The reason I want to raise it here is because we have been unable to ascertain a clear answer from DHHS.

Tylar is the executor of a deceased’s estate. He needs to clear out the property, which involves a range of activities, but it’s not clear if this task falls under either work or caregiving. The advice he has received has...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan): My constituency question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister Allan. Several constituents of mine have contacted me to tell me about the horrendous noise created by the Level Crossing Removal Project in the early hours of the morning.

I understand the government is looking to stimulate the economy by pushing these projects 24/7 and has offered relocation housing to nearby residents. The biggest contributors to the noise are the pile drivers that operate throughout the night.

Has the government considered stopping the use of...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:27): My question is for the Minister for Health. According to estimates, of the 1000 or so homeless people currently in temporary housing in hotels during this crisis, at least one-third have significant issues relating to drug dependence.

These also include the long-term consequences of some of their ongoing ill health and poor health, as well as chronic hepatitis infections. As I am sure the minister is aware, there is an ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in the state affecting this cohort.

In addition,...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan): My constituency question today is for the Minister for Local Government, Mr Leane, and it’s a very simple question too.

Candidates and constituents in my electorate of Northern Metro have approached me with various queries about the upcoming local council elections. The most common question is: is the government postponing council elections during the pandemic restrictions?

It’s a fair question. I mean, how can candidates campaign during a pandemic? How can they make a pitch for votes when they can’t knock on doors, meet...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:10): My question was for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, but I am going to redirect it now, as there is not one, to the Minister for Health. It comes from several brothel operators in my electorate of Northern Metro.

Brothels are closed. They have been closed during the pandemic, and that is rightly so. But as other sectors are given guidelines for opening, and despite repeated attempts for clarification from both consumer affairs and the health department, guidelines for brothels remain unclear....

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:25): My question is for Minister Tierney, representing the Attorney-General. On 19 April 2020 the Attorney-General announced via media release that:

Victorian organisations Who do not sign up to the National Redress Scheme will risk losing government funding …

Despite a 30 June 2020 deadline for institutions to join the scheme, 49 non-government organisations operating in Victoria are still yet to sign up to the scheme—which provides redress for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

Can the minister advise, with two...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:21): I would like to ask a question, thanks President, and I would like to ask a question of the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, representing the Attorney-General.

As the minister would be aware, Victoria is the only state in this country without a spent convictions scheme despite some of the other states having schemes for over 30 years and despite the fact that I introduced a spent convictions bill in February 2019.

The government referred that bill to an...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:06): My constituency question is for the Minister for Education. A number of constituents have raised with me the matter of the amount and quality of hand sanitiser in our local schools in Northern Metro, and in particular in Brunswick. Some schools in this region have complained that they simply do not have enough product to go around, while parents have raised concerns about the quality of the sanitiser available. Department of Health and Human Services calls...