Corrections system
Mar 22, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:35:24):
My question is for the Minister for Corrections, represented in this house by Minister Symes. In Victoria about 54 per cent of prisoners reoffend and 45 per cent return to prison within two years, which is a staggering rate of reoffending. It is well understood that community safety is best protected by reducing reoffending; however, outmoded sanctions continue to be employed in our prison system that work directly against this goal. Solitary confinement of up to 22 hours per day, with little meaningful human contact or access to programs or activities, continues to be utilised in...
Bed bugs in emergency accommodation
Mar 19, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (17:58:55): My constituency question is for the Minister for Housing. A constituent of mine works in the homelessness sector and raises concerns in relation to the infestation of bed bugs at a number of low-cost accommodation premises in my electorate, including the Victoria Hotel in Victoria Street, North Melbourne. She explained that homeless clients are often funded for several nights of emergency accommodation at the Victoria Hotel by the government’s Housing Establishment Fund scheme. She stated that clients commonly report bed bugs at this hotel and advised that some have required hospital admission due to their...
Acknowledgement of Country
Mar 7, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:24:32): My question is for the Leader of the Government and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Jennings. The President has, in my view quite rightly, recently requested that members stand up for the acknowledgement of country in recognition of our Indigenous brothers and sisters at the opening of each session. I, along with other members, choose not to enter the chamber until this acknowledgement begins and until the Lord’s Prayer has been recited—a prayer, I might add, that recognises only one faith, the Christian faith, a belief system that I and many others in this house...
WIFI for public transport
Mar 5, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:56:51): My question is for minister for transport. Victoria claims to be a state of progress and innovation and a major powerhouse for the Australian economy. In fact the Premier has said that Victoria leads the way in innovative technology companies and is home to some of Australia’s most important internet start-ups. So in 2019 why is Victoria lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of internet services? There is still no wi-fi on any of our public transport systems. As I travel through my electorate on the number 96, the number 1 and...
Number 11 Tram
Feb 19, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:04:34): My constituency question today is for the Minister for Public Transport and is in relation to tram route 11. I understand that her department is discussing extending route 11 so that it terminates at Reservoir station. However, constituents of mine tell me that there is a far greater need for that route to be extended to terminate at Keon Park instead, and this would be via Edwardes Street, Best Street, Botha Avenue and Hughes Parade to Keon Park. Reservoir is not just the largest suburb in my electorate of Northern Metropolitan Region, it is...
Pill testing
Feb 6, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:09:31): My question is for the Minister for Health. I would like to pick up where Dr Ratnam left off yesterday on the issue of pill testing. Pill testing is used as a harm minimisation strategy and has been for decades around the world, including New Zealand, and the evidence shows that it does work. As pointed out yesterday, pill testing is supported by the likes of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Medical Association, the Australian College for Emergency Medicine, Harm Reduction Victoria and Victorian ambulance workers. So I ask again that you...
Dental services in community health
Feb 5, 2019
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:01:09): My constituency question is for the Minister for Health. My constituent phoned yesterday, having had her dental appointment cancelled unexpectedly at Merri Health in Coburg. I contacted Merri Health to inquire and now understand that the cancelled appointment is a consequence of a new enterprise agreement for community health sector dentists, supported by the government, which mirrors the enterprise agreement for dentists working in hospitals. Merri Health says the proposed changes will cost them $300 000. Without supplementary funding, this means they have no option but to cut services in order to keep operating. They...
Early Parenting Support Services
Sep 20, 2018
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:57:12) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Health. My electorate officer gave birth last week to a beautiful baby girl. She has alerted me to a wonderful innovation that actually won one of the Premier's design awards last week. It is called Karitane Early Parenting Concept Store, and it brings the skills, experience and care of child and family health nurses and support services to a shopping centre. However, that shopping centre is actually in Westfield Bondi Junction in New South Wales. The store has helped 4000 new families in its first six months and seems...
AGL floating gas terminal, Crib Point
Sep 19, 2018
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:00:40) — My question is for the Minister for Planning, represented here by Minister Dalidakis, and it relates to the 290-metre floating gas terminal proposed for Western Port Bay. This has been raised in here before, but it was raised with me earlier this week. We know that Australia is the largest gas producer, and perversely we export so much that we now will be importing. So my question is: will the minister confirm that the Crib Point AGL gas import terminal will be subjected to a full environment effects statement process to ensure that the project is...
Massage parlours
Sep 7, 2018
MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:01:21) — My question is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, represented by Minister Dalidakis, and relates to massage parlours — not assuming you have any knowledge of them here. Right near my electorate office on Sydney Road, near the intersection with Albion Street, there are three massage parlours. If you head 500 metres north up Sydney Road to the intersection with Moreland Road, there are another three. It is a pattern that repeats itself not only along Sydney Road but right across Melbourne — in fact just straight metres from here along Bourke Street. My question for...