CCTV Integrity Melbourne
Apr 13, 2016
My question is to the Special Minister of State Mr Jennings.
Yesterday it was revealed that a Chinese based company - China Security and Surveillance Technology (CSST) - will purchase the Melbourne security firm Securecorp - for $157.5 million dollars.
Securecorp has contracts for the MCG, Phillip Island Grand Prix, Spring Racing Carnival, Melbourne Museum, Monash and Victoria Universities, and defence sites. It also has a presence throughout Melbourne CBD, providing patrols as well operating CCTV security for the City of Melbourne.
CSST is owned by Mr Goshen Tu described by the Chinese Press as a "mysterious figure" with links to the government...
Student Public Transport Costs
Mar 22, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the Minister for Agriculture, Ms Pulford, representing the Minister for Public Transport. Today the Federation of Community Legal Centres, together with Julian Burnside, QC, launched the Fare Go — Myki, Transport Poverty and Access to Education in Melbourne's West. The report examined experiences of public transport travel, fares and infringements for young people between the ages of 14 and 17 travelling to and from school. The report found that school travel on the Victorian public transport system is too expensive for many students. For young people between 14 and 17 in particular, public transport is proving at times...
Abortion clinic law enforcement
Mar 11, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My constituency question is for the Acting Minister for Police, Robin Scott, in the other place.
We have just celebrated International Women's Day, and yet we are providing lip-service rather than actual protection for women and staff seeking to access health services at their place of work. The East Melbourne Clinic is within my electorate, and people there are still facing the same harassment that they did last year. They want to know why, as do the many constituents living nearby.
We understand the need for clarity, legal confidence and training. Safe access zones will almost certainly be subject to...
Safe Schools Program
Mar 8, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is to the Minister for Education, represented by Minister Herbert. Safe schools is an extremely worthwhile program that aims to stamp out homophobia and related bullying in schools but has recently been the subject of some outrageous and bigoted comments from members of this house. Clearly some members have a complete lack of understanding about the issues that some young people face when it comes to gender identity and sexuality.
The Andrews government allocated an extra million dollars to the Safe Schools program in the recent budget, claiming that it would help expand Safe Schools into every Victorian...
Water Pipes
Feb 25, 2016
My question is to the Honourable Steve Herbert representing the Minister for Police.
The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment Bill 2011 came into effect on 1 January 2012.
This Bill banned the display, sale and supply of cannabis water pipes and components. This has impacted constituents in my region of Northern Metro, as restricting sale of water pipes has meant that people have had to resort to plastic bottles, rubber hoses, PVC, aluminium or foil to smoke cannabis, which all give off toxic fumes when hot.
In 2014 the ACT banned the display of water pipes but not the sale. This approach is...
Melbourne Schools
Feb 25, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education and is on the issue of access to and the overcrowding of schools in inner Melbourne. Today I attended a forum and met with the group City Schools 4 City Kids, which is concerned about the lack of schools in inner Melbourne — and so it should be. There are no schools in the Melbourne CBD, not a high school, not a primary school — —
Mr Herbert — That's not true. Eltham College has a campus in the CBD.
Ms Patten — Eltham? I do not think...
Pill Testing
Feb 23, 2016
MS PATTEN My question is for Minister Herbert, representing the Minister for Police. Last Monday, 15 February, Four Corners aired Dying to Dance, an in-depth look at Australia's dance party drug scene, and in particular Victoria's.
A number of eminent experts took part in the program, including a former Director of Public Prosecutions in New South Wales, a former Australian Federal Police Commissioner, police officers, medical professionals and toxicologists.
Each expert noted that punitive investigative measures are not only expensive and ineffective but that they actively contribute to drug-related harm, as opposed to harm reduction measures such as pill testing....
Mobile Cat Desexing Van
Feb 10, 2016
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the Minister for Agriculture, the Honourable Jaala Pulford. I visited the Lost Dogs Home in my electorate the other month. To my surprise I found that it cares for over 31 000 dogs and cats every year and is in fact Australia's largest animal shelter. The shelter has expressed concerns about the lack of access to affordable cat desexing and is looking for funds for a mobile cat desexing van, which would work with councils and provide a subsidised service throughout the Northern Metropolitan Region to allow for cat desexing. My...
Medicinal Cannabis
Feb 9, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for Minister Jennings, representing the Treasurer.
Last year I asked if Treasury had done modelling to see what economic benefits there were to a cannabis economy in Victoria, and I got a firm 'No' back. Since then the federal government's Parliamentary Budget Office has tackled the issue by modelling the legislation and the taxation of cannabis.
It found that GST alone would be $300 million a year and would only grow from there. Given even the federal government is now looking at this issue, my question is: will Treasury now undertake the...
Upgrading the Route 86 Tram
Dec 10, 2015
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Ms Pulford, representing the Minister for Public Transport. Public transport has really been the backbone for Northern Metropolitan Region and its ever-growing population. We have been fortunate in that we have got buses, trains and trams, and I obviously note, and everyone else here notes, the importance of that infrastructure. Lines such as the 96 and the 11 have been upgraded to accommodate the incredible growth we are seeing in the north. However, the 86 has been left behind time and again. It is the longest route in...