Cat curfews
Dec 2, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:52): (1570) My constituency question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Kate Jost, a resident of mine in Reservoir, is really concerned that native birds and wildlife in her area are being attacked by domestic cats.
Darebin council has introduced a cat curfew, but in her experience cat owners are not being fined for having their cats out after dark. She says that situation is replicated throughout many councils in the north.
So her question is: does the minister have data on the impact of domestic cats on wildlife in the Northern Metropolitan area...
Religious land tax exemptions
Nov 30, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:21): My question is for the minister representing the Treasurer and relates to tax concessions for the so-called religious charities. Fairfax revealed several years ago that the Catholic Church holds assets in Victoria valued at over $9 billion, making it the largest non-government landholder in the state. Those holdings reportedly include banks, a superannuation fund, an insurance company, a news service and a telecommunications provider. Properties reportedly include offices, residences, car parks, conference centres, tennis courts, mobile phone towers and a restaurant. My question is: which of those business types do not receive land tax...
Edwardes Lake
Nov 19, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:48): My question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Edwardes Lake was once a jewel waterway of the north. The 50-year-old boathouse stands as a reminder of its heyday, where water sports, boating, fishing and even swimming were popular for decades.
However, pollution, sewage, industrial waste and stormwater events have had a devastating impact on the water quality. Earlier this year, the Friends of Edwardes Lake group noticed a cleaning fluid entering the wetlands via a storm water drain and I understand catchment pollution tracking was then undertaken to identify its source.
Can the Minister...
Allied health workforce
Nov 17, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:00): My question is for the Minister for Higher Education. A recent survey by the Health and Community Services Union found 96 per cent of the workforce had witnessed violence in their workplace.
The workforce identifies a clear nexus between addiction and this violence. Allied health workers say they need more training and support. Many would like to be skilled by studying Dan Lubman’s graduate certificate in addictive behaviours at Monash University but cannot afford it.
The government already offers 10 scholarships in the graduate certificate to general and mental health nurses, so my question is this: would...
Pedestrian safety – Bell Street Bridge
Nov 16, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:24): (1511) My constituency question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Safe Access over Bell Street Bridge for Everyone, SABBE, is a community group of school parents who are concerned about the longstanding safety issues in the Bell Street risk zone at the intersections of Bell, Elizabeth and Nicholson streets at the border of Coburg and Preston.
In the last week there have been three serious traffic accidents in the area. Pedestrians, including a large number of Coburg High School kids, are at risk every day on and around the Bell Street bridge.
Shockingly, the...
Health contracts in prisons
Oct 28, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:16): My question is for the Attorney-General. Since 2015 the Mental Health Legal Centre and Bolton Clarke homeless persons program have delivered a unique health justice service to the most vulnerable people in our society. Much of their work has been to help women with PTSD from domestic violence and people with acquired brain injuries navigate legal issues.
We know our most vulnerable are the most likely to be caught up in the justice system. Their service provides legal advice, financial counselling and social workers to help people in prison, but this service will stop in December...
Rising Festival
Oct 26, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:19): (1476) My constituency question is for the Minister for Creative Industries. On 27 May this year the highly anticipated festival, the Rising, of which the government is a principal partner, was cancelled due to the spread of COVID. This festival was going to be a kickstart for so many artists in my electorate as well as all of the CBD venues that were hosting this festival, and many of my constituents of course are keen to see some world-class music and art. There is no indication of when the event will be rescheduled. So, Minister,...
John Fawkner College
Oct 12, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:57): (1436) My constituency question is for the Minister for Education, and it is in regard to John Fawkner College, which is just north of my electorate office. The college was very pleased to receive $50 000 in funding in the 2019 budget for a master plan for the school’s much-needed redevelopment. I know, President, you would be well aware of this too. The master plan has been finished. It is great, but they are yet to hear any more about the works for that school. So can the minister confirm that John Fawkner College will...
Psychedelics Research
Oct 12, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:36): My question is for Minister Pulford in her portfolio of medical research, and it relates to the neuromedicines discovery centre, which is a new and unique research venture by Monash University. Trials have shown that medically assisted psychotherapy is an effective and long-lasting treatment option for PTSD, depression and substance use disorders—and I am pleased that Minister Leane has also taken an interest in this. But we need more research, and Victoria is the best place to do it.
This project responds to the royal commission’s key research priority recommendation on innovation in pharmacology and is...
Local sport infrastructure
Oct 5, 2021
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:45): (1396) My constituency question is for the Minister for Community Sport. My office has been contacted by Steven Hazelwood, the operations manager for the Thornbury Turf Strokers Cricket Club. His club is in the difficult position of having to find a training ground for the upcoming season, because many local councils have taken the bizarre step of renovating their cricket facilities during the cricket season. The club approached Cricket Victoria to see if they have a list of cricket nets in Melbourne, but such a list does not exist. Therefore would the minister be able...