Thursday, 19 October 2023

Responses

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (17:38): I do thank the member for Caulfield for his adjournment matter this evening. I have been pleased to work closely with him, over the past couple of weeks in particular, to reassure all who have been and continue to be traumatised and deeply distressed by the tragedy unfolding across the Middle East. I recently met with representatives of the Community Security Group with the member for Caulfield, and I want to take the opportunity to thank Justin and his team for the work they do each and every day to reassure their community. Also, from my observations and engagement, they are very highly regarded for their contribution and the work that they do in their involvement with Victoria Police, and that work continues.

I would also like to take the opportunity to say to all Victorians that Victoria Police’s highest priority is your safety. That is not negotiable, and that is at the centre of all the work that Victoria Police do. I would like to thank Victoria Police, every member, for the work that they do to keep Victorians safe, for the dedication that they make to their work and to the community – always running towards the dangers when most of us are looking to head in the other direction. Victoria Police are working closely with community leaders to provide a strong police presence, and a good example of that I think, from feedback that I have had and the engagement with the member for Caulfield, was at the recent vigil held at Caulfield Park. While we do not want the focus to be around the police presence, it gives a community distressed and anxious about their safety a chance to come together and to feel that there is support there to be able to do that, to focus on that, with the confidence that the police are playing their role. As I understand it, they did that very effectively last week and continue to do so.

Operational matters under section 10 of the Victoria Police Act 2013 are of course the responsibility of the Chief Commissioner of Police around operational decisions and the deployment of Victoria Police members working on the best intelligence available to them, and that continues around planned events and protests and the like. The Deputy Premier and I have also been engaged in conversations on some of the other elements the member for Caulfield raised around community confidence around safety at schools or places of worship. I do know some of those community organisations and institutions are choosing to fund some of their own security arrangements. That comes at a cost, and that is a challenge too. But for police, as I say, there are some rules based on intelligence around where they deploy their resources. Outside of the tasking responsibilities they have to be seen in the community, to be engaged in the community and to prioritise where community need is, and that work will continue.

Just lastly, the member for Caulfield and I have some other arrangements in place with Victoria Police and with other community organisations to catch up over the coming week in other briefings and engagements, so that for the sorts of issues that have been highlighted by the member for Caulfield, people in the community get a chance to put those views directly to government and directly to Victoria Police. I know that is happening, but we are going to coordinate some more of that work over the next week, and indeed we are engaged in some elements at a high level tomorrow. That work will continue. The community should have every confidence that Victoria Police will be there for them, but it is always important too to immerse ourselves in the conversations and discussions that are how we make sure we are picking up on giving people a direct opportunity to make sure that that safety and that feeling of being listened to and engaged and acted on is affirmed for communities who are in deep distress at this time. We think of them all as we conclude Parliament today.

Just lastly, very briefly, on a slightly different but perhaps related matter, the passing of the Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Salute Prohibition) Bill 2023 by this Parliament this week is I think another example and element of the work of Parliament at its best, reflecting the community’s values in law and giving other tools to Victoria Police to give expression to the community’s values that the Parliament has affirmed this week. I commend both that work and the work that we are doing together in this place to the Parliament.

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (17:43): Firstly, to the member for Bass, it would be my absolute delight to come and join you in Clyde North. It is always wonderful to visit you in your electorate, where your community so obviously values every day the hard work that you do advocating on their behalf. To be able to visit and see an early parenting centre being developed – I cannot wait. I am there. That is great.

The member for Murray Plains has raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Environment, and the action the member seeks is that the minister seeks Parks Victoria to make coupes available for the collection of firewood, specifically in the Gunbower and Barmah state forests, which would greatly benefit his constituents.

The member for Bayswater, who has had to go home early, has sought action from the Minister for Transport Infrastructure seeking the minister to join him at Boronia station to look at the work that has been done not just at the station but more generally by the Allan Labor government to revitalise Boronia.

The member for Berwick has also raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and the action that he seeks is that a community reference group be established for the purposes of consultation on the Beaconsfield level crossing removal project.

The member for Northcote has raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Children. She has sought that the minister join her at Alfred Nuttall kinder to see bush kinder in action.

The member for Brunswick has raised a very serious matter – one which caught my attention here at the table as well – for the attention of the Minister for Mental Health. The action that he is seeking is that the minister urgently responds to the threat that fentanyl presents in our community.

The member for Pascoe Vale – always a very enthusiastic representative and advocate on behalf of his community – has sought that the Minister for Education join him to visit local secondary schools right across his electorate. He mentioned Coburg High in particular as a great example of the difference that investment by Labor governments makes in transforming school communities and delivering the high-quality education that the people of Melbourne’s northern suburbs deserve.

The member for Warrandyte has raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Environment, and she wants to know the plans for fire season preparation within her community.

The member for Mordialloc has raised a matter for the attention of the Minister for Children, and the action that he seeks is that the minister join him at the Keysborough community hub, a fantastic community hub delivered by the Andrews–Allan Labor government, now home to a kindergarten with an incredible number of places. I am sure the Minister for Children cannot wait to join you, member for Mordialloc, at that great kinder. Thank you very much, Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Minister. Thank you, members. The house now stands adjourned.

House adjourned 5:47 pm.