Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Child protection

Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Confidential guidelines for state residential care home staff, which I have a copy of, inform employees how to supervise children while they inject illegal drugs and how to administer naloxone if there is an overdose. Why has the Premier turned children’s residential care homes into new drug-injecting rooms?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:02): The member for South-West Coast has made an assertion in her question that I absolutely reject, and it would be deeply wrong to characterise the provision of naloxone in the way that the member for South-West Coast has done, and I will –

Roma Britnell: On a point of order, Speaker, I am happy to table this document officially. It clearly states that naloxone is part of the treatment that is to be administered.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Jacinta ALLAN: The reason why I reject the characterisation is that it is either wilfully deliberate mischaracterisation or ignorance that is seeing the member for South-West Coast make this characterisation. The reason why I reject this characterisation is that particularly those who have worked in the health professions know that naloxone is a life-saving treatment. People who have worked as paramedics, as nurses – people who have worked in these caring professions – know that naloxone is a life-saving treatment. The reason why I make this point is that earlier this year we announced, as part of further investments in our statewide action plan on supporting people with alcohol and drug and mental health challenges, that we are increasing access to this life-saving drug. We announced it in April of this year.

Roma Britnell: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, these are children injecting drugs – children.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for South-West Coast!

Roma Britnell: I do not want to hear a lecture about the use of naloxone for saving lives.

The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast will resume her seat.

Roma Britnell: I want to save these children’s lives first.

The SPEAKER: Member for South-West Coast, I ask for an apology.

Roma Britnell: I apologise, Speaker. I did not see you on your feet, and I do apologise.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. The Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: I am making this point because we know that people who work in supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our state always place and prioritise the health and safety of those children at the forefront of everything they do. As I have said, naloxone is well understood as a life-saving treatment for people suffering a drug overdose, and I will always defer to the health professionals who are dispensing that treatment on the circumstances in which they are providing that life-saving treatment for people who are drug affected or who may be experiencing a drug overdose.

Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:06): Under Labor, vulnerable children in state residential care homes are being allowed to inject illegal drugs in their rooms, putting their lives at risk. Why has the Premier left state residential care home staff powerless to intervene and prevent more children from dying?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): Again I reject the allegations that the member has made in her supplementary question. We will always support the workers, whether they are supporting kids in child protection or vulnerable kids in resi care, and will always provide them with the support they need to care for some of our most vulnerable Victorians. Those vulnerable Victorians deserve our care, not the sort of behaviour we are seeing from the member for South-West Coast today.

Roma Britnell: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the workers are begging for the tools to be able to go and find the children to stop them from running away. They have got nothing.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Premier was being relevant. The Premier has concluded her answer. I remind members that a point of order is not an opportunity to make a statement to the house.