Tuesday,21 June 2022


Adjournment

Child protection


Child protection

It is a bill that has bipartisan support. It is a bill that so many members of the government have said is necessary. Members of the government have said that this bill is necessary to seek to ensure that Indigenous kids get the support that they need, to drive down unallocated case numbers and more broadly to provide care and support to young people leaving care. But because it is an election year, and because the last thing that the government wants to be doing is to be talking about the youth affairs portfolio and in particular about thorny matters when it comes to youth justice, it just sits and languishes on the notice paper. Well, we have noticed. It has been 250 days. That bill must come back. I implore the government, please. We will vote for it. On this side of the house every single member of the Liberal and National team will vote for it. Dr Ratnam and Mr Hayes are indicating that they will vote for this important bill. The action that I seek is for the minister to work with his upper house colleagues to bring back that bill in whatever form so that we together can seek to provide a better future for vulnerable Victorian kids.