Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Decriminalisation of public drunkenness

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:18): (322) My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, when will the sobering-up centre in Collingwood be up and running?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:18): I thank Mr Mulholland for his question. Of course I think it is important to restate what is driving these reforms from the government’s perspective. This is really all about removing public intoxication as a criminal matter to be dealt with by VicPol and actually ensuring that we have a health-led response to people who find themselves in need of assistance through public intoxication. The reason why these reforms are so important of course is because we know that, disproportionately, the current laws have impacted Aboriginal people to a far greater extent than the rest of the population, and the change to the law in Victoria will bring us into line with the majority of states and territories. It will also I think be a significant step for the many, many people within Victoria’s Aboriginal community who have lobbied for so long for this change. It does address not only the Aboriginal deaths in custody royal commission from decades ago but also importantly the coronial inquest into the tragic loss of Tanya Day. It is important, I think, to not lose sight of the reasons why we are pursuing this reform.

In terms of the Cambridge Street sobering-up service, I can indicate that this is a service that is going to play an important role. But the vast majority of people will simply need a little bit of assistance in getting home safely, and that will be done through the health-led response that we are building, which will be dedicated services through coordination and a centralised intake and referral and dispatch service. At Cambridge House, the advice that I have is that there have been some small delays associated with the construction of the service. I am advised that the practical completion date of that construction will occur before 7 November. As with any new service, there are a small number of final preparation activities that need to be undertaken and put in place before the service can begin operation. I am very confident that it will be operational by the end of November.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:21): Minister, on Sunday you could not confirm whether any staff have been hired to operate the facility to deliver the health-led response. Could you today confirm that you have checked with Cohealth and can provide an update to the Victorian community about whether this facility has any staff?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:21): Obviously the arrangements for staffing are a matter for Cohealth, but in the contract that Cohealth will hold with the government to deliver this important service, staffing arrangements are obviously part of that. They will be directly employed by Cohealth. The advice that I have is that the onboarding process for staff will be commencing shortly. As soon as that site is handed over to Cohealth, those staffing arrangements will be put in place.