Speeches
Inclusive growth and a well-being budget
What does inclusive growth mean? How does a well-being budget work? In early 2023 I spoke at the Chifley Research Centre 2023 conference held at the National Press Club in Canberra, on a panel with Dr Daniel Mulino MP and Dr Shireen Morris.
Housing justice
A discussion about the drivers of the rental crisis in Australia, and the policy changes needed.
Speakers: Emma Dawson, Executive Director, Per Capita; Ryan Batchelor, State Member of Parliament, Southern Metropolitan Region Deputy Chair, Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee; Noel Lim, CEO & Co-founder, Anika Legal; Jacinta Parsons (moderator), Broadcaster, writer and speaker
Hosted by Anika Legal and Maurice Blackburn at the Wheeler Centre, Naarm/Melbourne on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
Voluntary assisted dying
Voluntary assisted dying has been legal in Victoria since mid-2019. A five year review of the laws found they were generally working well, yet some modest but meaningful improvements could be made to make the system work better for those who are terminally ill.
In Parliament I gave a speech in support of these laws, and the amendments proposed in this bill, to help empower those who are dying with better choices about how their life ends.
Treaty for Victoria
Victoria's first statewide Treaty with the First Peoples was enabled by legislation passed by the Parliament, following agreement between the State Government and the First People’s Assembly of Victoria.
This bill will establish Gellung Warl an ongoing representative body for first peoples of Victoria; support ongoing truth telling, through Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna an office of truth telling and healing, collecting the truth of our past and supporting public education on our state’s shared history, and the Nginma Nganiga Wara an outcomes and justice commission to keep us all accountable.
Nuclear power is a bad idea
Nuclear power is a bad option for Victoria. Nuclear is expensive, nuclear is dangerous, nuclear leaves a radioactive legacy.
This parliamentary speech defends current Victorian laws that make our state nuclear-free.
Easier to use government services
Making government services easier to use can improve the lives of citizens, and increase their trust in government.
Remarks on the state apology to children abused in institutional care
In February 2024, the State Parliament in a special joint sitting, apologised to those Victorian children who experienced historical abused in institutional care. It is estimated more than 90,000 children were placed in care in Victoria prior to 1990.
Youth justice reforms
The Youth Justice Bill is a comprehensive new framework for youth justice in Victoria, creating a new, standalone, end to end piece of legislation to govern the youth justice system. This important legislation enshrines the principle of doli incapax into statute, and for the first time includes principles of restorative justice and self determination into the youth justice system. The legislation increases minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, and includes amendments to bail laws to strengthen provisions relating to offending while on bail, and the factors that must be taken into account when making bail decisions.
Misinformation and democracy
Misinformation undermines our democracy, and this speech I spoke of the dangers for our community as a whole when political leaders, such as in the Greens, will say anything to try and win votes. Stoking fear and division based on misinformation for electoral gain must stop.
Electrifying our homes
Home electrification can save Victorians money with lower energy bills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Labor is supporting households to 'go electric' through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. This speech responds to Liberal Party criticism of the VEU program and the benefits it is bringing to Victorian households.
Tobacco licensing scheme
Another important step forward in Victoria's long and proud history of tobacco control with the Tobacco Amendment (Tobacco Retailer and Wholesaler Licensing Scheme) Bill 2024 that prohibits the retail and wholesale sale of tobacco products without a licence, provide more powers to tackle illicit tobacco and organised crime and increase penalties for supplying or selling illicit tobacco. Smoking still kills more than 4000 Victorians a year, and costs the state billions.