Wednesday, 21 September 2022

 Mr R SMITH (Warrandyte) (09:46): Over the past couple of weeks I have had a real insight into this government, a government that talks big, talks the talk but fails to walk the walk. I have been trying to assist a young woman with a four-year-old daughter who left an abusive partner back in February this year and who have subsequently been bouncing around the system for eight months. I have been trying to help her because no less than three ministers will not. I will not use this person’s name because of ongoing concerns with her partner, but no less than three ministers have been contacted and will know about this case. The first, the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, who was this woman’s local MP at the time, sent a letter off to the then Minister for Housing, did no follow-up whatsoever and subsequently abandoned her. On her behalf I have since written to the Minister for Housing, who handballed it to the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, who subsequently washed her hands of the matter.

What frustrates me most is that these ministers can help this woman but just refuse to. When this matter hit their desks, they each made a conscious decision not to help. With all the power and authority these people have, they could be this woman’s champion, but it is just easier, apparently, to do nothing; after all, there are no consequences for them whatsoever. I want to say to them when they go home tonight, look at all the nice things they own and when they go to bed I want them to spare a thought for this woman and her daughter before they go to sleep tonight, because what they are doing is just atrocious in ignoring her. I hope that when they get up tomorrow morning they actually do something to help her.