Thursday, 22 June 2023

Mental Health and Wellbeing Amendment Bill 2023

Second reading

Debate resumed on motion of Mary-Anne Thomas:

That this bill be now read a second time.

And Emma Kealy’s amendment:

That all the words after ‘that’ be omitted and replaced with the words ‘this bill be withdrawn and redrafted to enable the delivery of a health-led response to mental health related emergencies’.

The SPEAKER (17:07): The minister has moved that the bill be now read a second time. The member for Lowan has moved a reasoned amendment to this motion. She has proposed to omit all the words after ‘That’ with the view of inserting in their place the words which appear on the notice paper. The question is:

That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question.

Those supporting the reasoned amendment by the member for Lowan should vote no.

Assembly divided on question:

Ayes (54): Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Daniel Andrews, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Darren Cheeseman, Anthony Cianflone, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D’Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Gabrielle de Vietri, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson

Noes (24): Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Jess Wilson

Question agreed to.

The SPEAKER: The question is:

That this bill be now read a second time and a third time.

Motion agreed to.

Read second time.

Third reading

Motion agreed to.

Read third time.

The SPEAKER: The bill will now be sent to the Legislative Council and their agreement requested.

Business interrupted under sessional orders.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, the member for Broadmeadows, at the conclusion of that vote, made a remark to me that ‘That was a waste of our time, member for Lowan; you shouldn’t be raising those matters in this place.’

Members interjecting.

Emma Kealy: I have got every right to raise a point of order. You cannot raise a point of order on a point of order.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Emma Kealy: Thank you, Speaker. As I was saying, the member for Broadmeadows made a remark –

Mary-Anne Thomas: What is your point of order?

Emma Kealy: Speaker, could you please direct the member for Macedon to allow me to make my point –

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Lowan, do you wish to raise a point of order?

Emma Kealy: Yes, I do.

The SPEAKER: Please raise the point of order. Leader of the House – enough.

Emma Kealy: At the conclusion of the vote on my reasoned amendment that I put before the house today, I was told by the member for Broadmeadows that that was a waste of her time and that I should not have wasted her time by bringing that reasoned amendment to the house. This is a breach of the Members of Parliament (Standards) Act 1978 which was attempting to influence my vote and impacting on my ability to undertake my duties as a member of Parliament by infringing on my right to be able to raise a reasoned amendment. I ask you to review this matter and provide counsel to the member for Broadmeadows in regard to the members of Parliament act and the right of every single person within this chamber to raise a reasoned amendment or other process that they may wish to – including the member for Broadmeadows, if she should wish to do so in the future.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order, but if the member for Lowan wishes to discuss that matter, she is welcome to talk to me in private.