Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (09:49): Under pressure from the mayor of Yarra Stephen Jolly, this Labor government has abandoned its plans for a life-saving naloxone dispensing machine on Victoria Street in Richmond. This medication reverses the effects of opioid overdose. It does not facilitate drug use, it is non-addictive, it is suitable for people of all ages and it cannot be misused. It is literally like having a defibrillator on the street, and this decision of the Yarra mayor and the Labor government will literally see people die. Victoria Street was one of the government’s 10 proposed sites around Melbourne based on the data and showing a high existing need for this life-saving medication. But in June the Yarra mayor wrote to the government requesting that a machine not be placed on Victoria Street. Now, due to this request, the Labor government is abandoning its plans for Victoria Street dispensing machines. Essential services should not be decided on politics; they should be decided on evidence. It is deeply concerning that Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly would use his position to stand in the way yet again of drug harm minimisation. We need more harm minimisation initiatives across the state, including medically supervised injecting rooms and more naloxone dispensing machines, not less.