Tuesday, 20 September 2022

 Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:27): I want to use the opportunity to update the house on the fantastic achievements that have been attributed to the portfolios of Attorney-General and emergency services in the brief time that I have.

Ensuring the justice system continued to operate smoothly during the pandemic is a testament to the hard work and resilience of our courts, tribunals, justice partners and the legal sector. Our investments in infrastructure, resources and technology are helping to get things back to normal and improve access as well as improve flexibility. I am passionate about making justice more accessible across the state. If you get the opportunity, check out the new Bendigo law courts, an amazing facility in the centre of Bendigo. We have expanded our specialist courts, which focus on reducing recidivism and addressing the root causes of offending, including in regional areas, such as the Wodonga Koori Court and the Ballarat and Shepparton Drug Courts. We are also rolling out specialist family courts to all headquarter Magistrates Courts across the state. We have built on our proud history of bold legislative reforms to support a fairer and more just society. I am proud of our reforms that have improved justice responses to sexual offending and enshrined affirmative consent, protected LGBTIQ+ staff and students and banned the public display of the Nazi hate symbol.

As Minister for Emergency Services, I have been proud to deliver the $57 million fiscal redress scheme, supporting those who put themselves in danger to keep Victorians safe. I am so proud to continue to support our amazing emergency services workers and the workforce that I continually talk about in this place, and I am so proud of those at ESTA. Despite the challenge of the pandemic, the dedication of these staff to continue to improve and support our community under immense pressure drives me as minister every day to support them to deliver the 000 service that Victorians need.

There are a lot of significant reforms still left to achieve in ensuring an accessible justice system, protecting the community, helping victims and supporting the community during and after major disasters, and I look forward to what a re-elected Andrews Labor government can achieve.