Tuesday, 21 February 2023

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:45): (28) My constituency question is for the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples in the other place, and it is on behalf of a respected Kurnai elder and Gippslander, Mrs Cheryl Drayton. Closing the gap targets are very, very important; not only does Victoria need to look at a broad vision, but they also need real solutions from real people. Mrs Drayton would like the minister for First Peoples to actually come to Gippsland to listen to her and others with on-the-ground solutions for issues like education, health and the justice system. Her concern is that too often the minister stays in Melbourne and listens to Melbourne-based views, where we really need her to come to Gippsland and have regular meetings with local elders and with people with content knowledge for solutions in our region.