Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Adjournment

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (17:14): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Drug and alcohol services

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:14): (170) Tonight my adjournment is for the Minister for Mental Health in the other place, Minister Gabrielle Williams, and the action I seek from the minister is to update my community on the progress of the state’s first worker-led rehabilitation, outpatient, outreach and suicide prevention service. I am proud to say that is an Andrews Labor government election commitment and something I am keen to see come to fruition. Our government has committed to investing $12 million to create this purpose-built facility. How good is that?

We must confront the reality: drug and alcohol addiction ruins lives and in turn ruins livelihoods. That is why this initiative is being called for by a range of employers, public rehabilitation providers and industrial partners. I am proud that my own union, the Transport Workers Union Victoria–Tasmania branch, is a member of the board who will apply to run the centre. Along with that is the stalwart support and custodianship of the state secretary for the Health and Community Services Union Paul Healey, the assistant state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Victoria branch, Tony Piccolo, and the hardworking Stephanie Thuesen from HACSU. It is clear this initiative has widespread support across many sectors. These sectors include construction, media, arts, emergency services, health, disability and aged care, transport, logistics, communication, community service, farming, retail, finance, hospitality and manufacturing, just to name a few.

In my role as member for Southern Metropolitan and former state secretary of the Transport Workers Union, I have seen and continue to see firsthand the negative impact that risky addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling has on working people and their families. Oftentimes when employers and trade unions become aware of an issue, it is well progressed and the employer–employee relationship is untenable. Right now there is little to no option for working people to seek life-saving health care to combat these sorts of addictions without adversely affecting their employment, and without private health care it can come at an immense personal and financial cost. Young men and women among these groups are unlikely to seek support. Evidence shows this. So working in partnership with our industrial and business partners, we are aiming to destigmatise this. Our partnership with Odyssey House will go a long way in ensuring that working people and their families are able to access this vital health care that they need and with the support of their employer and trade union when they need it most.

So tonight the action I seek is for the Minister for Mental Health in the other place, Minister Williams, to provide an update on this life-saving initiative, and I hope this update from the minister on the life-saving initiative will demonstrate our commitment to amplifying the current suite of existing public sector services in Victoria.