Thursday, 16 November 2023

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:00): (359) My question is to the Minister for Disability. Minister, on 9 November a comment was made on the Australian Jewish Association Facebook page in response to a Holocaust survivor, which read:

… how unfortunate you survived … we need Hitler round 2 gas you all …

The author of this comment appears to be a registered disability worker in Victoria. Minister, can you commit to conducting an inquiry into this highly disturbing issue? If accurate, this is certainly not a person we would want dealing with our most vulnerable in the community.

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:01): Thank you, Ms Crozier, for your question. Certainly any behaviour or commentary of that nature would be highly concerning. I take on board your question and will make further investigations.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:01): Minister, thank you for your response. Minister, given the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria is responsible for assessing the suitability for registration of disability workers, including that they meet set standards for registration, will you also refer this matter to the Disability Worker Registration Board for its assessment?

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:02): Thank you, Ms Crozier, again for your question. Obviously the disability services landscape in Victoria is quite complex. We have national disability insurance scheme services and Victorian services and also the worker registration aspects of the Victorian aspects of those services. I will undertake, as I said, the investigation, and where relevant I will then take appropriate steps.