Inga Peulich
Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:46): I rise today in particular to pay tribute to the passing of Inga Peulich, member for the Victorian Legislative Council, representing South-Eastern Metropolitan Region from 2006 to 2018 and member for Bentleigh from 1992 to 2002. I first met Inga in 2006, noted she was a strong woman and then got to know her better in my early candidacy days in Cranbourne. While we butted heads a couple of times, I always respected her as a fierce campaigner and a member who championed conservative issues that concerned and impacted local families. Inga spoke out against the misuse of the cleverly named Safe Schools program, which was found to inappropriately sexualise some children in schools without parental consent or knowledge, thereby undermining faith and cultural family values shared by many communities in the south-east. I also applaud Inga for her strong opposition in 2017 to the trial of the so-called safe injecting room in Richmond as well as the assisted dying legislation. A hands-on campaigner, Inga helped win three sandbelt seats, enabling the Liberal–Nationals to secure a one-seat majority government win in 2010. Inga died aged 67 years from health issues on 25 July 2024. My and in fact all of our thoughts today are extended to her devoted mother Nena, her loving husband Savo, her son Paul and her extended family and friends.