Tuesday, 29 July 2025

 Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:53): (1760) One of the issues that affects not only my electorate of Ringwood but also every electorate and far too many of our citizens, young and old, is mental health. It is appropriate tonight with the minister in the chamber that my matter relates to mental health. It is perhaps appropriate also that from time to time I have given the minister a hard time, one might say, in respect to some matters mental health related. Tonight that is not my intention. Tonight my intention is to celebrate the recent announcement – as the minister referred to in question time today – in respect to a mental health local in Maroondah. So it would be no surprise to the minister that what I would ask of the minister is an explanation or elaboration on the planning and the process now in place in Maroondah. It is critical. It is in fact something that I have had an opportunity just recently to speak to the CEO of Eastern Health in respect to. The day after the announcement came, he and I were both talking about the importance of ensuring that Eastern Health are part of that conversation but also part of the process and part of the selection process for the running of this mental health local.

This is a matter that is not only dear to my heart but obviously dear to the heart of many locals. It is a matter that reverberates right throughout our community. It was first, perhaps most notably, brought to my attention not only in terms of the services locals seek but because of a mother called Bree and her son. Unfortunately, Patryk took his own life aged 17. He took his life on 10 February 2023. Likewise, perhaps many in this place are familiar with the case of Mac, as he is referred to commonly – Mackenzie Holdsworth – the son of an extraordinary individual in his father. Mac took his life on 24 October 2023. Many in this place right across the political divides have worked with his father Wayne Holdsworth, who has committed his life to making sure that no parent should have to live through the tragedy of their own son or daughter or loved one, no matter their age, taking their own life.

I am very excited by the prospect that we may have more services locally in the Maroondah area that service not only Ringwood, Ringwood East, Nunawading, Mitcham, Blackburn but right across the eastern suburbs. It is a welcome development. I welcome it. I look forward to understanding when these services will take shape and form and begin to service the local community. There is no doubt that you can continue to throw money at this problem, but until we get people who can actually connect with humans and work through their mental health difficulties, then we are not going to address the problem. It is not going away, and it is becoming larger. On that note, I would invite the minister to share with this house as much as she can in respect of that development. I welcome that.