Thursday, 28 August 2025

North-Eastern Metropolitan Region

Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:00): (1801) I would like to commend to the Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt the open letter drafted by Mental Health Victoria but agreed to by VCOSS; the Council of Single Mothers and their Children; Yourtown; Women’s Health in the North; the Parenthood; FVREE – that is, Free from Family Violence; the Satellite Foundation; the Mental Health Legal Centre Incorporated; Tandem; and Safe and Equal. Each of those organisations has authored and penned an open letter to this government – including to Minister Stitt – calling for this government to reverse their decision to close Parentline. Parentline is a critical service for parents of children aged anywhere from five all the way to 18. It services some 17,800 telephone calls a year. It is due to close on 31 October. It costs this state just $1.6 million, which is equivalent to four machete bins. I urge the minister to review this decision.