Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:32): My question is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. Just-in-case forensic examinations give victim-survivors of sexual assault the choice to have forensic evidence collected without first making a police report and to have it stored for up to 12 months. In Victoria this specific service is only available at Monash Medical Centre. However, the suite at this medical centre is undergoing a renovation, and that means right now there is nowhere Victorian women can go to conduct a just-in-case forensic examination as a result of sexual violence. Every other state across Australia offers just-in-case forensic examinations on a routine basis. Sexual Assault Services Victoria have said expansion of this service in Victoria would change the experience for victim-survivors enormously. Of the newly announced $89 million of Commonwealth funding to end gender-based violence, Minister, how much of this will be allocated to forensic medical examination services like just-in-case examinations?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (12:33): I thank Ms Gray-Barberio for her question and her advocacy around these very important issues. It was, I must say, really pleasing to renew our agreement under the Victorian Commonwealth federation funding agreement. As I reported to the house on Tuesday, that will provide $89.68 million in Commonwealth funding over five years, and the Victorian government will be matching that funding. I will probably need to take the very detailed aspects of your question around those issues on notice. With the indulgence of the President, I would be very happy to provide that information for you. That is a level of detail that I am just not entirely across today, but I am happy to do that either under the standing orders, President, or outside the standing orders, as you see fit.

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:35): Thank you, Minister. In 2025, of the just over 17,000 people who reported sexual offences to the police, only 496 undertook forensic medical examinations. It is estimated that up to 90 per cent of sexual violence offences are never reported. Minister, with so many Victorian women and gender-diverse people affected by this, how will you and your department make it a priority that just-in-case forensic examinations are a gap in the service delivery that will be filled?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (12:35): Thank you for your supplementary question, Ms Gray-Barberio. Of course we are absolutely committed to ensuring that every victim-survivor of sexual assault can access the critical services that they need to recover, and this year’s budget did invest an additional $26.5 million over two years to maintain our specialist sexual violence support services and sexually abusive behaviour treatment services. Again, in respect to the specifics you are asking about – those elements of support – I am very happy to provide that detail when I provide a written response to your substantive question.