Tuesday, 17 March 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:57): (2222) My question is for the Minister for Health Infrastructure. In light of a tragic murder at the Swanston Centre at Barwon Health, staff working there have raised with me concerns about the role of the centre’s outdated and unsafe design, including shared bathrooms. While this incident is, I understand, still being investigated, the concerns are not isolated to this event. For years staff have raised the alarm about the serious dangers to consumers and staff posed by this outdated and totally inadequate facility, including in Barwon Health’s own 2019 submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. These concerns have been repeatedly ignored by this government. Minister, will you commit to urgently upgrading Barwon Health’s mental health inpatient unit?