Friday, 14 August 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:11): (1422) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Children. The Commission for Children and Young People’s recent report With Us, Not against Us found that Victorian children under 14 who entered the criminal justice system had disproportionately experienced racism, disability and marginalisation. Twenty-seven per cent were Aboriginal, 42 per cent were from multicultural backgrounds and 88 per cent were living with disability. Minister, what changes will the government make to ensure that Aboriginal and multicultural children and children experiencing disabilities who also experience multiple and intersecting forms of disadvantage receive coordinated, culturally safe early intervention before repeated child protection involvement leads to contact with the criminal justice system?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:12): Apologies to the chamber. I should have indicated at the start of question time that Minister Blandthorn is at a MinCo today, so I am happy to take questions on her behalf and indeed your question – important question, important issues. We have a dedicated Minister for Children for exactly some of these reasons. She is also the Minister for Disability. In terms of the issues you have raised, I am sure she will be very pleased to answer, Ms Gray-Barberio, in accordance with the standing orders.

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:12): Thank you, Minister. My supplementary is: the report also found that 26 Victorian children who entered the criminal justice system were collectively the subject of 250 child protection reports. Most were the subject of reports before turning five years old. Most had experienced family violence, many had been removed from the care of their families and almost 80 per cent were chronically absent from school. These children were therefore known to multiple systems, like child protection, Orange Door, education, out-of-home care and the police, but those contacts did not translate into coordinated, effective support for these children. Minister, has the Victorian Labor government accepted the commission’s recommendation to rebalance investment towards evidence-based early intervention and family support services to prevent children entering the criminal justice system?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:13): Whilst I will pass that on to Minister Blandthorn, I can confidently say that early intervention is something that Minister Blandthorn is very passionate about.