Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:05): (1429) My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, following reports that 10 young Victorians, including children as young as 13, died in two suspected suicide clusters in Melbourne’s east, and despite warnings about a potential cluster being raised last year, will you immediately establish an urgent independent inquiry into these deaths and the systemic failures in Victoria’s child and youth mental health system?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:06): I thank Ms Crozier for her question, and at the outset can I indicate that any suicide, particularly of a young person, is absolutely devastating. I give my heartfelt condolences to those impacted by these incidents. It is an incredibly difficult time for those families, loved ones, friends and indeed that community.

It certainly would not be appropriate for anyone in this place to attribute causes or contributing factors in relation to these individual cases. These matters are currently before the coroner, and that is absolutely appropriate. I will not be cutting across that work, and I will not be commenting further, given the matters are being dealt with by the coroner right now.

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:07): Minister, you did not answer the question, but I will ask you this: given these deaths did not trigger a systemic review of the mental health system, how many children have to die before your government investigates whether the system itself is failing them? Surely that is your responsibility, Minister.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:07): That is a pretty disgraceful question, I have to say, and it makes a number of flawed assertions and assumptions. I have indicated already that I do not intend to cut across the important investigation that the coroner is currently undertaking.