Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (13:01): (2538) My question is for the Minister for Mental Health: will the minister support young people in north-east Victoria by providing dedicated adolescent mental health beds in the Hume region? Katie Kendall from Wodonga is a young woman who has been bravely speaking up about the need for better mental health services for young people in northern Victoria. Katie recently hosted a forum where she was joined by the terrific Liberal candidate for Benambra Steve Martin, who is a strong advocate for mental health, and spoke on the need for improved services for local young people. Katie ran a petition with over 300 signatures that I tabled on 12 May this year, but the minister still has not even responded to the petition and the answer is now more than two months overdue. The minister cannot afford to remain silent on this urgent call for better mental health services. The minister must listen to the voices of those who signed the petition and fund adolescent mental health beds in the region.