Contraband in prisons

Positive results from random drug tests in prisons have reduced to their lowest level in two years and there is also a significant decrease in the levels of drugs and other contraband entering prisons amid the COVID-19 restrictions. This comes during a period of online, virtual visits rather than direct, face-to-face contact. There is now a real opportunity, before COVID restrictions are fully lifted, for the Government to examine policies and processes to continue to make it more difficult in the future for contraband to enter prisons.

Youth Justice access to internet

I proactively raised in the Parliament a series of disturbing revelations about recent events at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre – where high-speed High internet access has become available to, and used by, detainees, to download and stream pornographic material. I have also become aware that there may have been at least one recent case where a detainee allegedly used this access to make uninvited contact with a victim of their crimes. 

I asked the Minister to confirm if any or all of these claims are true and, if so, what actions have been taken in relation to them. The Herald Sun has subsequently reported that the Department of Justice has now confirmed the claims about the internet access are true, although the Department is denying that there has been a case of a detainee contacting a victim.

Victorian Law Reform Commission Amendment Bill 2020

It was my pleasure to speak on the Victorian Law Reform Commission Amendment Bill 2020, introduced by my party colleague, Stuart Grimley.  At the heart of this Bill is acknowledging the need for greater civic engagement with the law reform process. This includes ensuring that the Victorian Law Reform Commission pursues changes to laws that are in the communty’s interest, undertakes further investigation into matters that are referred to the commission by members of the public and mandates the need for the commission to report on what proposed changes to laws have resulted from community referral.

Adolescent violence

Recent data shows up to 10% of police callouts related to family violence involve young people. Two recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence relating to adolescent violence are still outstanding and I asked the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence for an update on the response.  There remains a general lack of knowledge about adolescent violence, which leads to further gaps and inconsistencies in policy, practice and legislation, including policing and jurisdictional responses. Early intervention strategies are imperative to prevent these young people from entering the youth justice system. 

BORDER REGION

Changes to the Border Permit system now allows 'Border Region' residents to travel freely to either side of the Victoria-NSW border within the blue border zone with a permit. The permit, valid for 14 days, will allow travel for ANY reason as long as you remain in the border zone. If you are a Victorian resident from within the border region, you must not travel to any part of NSW outside of the border region and you must not enter NSW if you’ve been in a restricted area in Victoria or COVID-19 area of concern in the previous 14 days.