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We've come a long way over the last few years, but We've come a long way over the last few years, but for equality to be fully realised in Victoria we need to start with the experts. That's why we're placing LGBTIQ Victorians at the forefront of our strategy development. Victoria's first whole of government LGBTIQ strategy will be developed in close consultation with LGBTIQ people, communities, and organisations from all over the state, and will inform our equality agenda for years to come. To have your say in our shared vision for our Equality State, submit your ideas by Monday 3rd August at www.engage.vic.gov.au/LGBTIQStrategy
We’re one step closer to ensuring locals and vis We’re one step closer to ensuring locals and visitors from all over can continue to enjoy our iconic St Kilda Pier for years to come, with the appointment of the architects and engineers who will deliver the detailed redevelopment. @jcbarchitects in partnership with AW Maritime and Site Office Landscape Architects, will design a pier featuring better public access, stunning views and preservation of the precinct’s heritage features. The 1,300-strong penguin colony will also be better protected with a new viewing platform that will remove public access to the breakwater. The current pier will remain open during construction and will be dismantled once the new pier is ready for public use.
Over the last two years, the Medically Supervised Over the last two years, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room has been doing exactly what it was designed to do - saving lives. The MSIR review panel has found that the service has saved at least 21 lives from overdose, and avoided countless hospital admissions. This means less strain on our health system, and better care for the people who use the service. These clients have also accessed over 10,000 health and social services throughout the trial, helping them to start to get their lives back on track. All of these reasons and more are why the review panel has recommended extending the trial for another two years, and expanding it to another site in the city of Melbourne.
We’ve had to make a lot of changes to the way we We’ve had to make a lot of changes to the way we do things over the last few months, and that includes our Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Today we announced that we’re extending the deadline for the Commission’s final report by three months, until February next year. With a number of public hearings and community consultations cancelled due to coronavirus, many Victorians missed out on the chance to tell their stories. People like Sandy and Rick, who have over six decades of experience navigating our mental health system between them. This extension will give the Commission the time they need to engage with the people who know our system best, as well as learn more about the complex challenges that have arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve always said that Victorians with lived experience of mental illness and the people closest to them need to be at the heart of our reform - and we're making sure that they still can be.
Yesterday the Andrews Labor Government announced $ Yesterday the Andrews Labor Government announced $4 million towards energy efficiency upgrades in high-rise public housing estates, as part of a wider $15.3 million package to invest in renewables, jobs, and lower energy bills for all Victorians. Our high rises at Victoria Avenue, Park Street and Dorcas Street will all benefit from this package, with a focus on improving amenities and reliability for tenants - from hot water heaters to lighting. Not only will this initiative reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but it's also going to create more jobs for Victorians at a time when we need it most.
Make sure you tune in to this week’s episode of Make sure you tune in to this week’s episode of The State of Music at 7pm tonight, with an incredible lineup full of local talent. We can’t bring live music back overnight - but we can make sure that Victorians can continue to enjoy our creative state from their own lounge rooms.
Victoria is proudly the creative state - but our w Victoria is proudly the creative state - but our workers and cultural institutions are doing it tough and they need our help. That's why we've put over $49 million towards safeguarding jobs in the creative industries, while keeping Victorians connected during this challenging time. Our creative sector will play a huge role in our social and economic recovery, and we're standing by them and giving them the resources they need to get to the other side of this pandemic.
Over the past two weeks, over 160,000 Victorians h Over the past two weeks, over 160,000 Victorians have been tested for coronavirus. This means we've been able to look at our options and figure out the best course of action. From 11:59pm this Tuesday night, Victorians will be able to leave their homes for a fifth reason - to visit family and friends. We'll all be able to have gatherings of up to five people indoors, and up to ten people outdoors. Outdoor sports and recreational activities of up to ten people will also be allowed. This doesn't mean having a dinner party every night of the week, or going for a walk with ten different people every day. But it does mean that Victorians will be able to see the people closest to them when they need to - a welcome relief after a tough couple of months. We're still asking people to observe physical distancing, and our message hasn't changed: if you can stay at home, you must stay at home. Head to the link in stories for more information.
Today we launched Victoria Together - a new online Today we launched Victoria Together - a new online portal showcasing the best our state has to offer, from live music and comedy to virtual tours at the National Gallery of Victoria. This new platform will help keep our creatives working and producing new content, while connecting Victorians to each other as we face coronavirus together. Victoria Together will also feature a new online series developed in collaboration with @mushroomgroup, State of Music, a free weekly concert series featuring your favourite local musos. First up this Sunday we've got performances from @birdsoftokyo, @diesel_music, and @gflip - and there'll be plenty more to come. Our creative industries have been hard hit by coronavirus with many creators losing their livelihoods. This digital offering will not only share Victorian creative content with more people, but will also generate new opportunities for our creative industries. Have a look and see what we've got on offer - and I'll see you all on Sunday night.
CALLING ALL LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES: Applicat CALLING ALL LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES: Applications are now open for the Sustaining Creative Workers program - an initiative offering grants of $5,000 to $10,000 for Victorian independent creative practitioners who have had their work impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. We know our creatives have been among the hardest hit by this pandemic, but they're also going to be at the heart of our social and economic recovery. This program will ensure that our creative community can continue to work, adapt to change and develop new projects - because we wouldn't be the creative state without them. Head to stories for more information.
The plan we put in place to slow the spread of cor The plan we put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus is working - but we need your help again to track the spread of this virus so we can decide what our next steps are. We're going to be testing up to 100,000 Victorians over the next two weeks. It sounds like a lot, but it's necessary to help us figure out our options. If you have any of these symptoms - no matter how mild - you should be getting tested. For more information and to find out where to get tested call the 24-hour hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
Victoria is proudly the creative state. To see tha Victoria is proudly the creative state. To see that suddenly shut down has been heartbreaking. Even in these unprecedented times, our creative community continue to find ways to connect and inspire us. But it’s been tough, and it’s hit hard. That’s why today we announced a $16.8 million survival package to provide immediate support to Victorian creative organisations and individuals. This package is a down payment for our creative industries and will help meet the immediate challenges of keeping the thousands of Victorian creatives working. And we need to keep them creating work, because this industry will be critical to the social and economic recovery of Victoria.
Victoria's distancing requirements are working to Victoria's distancing requirements are working to slow the spread of coronavirus, flattening the curve and saving thousands of lives. Expert modelling confirms that if no physical distancing restrictions were in place, Victoria would have seen up to 58,000 new coronavirus cases each day at the peak of the pandemic, overwhelming our health system - meaning that: ▪️10,000 intensive care beds would have been required; ▪️as many as 9,200 Victorians would have been presenting to hospital every single day; ▪️tragically, as many as 36,000 Victorians would have died – that’s averaging 70 lives lost every day and up to 650 deaths each day during the peak. That’s why our message to Victorians remains the same: Stay home. Protect our health system. Save lives.
Some good news for everyone who has been contactin Some good news for everyone who has been contacting me with concerns about residential and commercial tenancies: Next week we'll be bringing urgent legislation to Parliament to make things a bit easier for tenants and landlords. This will include a temporary ban on evictions, a pause on rental increases for six months, rent relief for tenants experiencing financial hardship, and land tax relief for landlords. We're also making sure that small and medium-sized business won't face rent increases or evictions either, and can be granted rental waivers or deferrals. This $500 million package will ensure that tenants and landlords can continue to work in partnership and make it to the other side of this pandemic together.
We know that our mental health services have seen We know that our mental health services have seen an increase in demand as coronavirus takes its toll on people’s mental health and wellbeing. That’s why we’ve announced a $59.4 million mental health package to provide vital surge capacity for key services right across Victoria. While staying at home and limiting physical interaction is vital to slowing the spread of the coronavirus, it can be difficult on people’s mental health and wellbeing – particularly for those already experiencing mental health conditions. The package includes a raft of initiatives to help Victorians like extra acute mental health beds, a boost for online and telephone support services and online therapy for kids and their parents. It will also fund tailored support for new parents, older Victorians, returned veterans, our LGBTIQ community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For more information about managing stress and support options, call the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Services on 1800 512 348 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
This long weekend is going to look very different This long weekend is going to look very different to what a lot of us had planned. But it's necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. No matter who you are, where you live or what language you speak, there's only one thing that should be on the agenda for this weekend: Stay home.
I'm proud of the efforts of our creative community I'm proud of the efforts of our creative community to find new ways to support our frontline healthcare workers in these unprecedented times. Thank you to @museumsvictoria, who have donated 24,500 pairs of gloves from their research and collections team to @vichealth.
We know a lot of people are feeling anxious and ov We know a lot of people are feeling anxious and overwhelmed at the moment. Now more than ever it's important to prioritise your mental health. Where possible, follow your usual routines, do things you enjoy, and stick to trusted sources of information. And just because you aren't physically with your support network, doesn't mean it's not there. Stay in touch with loved ones, and reach out if you need professional support.
We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going on a bear hunt.
As of midnight last night, Victoria has moved into As of midnight last night, Victoria has moved into Stage 3 restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19. Things have been moving quickly over the last few weeks, so it's understandable that this is all pretty confusing. But to be blunt - if you can stay at home, then you must stay at home. You can still go out to get your groceries, get medical care, go for a quick run to clear your head. You can still go to work if you aren't able to work from home. But this means absolutely no more hanging out at the beach because the weather's nice. No more having a relative over for dinner. No more going for walks with all your mates who live in different houses. We know this is going to be tough - but it'll be a lot tougher if we don't follow these restrictions and lives are lost.
The Social Studio are a Victorian sustainable fash The Social Studio are a Victorian sustainable fashion label and not-for-profit enterprise focused on celebrating the creative talents of refugee and migrant communities in Australia. Now, in partnership with Dr Sandro Demaio, they've turned their efforts towards producing urgently needed scrubs for our brave healthcare workers to help them stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. By redirecting their manufacturing efforts towards this cause, The Social Studio have set a fantastic example for how our local businesses and creative enterprises can keep active while supporting the community during this time. If you or someone you know needs scrubs, send an email to info@thesocialstudio.org.
Bushfire affected communities have shown great str Bushfire affected communities have shown great strength over the last few months - but we need to stand alongside them and do everything we can to help them get back on track. That's why today I visited Corryong to announce a $23.4 million package to expand mental health services and support programs in bushfire affected communities. This funding will ensure that locals in affected communities have access to preventative care, increased mental health services, peer outreach programs and Aboriginal well-being programs, to name a few.
This is our Ted. From today, Ted and other furry This is our Ted. From today, Ted and other furry family members just like him won’t have to hide under blankets or be sent away during house inspections. No more having to choose between the pet you love and a place to call home.
Today I visited our Prevention and Recovery Care c Today I visited our Prevention and Recovery Care centre in Mildura. With our suicide rate currently more than three times the road toll, and 40% higher in rural and regional areas, the work they do is vital for the community. That's why today we committed to extending the successful place-based suicide prevention trial in Mildura. The Royal Commission's interim report highlighted the immediate need for suicide prevention and follow-up care. We're committed to making sure that all Victorians have access to these services when they need it most, regardless of their postcode.
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Martin Foley MP 2020, Australia

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46 Rouse St
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martin.foley@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Martin Foley MP acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

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