Thread by @rachelbaxendale

#springst #QT kicks off with a question for @DanielAndrewsMP from @michaelobrienmp. He asks about the Premier's August 11 PAEC statement about ADF troops. How can Victorians have confidence in Andrews when that statement has been contradicted by the evidence of numerous others?

Premier says "cheap politics is no vaccine against this virus". #springst #QT

OL @michaelobrienmp asks again: "Who made the decision to reject the use of police and the ADF in the hotel quarantine program, rather than untrained private security guards?"

Premier @DanielAndrewsMP says "mistakes have been made in relation to this program and the community's entitled to answers" but uses the hotel quarantine inquiry as an excuse not to give a direct answer #springst #qt

Minister's statement from @DanielAndrewsMP about reaching 28 cases today and the bolstering of police fines for Melburnians travelling to regional Victoria illegally #Springst #QT

Question from @michaelobrienmp for Mental Health Minister @MartinFoleyMP. "What modelling has been undertaken to understand the mental health impacts of the COVID lockdown on small businesses and sole traders and will you release the modelling?" #springst #QT

Mental Health Minister @MartinFoleyMP says there've been increases in demand "across the Victorian community" for mental health services. Says small businesspeople are a part of that community "not a separate entity". #springst #QT

OL @michaelobrienmp refers to the case of a Melbourne couple who operated beauty salons who he says "dropped their children with their grandparents before tragically taking their own lives". Does Foley accept govt roadmap is leading "desperate people to take their own lives"?

Mental Health Minister @MartinFoleyMP says every loss of life through suicide is a tragedy, highlights Andrews govt's investment in mental health. Cites Coroner's figures showing no increase in suicide over the past 12 months. #springst #QT

Minister's statement from Treasurer @timpallas who says roadmap was based on economic modelling as well as health modelling. (They certainly haven't released that economic modelling) #springst #QT

Question from @LouiseStaley for @timpallas. How many of the 325,000 sole traders in Victoria will be ineligible for the Business Survival and Adaptation Package? #springst #QT

Treasurer @timpallas Pallas says best way to support sole traders is to get to the other side of the pandemic, but acknowledges only one in 10 sole traders will be eligible for the package #springst #QT

Staley asks how it's fair that a grooming service run from a Petbarn shop-front qualifies for the support package, but "Susan Mackenzie who runs Fur Design Doggy Day Spa - a home-based pet grooming service in Mooroolbark - does not qualify?" #springst #QT

Treasurer @timpallas says government will "look at the specific circumstances" of the case she mentions #springst #QT

Minister's statement from @MartinFoleyMP on behalf of @JennyMikakos on reopening elective surgery #springst #QT

Crossbench question from Member for Mildura @AliCupper regarding the enhancement of cardiac and cancer services at the Mildura Hospital after it was recently returned to public hands #springst

Premier @DanielAndrewsMP makes much of the Coalition's role in privatising Mildura Hospital in the first place. Says cardiac and cancer outcomes in regional hospitals are not as good as they should be, it's an "equity issue" and there needs to be improvement #springst #QT

Minister's statement from @JillHennessyMP regarding WorkSafe COVID measures #springst #QT

Question from @michaelobrienmp for A-G @JillHennessyMP. The Public Health and Wellbeing Act allows a person who suffers loss arising from a direction of the CHO to apply for compensation. What provision has the government made for compensation claims? #springst #QT

A-G @JillHennessyMP says it's the Health Minister's portfolio. O'Brien cites documents saying it's in the A-G's portfolio. A-G says a number of portfolios have responsibility #springst #QT

Hennessy says it's the secretary of the department who makes the decision on compensation. #springst #QT

O'Brien asks whether the A-G can guarantee the government will not seek to retrospectively remove or restrict the entitlement to seek compensation #springst #QT

Hennessy says there's an independent process administered by the departmental secretary #springst #QT

Education Minister @JamesMerlinoMP concludes #springst #QT with a Minister's statement on the return of regional Victorian kids to the classroom.