Speaker 1: Jason Lauren on No.
Speaker 2: One hundred.
Speaker 1: Let's say hello to our next guest. Alone quint is here, and.
Speaker 3: Our next guest is the longest serving female minister in
Speaker 3: Victorian State history.
Speaker 4: It's not lost on me that I am only the
Speaker 4: second woman to lead this stage, and that is also
Speaker 4: comes with some emotion.
Speaker 3: Please welcome to the show, the premiere Victoria just Center.
Speaker 1: Ellen, Hey, good morning morning, good morning.
Speaker 2: Thank you for driving down from Bendigo this morning.
Speaker 4: Well, Benny Goes a beautiful part of the world, but
Speaker 4: it's great, great to be here with you this morning.
Speaker 5: One of my very best friends, Anna bern is from
Speaker 5: Bendy Go. So I love Bendygo.
Speaker 6: So do we don't we? Quinn?
Speaker 7: We do? Just yeah, we've did.
Speaker 2: You don't have history. You knew each other from us.
Speaker 3: Say history. Let's just let's just get things straight. So
Speaker 3: I was a reporter at win TV back as a
Speaker 3: twenty year old. Twenty one year old. You're a baby too,
Speaker 3: you're a you're a minister at the time, you're member
Speaker 3: for Benny Go.
Speaker 7: So we did a lot of interviews up the books.
Speaker 2: We've known him since he was a rat bag.
Speaker 4: He was a lovely young fellow Yes, I loved. I
Speaker 4: loved interviews with Clint. We do a bit of fun
Speaker 4: off camera.
Speaker 7: We did. We were and look at you.
Speaker 6: Now doing well.
Speaker 2: He's a he's so happy.
Speaker 7: We were great nature.
Speaker 2: Yeah, can we call you we.
Speaker 6: Transferable.
Speaker 1: I was devastated when we found out you're coming from
Speaker 1: Bend to go this morning, that we didn't give you
Speaker 1: the heads up to swing past the bakery and bringing
Speaker 1: a couple of snot blocks.
Speaker 6: I know how to do it, so snot blocks and.
Speaker 7: Pies malms Bree. That was always a good hot spot.
Speaker 4: I have a theory about bakeries and Country Victoria, particularly
Speaker 4: if you're a parent with young kids. A good bakery,
Speaker 4: good public facility, good playground, that's the hot spot. That's
Speaker 4: the sweet spot on the town, isn't it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, say that pubs need to get their head around
Speaker 1: playgrounds put playground.
Speaker 5: We grew up at pubs with my parents, and they
Speaker 5: were pubs where I wouldn't even see them for what
Speaker 5: felt like days because I was in the ballpit and
Speaker 5: going down the slide of the matter.
Speaker 1: You know what, Pokey's and Gastros killed all that time. Hey,
Speaker 1: let's talk some serious stuff. Yesterday we dedicated about forty
Speaker 1: five minutes on the show. Because it really blew up
Speaker 1: about pill testing here in Victoria. You have come out
Speaker 1: and supported and given the green light to doing a trial.
Speaker 1: The calls were sort of mixed. There was a lot
Speaker 1: of positive opinions.
Speaker 3: I think it's absolutely brilliant and well passed due. It's
Speaker 3: something that they do in the.
Speaker 1: UK, in the loop in the UK do it already everywhere.
Speaker 1: There was also some people that were saying, why provide
Speaker 1: pill testing to people for an illegal substance.
Speaker 5: Yeah, there's a concern that it's illegal and in essence
Speaker 5: some people feel like that is encouraging people to go
Speaker 5: and take drugs.
Speaker 7: Yeah.
Speaker 4: Well, look, I want to be absolutely clear there is
Speaker 4: no safe level of drug taking and illicit drugs remain
Speaker 4: exactly that just illegal. But it also reflects the announcement
Speaker 4: yesterday around pill testing reflex reality. The reality is if
Speaker 4: doesn't just have to be a young person, a person
Speaker 4: of any age rocks up to a music festival and
Speaker 4: if they've got a pill in their hand, they're intending
Speaker 4: to take it. They're intending to take it. Like that's
Speaker 4: the reality of the world we're in. So knowing that
Speaker 4: and knowing too based on evidence from around the world.
Speaker 4: You know, there's great evidence and data that comes out
Speaker 4: of the UK, particularly that where.
Speaker 6: You have pill testing.
Speaker 4: And it's not just the actual testing of the pill
Speaker 4: that provides advice on the substance and what's in it
Speaker 4: and some of the toxic chemicals that are in it.
Speaker 4: It's also the health conversation you can have at the
Speaker 4: same time, no judgment, just the facts about this is
Speaker 4: what's in it, this is what it can do to you.
Speaker 4: Do you really want to take it? And what we
Speaker 4: know from evidence where this is already happening, is that
Speaker 4: people are more likely not to take the drug. This
Speaker 4: reduces drug taking. The evidence tells us that this reduces
Speaker 4: the likelihood of someone taking that drug.
Speaker 2: And that's really more considered it is.
Speaker 4: And this is where you know, if you'd asked me
Speaker 4: years ago, if young Clint stand Away had asked me
Speaker 4: and Bendigo years ago my views on this, I probably
Speaker 4: would say I'm not partolar.
Speaker 7: Have you had a change part because I know that
Speaker 7: Dan Andrews was supposed to it.
Speaker 6: Yeah, well I really have.
Speaker 4: And as I said years ago, I probably would have said,
Speaker 4: now I'm not that not that keen on it. But
Speaker 4: you know, becoming a parent changes a lot of things
Speaker 4: that might change, right, chose a lot of things. I've
Speaker 4: got a couple of young kids.
Speaker 5: Yeah, and as they get older and their friends are
Speaker 5: going out and partying and going to festivals and going
Speaker 5: to parties.
Speaker 6: That's exactly right.
Speaker 4: My husband and we talk about this all the time, Like,
Speaker 4: you want kids, You want your young kids to go
Speaker 4: and have a great time to explore the world, but
Speaker 4: you want to do it safely. And as I think
Speaker 4: about the sort of world do you want your kids
Speaker 4: to go into. Knowing that we have a health focused
Speaker 4: approach and a pill testing approach that can make a difference,
Speaker 4: why wouldn't we go down this path?
Speaker 1: Also, like you're saying, say someone rocks up at a
Speaker 1: music festival with a pill, they're intending to take it.
Speaker 1: There's also that that demographic of people who are starting
Speaker 1: to get peer pressure into that environment as well, and
Speaker 1: if they've got the option to find out what's in it,
Speaker 1: it might be enough to not go through with it.
Speaker 4: It is And I've talked to other parents about this,
Speaker 4: you know, I've got nieces and nephews as well as kids.
Speaker 4: You talk to talk to people all the time about
Speaker 4: a range of things. But I've also spoken recently to
Speaker 4: other parents as well, and one mum said to me,
Speaker 4: young people are smart and they just deserve the information,
Speaker 4: and that's great.
Speaker 1: That's it.
Speaker 4: You know, you've got to give people information. This is
Speaker 4: the other I think really positive outcome from this approach
Speaker 4: is that, and the evidence tells us this as well.
Speaker 4: When the pills tested, people will tell other people what's
Speaker 4: in it, So I got that ripple effects.
Speaker 1: Also. One of our listeners brought up a really good
Speaker 1: point yesterday. It's going to affect the dealers as well.
Speaker 1: It was going to blunt in there blackart one hundred percent.
Speaker 1: It'll kill the black market because if they're providing dodgy stuff,
Speaker 1: that word's going to get out and no one's going
Speaker 1: to be buying from them.
Speaker 3: So we mentioned the history of this, and it's worth
Speaker 3: noting again that the government has been opposed to it
Speaker 3: in the past. So why the change of hearts so
Speaker 3: suddenly because it was there? What was the I know
Speaker 3: it's an amotive issue, but you know twelve months ago
Speaker 3: Dan was vehemently opposed and now and now you're saying
Speaker 3: no where where we're for it, We're going to enact
Speaker 3: this trial.
Speaker 4: Look, I've spoken about how my own personal views have
Speaker 4: changed over a number of years, and then it became
Speaker 4: premier at the end of September last year, and then
Speaker 4: we had over summer we had paramedics, Victorian paramedics turn
Speaker 4: out across a three month period to more overdoses than
Speaker 4: they did for all of last year.
Speaker 6: Symington, there was a whole range here.
Speaker 4: There was Plemington, there was the festival at at New Harsham,
Speaker 4: which also had some challenges. And so when you again
Speaker 4: consider that, consider the impact it's having not just on
Speaker 4: people individually, but on our health system, the pressure it
Speaker 4: puts on our health system. We took some time to
Speaker 4: look at again evidence, fact, get data, talk to experts,
Speaker 4: but also importantly to talk to families as well, which
Speaker 4: is how we've arrived at the decision we announced yesterday.
Speaker 5: And what has the response been for you on that decision,
Speaker 5: Because yesterday when we opened the phones, I honestly thought
Speaker 5: it would be overwhelmingly positive, but it was a pretty
Speaker 5: much fifty to fifty split. And the people who are
Speaker 5: against it, which I can understand, right because some people
Speaker 5: just don't want you know, drugs are illegal they're llegal
Speaker 5: to take. Why are we doing something that is encouraging
Speaker 5: people to take them? So I can understand where that
Speaker 5: fifty percent come from, But that fifty percent really like
Speaker 5: completely against this idea.
Speaker 4: Yeah, look, and I respect you know, you've got to
Speaker 4: absolutely listen and respect to different views. But for me,
Speaker 4: it's come down to the fact that this is a
Speaker 4: reality and we have the power.
Speaker 6: We know what works. We know what works from.
Speaker 4: Reducing harm providing factual, non judgmental information to people who
Speaker 4: are already intending to use that substance. If we've got
Speaker 4: the power to give that information to reduce harm, to
Speaker 4: potentially save a life, why wouldn't we do this. That's
Speaker 4: really how we've come to this decision.
Speaker 1: We are on the air of the Premier just sent
Speaker 1: to Alan this morning. We're talking the pill testing trial.
Speaker 1: Just since you can, I ask you an honest question,
Speaker 1: have you done drugs in your life?
Speaker 4: I got asked this question last year sometime last year,
Speaker 4: and I'd said it was a long long time ago.
Speaker 4: There was a cannabis a long long time ago. But
Speaker 4: again I don't want this to.
Speaker 1: Up for the reason I asked, because there was an issue.
Speaker 1: It got brought up yes now, and it's so true.
Speaker 1: This isn't just about it's not just music festivals. The
Speaker 1: clubs are packed with people. If you think drugs aren't
Speaker 1: getting circulated, you've got your head in the sand.
Speaker 7: It's not just pills, and it isn't no.
Speaker 6: And so again.
Speaker 4: But it is about for me looking at the evidence,
Speaker 4: and for me, that's really important. It's always been important
Speaker 4: in whatever ministerial or portfolio role I've had for a
Speaker 4: long period of time. Listening to experts and taking on
Speaker 4: evidence is just so important.
Speaker 2: So this is just a trial.
Speaker 4: Well, I want to make this, Is this really clear?
Speaker 4: We're not trialing to see if it does or doesn't happen.
Speaker 4: We plan to bring pill testing into Victoria. It's a
Speaker 4: trial to see what model works best.
Speaker 2: Is it happening in other states? We're behind Queensland.
Speaker 6: Queensland have a trial, a CT have done a trial,
Speaker 6: and I think have got it more on a more
Speaker 6: permanent basis.
Speaker 1: For the digital licenses and now the.
Speaker 6: The digital lift that takes so long.
Speaker 1: It takes so long, that's cute, Like I'd be carded.
Speaker 1: Hey it's just gone eight thirty. You happen to hang
Speaker 1: around after the break just quickly, there's there's something we
Speaker 1: want to bring up with you, a much lighter topic,
Speaker 1: but we want to get you away, and I guess
Speaker 1: you're on the air with Jason Lauren Clint here from
Speaker 1: the newsroom and Premier.
Speaker 5: Premire just like Miley Don't that's terrible singing?
Speaker 2: Whoever did that?
Speaker 1: Just quickly? Because I noticed when Dan will do the round,
Speaker 1: I mean it was a different world back then, but
Speaker 1: he had to travel with a bit of security. You
Speaker 1: got the popo traveling with you these days? Can you
Speaker 1: run some reds?
Speaker 4: I've got some.
Speaker 6: We don't run reads, no, we follow every road rule.
Speaker 6: But now I've got I've got the team.
Speaker 7: Here are you?
Speaker 6: It's an amazing job.
Speaker 7: How you been in now?
Speaker 4: What's the end of September?
Speaker 6: Lusty, so nine months?
Speaker 2: I think I just said to you before.
Speaker 5: You must be glad to be the Premier now and
Speaker 5: not five years ago, four years ago? Have a long
Speaker 5: ago that was it feels.
Speaker 6: You covid Field. It's a lifetime ago, but also so
Speaker 6: not that far away.
Speaker 4: Look at it any time is there's alwaysallenges because we're
Speaker 4: a big and busy state, really big and busy state.
Speaker 6: It's a really exciting job.
Speaker 4: It's challenging. The best bit about it is really getting
Speaker 4: out and talking to people and meeting people's and listening
Speaker 4: and following through on their issues.
Speaker 6: That's really the best bit.
Speaker 1: Bodyguards to threaten the kids.
Speaker 6: The kids are more interested in the bodyguards.
Speaker 5: Premiers is such a big deal now, Like pre Dan,
Speaker 5: I didn't know who the premier were?
Speaker 2: Who was it?
Speaker 7: Pre Dan? It was Value.
Speaker 1: I wouldn't have.
Speaker 2: Even known it. Do you know who the premier was before?
Speaker 2: Anastacia Polo shape Clmbell Newman.
Speaker 1: I think for a week well done.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like premiers are just a big deal now.
Speaker 7: Yeah.
Speaker 4: And again I think COVID showed like when you think
Speaker 4: about what state governments do. We run all their schools,
Speaker 4: we run our hospitals, we run the police force, we
Speaker 4: build the roads and trail We're responsible for a lot
Speaker 4: of people rely.
Speaker 3: On premiu premier perks. You didn't when you're a or
Speaker 3: a deputy premier.
Speaker 1: Surely they're not parking you in the waiting bait mcdonal.
Speaker 6: No, you do well. You do get dropped right at
Speaker 6: the front door.
Speaker 4: That's pretty nice. It's pretty nice. I do get I
Speaker 4: get a few more staff. I get lots of coffees and.
Speaker 5: Teas because we had Sally Cat, the Lord Mayor of
Speaker 5: the Lord Mayor of Melbourne is coming in and a
Speaker 5: big question I've got for her is do you get
Speaker 5: a snack till.
Speaker 4: I like those little Turkish delights. I know this is
Speaker 4: controversial chocolate.
Speaker 6: You're no one that you have.
Speaker 2: Friends one away. He's the only young man. He's like
Speaker 2: an old woman.
Speaker 5: He sleeps with an electric blanket and eats Turkish delight.
Speaker 1: Now, just center, I want to test something out this morning,
Speaker 1: because you would, now that you're the premiere, you'd be
Speaker 1: rolling with some high powered friends and on the show
Speaker 1: a while back we were talking about celebrities. Who's the
Speaker 1: biggest big dog you've got in your phone when it
Speaker 1: comes to high profile celebrities. Clint said this the other.
Speaker 5: Day when we talked about the biggest celebrities in our
Speaker 5: phone and you said the premiere of Melbourne.
Speaker 2: I felt sad for you, or I actually felt a
Speaker 2: bit flat for.
Speaker 5: You, because I know you know you know what, Laura,
Speaker 5: I know you know celebrities.
Speaker 7: Have you got her number?
Speaker 2: No?
Speaker 5: No, you don't.
Speaker 7: I congratulated on.
Speaker 2: Me, isn't it that grad We were trying to hang.
Speaker 5: It on Clint, but Clint gets Clinton loves he's the
Speaker 5: number one Pa.
Speaker 4: Well, there is a lot of mutual admiration. I've watched
Speaker 4: Clint's career blossom. No, genuinely you left Bendy go and
Speaker 4: they're not see you on the telly doing the sport.
Speaker 4: It's a real thrill to see people, young people with
Speaker 4: talent go on and do wonderful.
Speaker 5: Surely you know bigger celebrities than clickstun Away, much bigger.
Speaker 5: He's the biggest star in your contact book.
Speaker 4: You have them in, got the PM in there, other
Speaker 4: talking about other state premiers. So my mine's perhaps not.
Speaker 6: As razzle dazzle as Cli.
Speaker 2: He was still the biggest in here though.
Speaker 1: Elbow on the mame.
Speaker 6: He's not bad on the text.
Speaker 1: He's not a voice to text is but he does
Speaker 1: the voice memory.
Speaker 6: No, no, no, it's more more the text.
Speaker 5: Do you guys text on you have to bound like
Speaker 5: signal or what more?
Speaker 4: What'sapp? It seems to be that a lot of a
Speaker 4: lot of business gets done on WhatsApp.
Speaker 7: He be a thumbs up guy, wouldn't he?
Speaker 1: A lot of business gets done on signal as well?
Speaker 1: Thank you? So much for coming in this morning. We
Speaker 1: really appreciate it.
Speaker 6: Great to talk and.
Speaker 1: I know it's got mixed feelings in Melbourne, and I
Speaker 1: can you know, we completely understand because the fear behind
Speaker 1: it the pill testing, but I think the pill testing
Speaker 1: is a great initiative.
Speaker 2: Thank you. How's Victoria going? Just before we let you go, Look,
Speaker 2: we're going well.
Speaker 4: If you look at a metric like number of people
Speaker 4: in jobs, got really low unemployment rates and record number
Speaker 4: of people in jobs. But I will acknowledge that, you know,
Speaker 4: cost of living continues to be a really tough thing
Speaker 4: for families.
Speaker 6: We do a bunch of stuff.
Speaker 4: We've got the school saving bonus, free red jo for
Speaker 4: for apprentices, we've got free kinder, free Tafe, but I
Speaker 4: will acknowledge that it's tough for many families. And that's
Speaker 4: why keeping people in a job and providing costs of
Speaker 4: living supports a real focus for me.
Speaker 2: When's that tunnel going to be done?
Speaker 5: Because well, you want a couple, we've got a kilder
Speaker 5: Rhod's being a dog's breakfast.
Speaker 4: So Westcoat Tunnel, Westcat Tunnel Metro Tunnel, they're both going
Speaker 4: to be open next year.
Speaker 6: Thank you guys.
Speaker 3: And just last one who wins tonight cheering for the
Speaker 3: Queenslanders or the New Welshman.
Speaker 4: I will confess a big not a big rugby league
Speaker 4: that makes all bust walls more my things.
Speaker 6: Last week, Yeah, Benno.
Speaker 1: Spirit, you got to pick one.
Speaker 6: I know it's really hard.
Speaker 2: Look at the color of your glasses.
Speaker 6: Maybe.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 4: I was going to send yourself because it means it
Speaker 4: goes we're on the Maroons. All I care about is
Speaker 4: that the mcg is going to be packed out and
Speaker 4: that's where they get the people to state of origin.
Speaker 6: It's here in Melbourne.
Speaker 1: Just into on the air with us this morning. I
Speaker 1: hear it at number one hundred. Thanks for coming in.
Speaker 6: Thank you guys.
Speaker 1: Sorry j On, the Airy's gonna be a good Jason Lauren,
Speaker 1: Jason Lauren wake up feeling good on number one hundred.
Speaker 2: Jason Lauren Boom on socials