Portfolio — 29 August 2026

The dominant discourse arc for Kalkallo in this window is a Member who is active across two distinct registers: substantive legislative debate on family violence reform, and close community engagement with the district. The Member for Kalkallo, Ms Spence, contributed to the second reading debate on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill 2026, describing the bill as centring victim-survivor voices [TA-260826-vichns-9f81c0b98fb9:s073].

The bill carries several significant measures: it criminalises coercive control as a standalone offence, abolishes the use of good character as a mitigating factor in sentencing, and introduces a new protected attribute against discrimination for people who have experienced family violence [TA-260826-vichns-9f81c0b98fb9:s073]. It also enables personal safety intervention orders against adults engaging in grooming behaviours toward children and clarifies that electronic signatures are valid for family violence intervention orders [TA-260826-vichns-9f81c0b98fb9:s073].

Ms Spence holds the portfolio of Minister for First Peoples alongside Minister for Roads and Road Safety and Minister for Community Sport, and her legislative contribution on family violence places her in a cross-portfolio space touching justice, equality, and victim safety.

Beyond the chamber debate, the records show a consistent pattern of community recognition across the window. Ms Spence acknowledged the Coles Craigieburn Central team's DIY Big Freeze FightMND fundraiser, which raised more than $5,000 through a community event featuring a dunk tank and local business support [TA-260730-vichns-06b70b591935:s032]. She thanked four work experience students who worked in her electorate office and congratulated twelve students from Wayi School who received School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support Awards in term 3 [TA-260813-vichns-ff06af361824:s029].

She further recognised Allanah Collett's gold and two silver medals at the GKR Karate World Cup in England [TA-260827-vichns-1d37da03d766:s033], and commended Nikkie and Jimmie for hosting community discussions and supporting small business in the local area [TA-260827-vichns-1d37da03d766:s034].

The third-party record adds a further dimension. Ms Spence presented a petition carrying 2,879 signatures requesting government commitment to establish and fund the 3,000-hectare wallan wallan Regional Park, with the petitioners drawing on a 2022 feasibility study [TA-260811-vichns-559d5117f54a:s023]. The petition cited the park's role in protecting wildlife habitat, enabling cycling connectivity from Melbourne to Wallan, and mitigating flooding impacts across the Merri Creek catchment.

The petitioners sought inclusion of priority projects in the 2026–27 State Budget and completion of hydrology and Indigenous cultural values research to underpin comprehensive parkland planning. The wallan wallan Regional Park petition is the most substantive district-specific policy ask in the window, bridging environment, infrastructure, and First Peoples cultural heritage — three areas that intersect with Ms Spence's own ministerial responsibilities.

Kalkallo also appeared in third-party debate through the Member for Broadmeadows, Ms Matthews-Ward, who cited the district as one of three areas whose secondary students will be served by the newly opened Hume tech school [TA-260827-vichns-1d37da03d766:s067]. The school is the fourth in a new generation of technology schools backed by a $116 million commitment made in 2023, delivering immersive STEM programs across 28 partner schools to 20,000 students from Broadmeadows, Greenvale and Kalkallo.

In the media lane, the Minister for Community Sport announced Round 1 grants totalling more than $68,000 under the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program, distributed directly to Aboriginal teams and players across Victoria [TA-260827-vicmed-ed49d9355202]. Individual grants cover uniforms and equipment up to $250 and travel and accommodation up to $750; team grants reach $2,500 for junior teams and $1,500 for senior teams.

Since 2020 the program has issued 570 grants to clubs and individuals across Victorian communities. The announcement connects directly to Ms Spence's role as Minister for First Peoples — the program's reach and the legislative record on the wallan wallan petition's Indigenous cultural values research together show a Member whose community and ministerial activity are mutually reinforcing across the window.