Sheena Watt

Has said Victoria's self-defence laws are fit for purpose, and has described drug use as first a health issue while supporting diversion for low-level offending.

• Said13 Aug 2025In debate on a motion about crime and self-defence, said current self-defence laws are “fit for purpose” and urged Victorians to call police when in danger.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said13 May 2026In debate on a cannabis law reform motion, said the government treats drug use as first a health issue and supports diversion programs for low-level offending.Hansard, Legislative Council

Voted for the Housing Statement Reform Bill 2024's rental, strata and planning changes and spoke in support, including longer notice periods for rent increases and evictions. Was Parliamentary Secretary for Housing from 2022 to 2023.

• Minister27 Jun 2022Parliamentary Secretary for Housing from June 2022 to October 2023.Parliament of Victoria
• Voted6 Mar 2025Voted yes on the third reading of the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill 2024, which changed rental, strata and planning laws, including ending notices to vacate at the end of a first fixed-term lease. Passed 22–17.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said6 Mar 2025In debate on the Housing Statement Reform Bill 2024, supported a 90-day notice period for rent increases and evictions and requiring a valid reason for asking a renter to leave.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said1 Apr 2026In a constituency question, cited the ban on rental bidding and the end of no-fault evictions, and asked the Minister for Consumer Affairs what other rental reforms help renters in the north.Hansard, Legislative Council

Voted for the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 and spoke in support of it, and has marked its passage into law in Parliament.

• Said28 Oct 2025In debate on the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, spoke of treaty as justice and self-determination for First Peoples, concluding “treaty is here, treaty is now.”Hansard, Legislative Council
• Voted30 Oct 2025Voted yes on the third reading of the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025. Passed 21–16.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said19 Nov 2025In a members statement, marked the signing and royal assent of the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 as a moment of cultural pride for First Peoples.Hansard, Legislative Council

Parliamentary Secretary for Public and Active Transport since April 2026. Voted against a Greens motion to make public transport permanently free, while describing the temporary free public transport during the fuel crisis as cost-of-living relief. Has backed level-access tram stops on Sydney Road.

• Minister21 Apr 2026Parliamentary Secretary for Public and Active Transport since April 2026.Parliament of Victoria
• Voted3 Jun 2026Voted no on a Greens motion calling on the government to make public transport permanently free and more frequent. Lost 7–31.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said3 Jun 2026In debate on a Greens motion for permanently free public transport, said the government's temporary free public transport eased household budgets during the fuel crisis and pointed to half-price fares for the rest of the year.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said12 Aug 2026In an adjournment matter, welcomed budget funding for design and consultation on level-access tram stops on Sydney Road.Hansard, Legislative Council

Has spoken for the government on data centres, saying they must be sustainable in their water use, and on Victoria's AI industry.

• Said4 Mar 2026In debate on a documents motion about data centres, said the government's position is that data centres must be sustainable in their water use.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said12 Aug 2026In debate on a documents motion about data centres, said AI is already shaping how people live and work and that Victoria is home to Australia's largest AI cluster.Hansard, Legislative Council

Voted for the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. Spoke in support of the 2023 pokies reforms, including $100 load-up limits and mandatory closures.

• Said31 Oct 2023In debate on the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, supported the $100 load-up limit, slower spin rates and mandatory closing times as harm reduction measures.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Voted17 Jun 2025Voted yes on the third reading of the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, which changed the licensing framework for gaming machine monitoring and public lotteries. Passed 22–14.Hansard, Legislative Council

Voted for the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy bill. Has promoted the government's energy bill rebate and free midday power offer.

• Voted15 May 2025Voted yes on the third reading of the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025, which replaced the fire services property levy with a broader Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. Passed 22–17.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said19 Jun 2025In a constituency question, asked the energy minister which households in the Northern Metropolitan Region would be eligible for the new $100 power saving bonus.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said3 Jun 2026In a constituency question, described the midday power saver offer of three free hours of electricity a day and asked the energy minister what other help households would get with power bills.Hansard, Legislative Council

Voted for the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025. Has supported updated nurse and midwife ratios and the virtual hospital pilot.

• Voted19 Feb 2026Voted yes on the third reading of the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025, which sets rules and an approval process for certain medical treatment of people born with variations in sex characteristics. Passed 24–15.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said16 Jun 2026In an adjournment matter, welcomed Ambulance Victoria joining the virtual hospital pilot and asked the Minister for Health how many patients had used it.Hansard, Legislative Council
• Said25 Aug 2026In debate on the Safe Patient Care (Nurse to Patient and Midwife to Patient Ratios) Amendment Bill 2026, supported updating ratios to match current pressure on hospitals.Hansard, Legislative Council