IT has been a long time coming, but we finally had a good news week on a number of fronts.
We got our hospital back after 20 years of campaigning, the Victorian Government announced a move to step three on the road to reopening and the NSW Government followed suit by easing its border restrictions, allowing permit holders in border zones to cross for any reason.
And, to top it off, SuniTAFE was allocated $4.4 million funding from the Victorian Government for various infrastructure enhancements projects.
After a year that has thrown up many challenges for our region, it was a week we really needed.
The return of Mildura Base Public Hospital to a public management model after 20 years of privatisation was an example of the strength of our unity.
It showed the benefits that come from daring to dream, and combining that with a whole lot of hard work.
As the Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos and Premier Daniel Andrews said on many occasions, the community spoke and the government listened.
There have been times over the past 20 years when it seemed like there was no hope we would get the hospital back – but we kept fighting. And we won, making Tuesday a monumental day for our community.
When the Victorian Government announced its roadmap to reopening, I advocated for a four-point plan I believed was more appropriate for the Mildura electorate.
So it was great to see the government make some concessions in the move to step three, particularly the allowance for capped indoor dining and beauty services returning with both client and provider wearing masks.
The NSW Government’s easing of its restrictions will give people access to the Murray River again, which is huge for our recreational boaties and tourism operators.
Of course, the fight continues.
We now turn our attention to the South Australian Government to keep the pressure on it and Premier Steven Marshall to follow NSW’s lead and ease its border restrictions.
The return of indoor sport and an increase of patron limits at hospitality venues will also be closely monitored over the coming weeks.
And then there’s the return of passenger rail.
As the hospital win showed, we should never stop fighting.
