VICTORIAN Senator James Paterson touched down in Mildura on Friday to hear and see issues the region is facing firsthand.
Mr Paterson, who had not visited the region since he was elected to the Senate in 2016, acknowledged the severity of the drought and used his trip to shed light on the Federal Government’s $1 billion drought package.
He labelled the issues community members had raised as “unsurprising” and said drought, water and health services were on the government’s radar.
“On water and the drought, this is what everyone in Canberra is talking about it right now,” he said.
“We’ve just announced a whole lot of new measures to help boost regional communities. It’s an infrastructure stimulus program that’s about making sure the lives of our regional cities and towns get through what will be a difficult period and come out on the other side without having being damaged too much by the drought.
“The government has a strong view this is not just a set and forget program, we will make any changes necessary as we go on to respond to the community’s needs as long as the drought goes on.”
As part of Mr Paterson’s two-day trip, he met with the Liberal Party branch and Sunraysia developer Bob Faulkhead who toured him through the Old Mildura Base Hospital redevelopment.
The redevelopment project boasts 69 one, two and three bedroom apartments, some of which Mr Faulkhead envisaged renting out to university or medical students.
Mr Paterson hoped immigration policy changes would roll out to attract more people study and work in region’s like Sunraysia.
“I’ve been told during my visit it sometimes takes weeks to see a doctor, even if you’ve got an urgent need and that’s a terrible thing… no Australian should have to experience that no matter where they live,” he said.
“In trying to take the pressure of cities by bringing our overall immigration numbers down a little bit, we have encouraged the people who are still coming to go to the regions.
“If they’re studying … there are extra incentives to go and study in a regional area. Or if you’re working, you’re going to find it much easier to get a visa.
“That applies to all skilled professions, but it equally applies to skilled medical professions and doctors.”
Mr Paterson will return to Melbourne on Saturday.
