NATIONALS Member for Mallee Anne Webster says she is concerned that “very serious issues” she has raised with the Victorian Labor Government have not been given the attention they deserve.
Dr Webster said she had sent letters to various state departments since her federal election victory in May last year seeking information about the Mallee electorate only to receive silence in reply.
She said six of 13 inquiries made to Victorian Government ministers, including a request to allow South Australian specialists into the region to perform medical procedures, had gone unanswered.
Stopping short of describing the silence as a snub, Dr Webster said Premier Daniel Andrews still did not see past the Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong regions “except in this instance of shutting down the state”.
“I’m sure that the state Labor Government is not particularly in love with the National Party, but I think they have a responsibility to communicate regardless in an apolitical manner with sitting members and that’s what makes the world go around when we all do our job in a proactive and collaborative manner,” Dr Webster said.
“Although some people would like to think that the Federal Government controls everything, I have a news flash, we don’t,” she said.
“State governments have particular responsibilities and it’s my job to lobby them to ensure that people’s interests and their needs and their concerns are being addressed and when I hear nothing back from a minister, it’s very concerning.”
Some of the unanswered correspondence has included letters to Mr Andrews, Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Minister Jaala Pulford, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, Regional Development, Agriculture and Resources Minister Jaclyn Symes, Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville and former Special Minister of State and Aboriginal Affairs Gavin Jennings.
“It concerns me that there are very serious issues that don’t appear to be given the time that they should be given,” Dr Webster said.
“Inter-governmental communication is an important part of our job relating to the State Government, relating to my 12 local councils — it’s an important part of being able to get connection with policy and to meet our community’s needs.
“The issues that people raise with me, I have a responsibility when it concerns the State Government’s lack of action to lobby on their behalf.
“Therefore, I expect that the State Government will be responsive.”
She said the government could not divert blame for its lack of responses on the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I wouldn’t like to assume what the reasoning is and I don’t think it’s good enough to say that they are very busy with COVID — everybody is busy with COVID.
“Admittedly, the Victorian Government is in a world of pain, I understand that, but the letters and the concerns from constituents that I have written to the State Government about go back months and months and months pre-COVID.
“I don’t think that’s a reasonable excuse.
“At a federal level we are still getting on with our job — there are announcements, there are grants, there are opening of programs — even though we are seeking to manage COVID.
“So I don’t think it’s an excuse to say that it’s COVID and we should be just giving a lot of space.”
Dr Webster said that if nothing else, replying to correspondence was a matter of common courtesy.
“The needs in this community are real and I will fight for them because I really believe in our right to be heard and our needs to be met,” she said.
“I think it’s disrespectful, certainly.”
