COVID-19 will have “untold impacts for years to come” on the Mallee due to the region’s unique characteristics, Federal Parliament has been told.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster told parliament this week the region was the only electorate in Victoria that bordered two states and residents had endured some of the strictest lockdowns seen anywhere in the world despite extremely low case numbers.
“Taken together, these two elements have caused huge strains on families, businesses, communities and our economy and will have untold impacts for years to come,” Dr Webster said.
The Federal MP said hundreds of heart-wrenching stories she had heard over the past few months had provided her with a first-hand knowledge about how the restrictions on people in the Mallee had affected the wellbeing of the community.
She said an electorate-wide email seeking feedback from Mallee residents resulted in more than 700 responses, just 14 per cent of whom supported the restrictions.
Dr Webster said almost 200 responses expressed significant concerns about the economy – and the mental health and wellbeing of the community, while there were also 129 responses that mentioned depression, suicide and anxiety.
She said while the 2020 Commonwealth Budget outlined a path to recovery for Australia, Victoria’s social and economic recovery could not truly begin until freedom of movement across state borders was entirely free and coronavirus restrictions reflected case numbers in regional areas.
“The Morrison-McCormack Government’s economic response to the pandemic has kept hope and businesses alive,” she said.
“The JobKeeper payment has supported 4300 businesses in Mallee – the cash-flow boost has assisted about 6300 small and medium businesses.
“More than 10,000 individuals in Mallee have received the JobSeeker coronavirus supplement, and 23,700 aged pensioners in Mallee received support payments of $750 in April and July, and will receive two further $250 payments in December and again in March.
“This has provided the people of Mallee with hope.”
Dr Webster said about 61,100 taxpayers in Mallee, or more than 40 per cent of the population, would benefit from tax relief of up to $2745 this year.
“This measure will put money into people’s pockets at a time when it’s desperately needed,” she said.
“I encourage those who can afford it to spend a little more in the coming months and to shop local.
“Local businesses need our support now more than ever before.”
Dr Webster said she expected the Victorian Government would allocate funding in its upcoming budget for Mildura Base Public Hospital to address the needs of the community.
She said that with $100 million of the Building Better Regions Fund allocated for tourism related projects, she also hoped Mildura Rural City Council would reapply for additional riverfront development project funding.
