FIONA Patten this week rolled out her priorities for north-west Victoria ahead of the State Budget’s expected release in May.
The Reason Parliamentary Coalition leader’s wish list for Mildura includes getting improved support for those battling drug and alcohol problems, as well as more crisis accommodation.
“Mildura’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities are woefully lacking for a strong regional community like this,” Ms Patten said.
“Also, I’m just finalising the homelessness report (following a parliamentary inquiry) and again, social housing and crisis accommodation in regional areas like Mildura are woefully lacking.
“There was funding in the last Budget for public housing. And while there are some projects that are shovel-ready, the funding is a fraction of what we need.
“It’s not just the State Government that needs addressing this. It needs to be done at a federal level as well.
“Governments can provide helpful levers – whether it’s through tax, stamp duties or the planning process – to get the private sector involved in the big build (for public housing) that’s required.”
Ms Patten, who teamed up with independent Member for Mildura Ali Cupper in late 2020, said rates equality would be another key policy ambition for the Reason Coalition this year.
“Regional Victoria has been a poor cousin to the city, and rates equality will be a big thing for Ali and I this year,” she said.
“We also need to get the government to spend more money on mental health support.
“Last year was very tough on Victorians and how we move out of this will require investment in mental health services.”
Ms Patten has also climbed aboard the push for the return of passenger rail to Mildura after a 27-year absence.
“I don’t know how we’re going to go with that, because there seems to be huge resistance from the government to it,” she said.
“I do think it will eventually happen – but it’s not going to be a single step that gets us there.
“The tourism benefits for north-west Victoria will be enormous when it does eventually happen.”
