MEMBER for Mildura Jade Benham says the Andrews Labor government has kept true to form by ignoring calls to take the Victorian Parliament to the regions.
Ms Benham said that after continuously ignoring regional Victoria, Labor last week voted down a motion that would have brought both houses of parliament back to regional Victoria for the first time in close to a decade.
She said holding regular sittings across Victoria gave regional communities the opportunity to see parliament in action, and highlight issues affecting their community and regional Victorians deserved to have their voices heard.
“It’s a decision that surprised no one, our electorate deserves to have their voices heard, yet there hasn’t been a regional sitting for both the Upper and Lower House since 2014,” Ms Benham said.
“It would also give every member of parliament the chance to witness our state’s crumbling roads first hand, the stress of growing household bills and the impact of the health crisis that grips our regional communities,” she said.
“But it seems Daniel Andrews cannot look regional Victorians in the eye after he’s starved our community of vital services and investment.”
The Legislative Council has previously held sittings in Ballarat, Benalla, Colac, Lakes Entrance, Bendigo and Bright.
“Parliament must come back to regional Victoria, our communities deserve to have their concerns heard,” Ms Benham said.
