Benalla left behind as vital services disappear

The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has raised serious concerns about growing disadvantage in Benalla as locals continue to lose access to essential services in their town.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) office on Church Street remains closed to the public, only open for appointment with outdated COVID signage still on display and the listed phone line going unanswered.

This follows the earlier shutdown of Benalla’s Centrelink office in 2021 and last year’s closure of the Benalla Community Services Hub, which provided a central point for critical supports such as housing assistance, family violence services, and support through agencies like The Orange Door.

Ms Cleeland said the systematic removal of services from Benalla was a direct blow to one of the state’s most disadvantaged communities.

“Unfortunately, Benalla is one of the state’s most socially disadvantaged towns with family violence incidents nearly double the statewide average, low family income, and a large public housing population,” Ms Cleeland said.

“My office is regularly contacted by residents who are in crisis and cannot get help.

“People are trying to access basic support like the gas rebate through DFFH, only to be met with silence as mails go unanswered, and phone numbers do not connect.

“Benalla no longer has Centrelink, no longer has a local DFFH office, and has lost a hub of services that once gave vulnerable people somewhere to turn.”

Ms Cleeland said the State Government’s failure to maintain access to regional services showed a clear disregard for country communities.

“There is a complete lack of care from this government for regional towns like Benalla,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Labor are leaving residents behind and cutting them off from services they desperately need.”

Adding to the strain, funding for regional development has been cut by 17 per cent in the latest State Budget, down from $296.7 million to $245.6 million.

“Every indicator shows that Benalla needs more support, not less,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Instead of reinvesting in our communities, Labor is pulling the rug out from under them.

“Labor cannot manage regional services, and it is our local communities that are paying the price.”