Orange Door family violence centres across Victoria were closed for a combined 39 days in the last year due to staff shortages, resulting in delays for people trying to access crucial support services.
The news follows the closure of the Benalla Community Services Hub, home to one of the electorate’s only Orange Door Service, at the end of 2024.
The other local Orange Door provider, located in Seymour, was closed for five days in 2024, making it the second most frequently closed location in the entire state.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said the Allan Labor Government was failing to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable people.
“The Allan Labor Government has failed to support one of our state’s most crucial services at a time when we can least afford it,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Seymour’s Orange Door was closed for a total of five days this past year due to a lack of staff despite being home to one of the highest rates of family-based violence in the state.
“Failing to support these services in areas like Seymour and Benalla is a damning indictment of Labor’s ability to keep our most vulnerable people safe.
“I fear the neglect of family violence services in our community is leaving vulnerable families without the critical support they need during their darkest moments.
“The continued erosion of family violence services in regional Victoria risks devastating consequences for those in urgent need of safety and support—this neglect cannot be ignored by the Allan Labor Government.”
Ms Cleeland said services in regional Victoria continued to have funding pulled from them by the Allan Labor Government to cover exorbitant debt.
“Overspending and increasing debt levels caused by Melbourne-based projects has seen this Government turn to Regional Victoria as a way of saving money,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Unfortunately, it is our most vulnerable people who are suffering with cuts to mental health services, family violence support operators, community houses, hospitals, and maternity services.”
