Regional Victorians deserve to have their voices heard

After continuously ignoring regional Victoria, the Andrews Labor Government has ignored calls to take Parliament to the regions.

This marks the first time in close to a decade Parliament has not been held in regional Victoria, depriving communities of the opportunity to have their concerns heard and issues addressed.

Holding regular sittings across Victoria gives regional communities the opportunity to see Parliament in action and highlight issues affecting their community, Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said.

“It’s a worrying sign of the lack of care and attention this government will offer regional Victoria,” Ms Cleeland said.

“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, when The Nationals were in government.

“It would also give Labor members the chance to witness our state’s crumbling roads firsthand, the stress of growing household bills and the impact of the health crisis that grips our regional communities.

“But it seems the Andrews Government cannot look regional Victorians in the eye after starving our community of vital services and investment.”

The Legislative Council has previously held sittings across regional Victoria.

“Parliament must come back to regional Victoria, our communities deserve to have their concerns heard,” Ms Cleeland said.

“This government should come to our region to understand the real-world impacts of their decision making and what this is doing to our communities.”