Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Regional community leadership program

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (18:10): (639) My adjournment is to the Minister for Regional Development following the state government’s decision to stop funding Victoria’s regional community leadership program at the end of this year. This program aims to support emerging leaders, strengthen existing leaders and build community connections. It is disappointing that the Premier and member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan has wasted billions of dollars on project cost blowouts on city-based projects and is cutting small regional programs that have been proven to deliver strong community benefits. I spoke with program coordinators that received a letter from the minister saying that the program would no longer be funded and they need to find their own support.

Regional Victoria needs strong community leaders, especially during challenging times. In the last decade we have experienced drought, bushfires, COVID and, more recently, floods that have devastated local communities across northern Victoria. Now more than ever we need to support training opportunities to equip and encourage people to step up and contribute to the future growth and development of regional communities. This year more than 200 people participated in regional community leadership programs across Victoria. The Nationals and Liberals started this program in 2011 when we were in government because we understand that strong communities do not just happen; it takes good leadership to build strong communities. Funding was cut for these programs despite formal evaluations that found them to be an effective use of taxpayers money. I know people that have participated in the Loddon Murray community leadership program and have seen the benefits that this program has delivered.

Under this government Victoria now has the highest state debt of any in Australia. The Victorian Auditor-General released a report last week that found the Labor government has no plan for when and how the state will pay down existing and future debt. Within a few years Victoria’s interest payments on this debt are expected to double from $4 billion to $8 billion. This government should look at reducing their waste on Melbourne-based projects instead of cutting regional programs.

They had already dropped the baton on regional Victoria when they cancelled the Commonwealth Games. Regional communities already face significant challenges, and recent natural disasters have pushed many regional communities to the edge. The action I seek is for the minister to reconsider the Labor government’s decision and provide ongoing funding for this program which benefits regional communities.