Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Southern Metropolitan Region

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:55): (797) My constituency question is for the Minister for Local Government, and it is in relation to funding of public libraries. There has been a gradual decrease by the Allan Labor government in funding of public libraries. Despite the inflation we have seen over the last year, Boroondara council have received the same amount of funding this year as it did last year. This means their funding is decreasing in real terms. There was also a considerable delay in the notification for funding, with notification being given in mid-December rather than in August, as has been done in previous years. This presents cash flow challenges for local councils when making funding decisions around these important services. Our Victorian public libraries are a vital community service, providing free access to programs, services and information technology to the community. My question to the minister is: will the minister commit to reversing the funding decline of local libraries and establish a funding model which increases annually by CPI to provide councils with funding certainty?