Taking parliament to the people of northern Victoria

10 April 2024 Watch Echuca sitting 9:30am Thurs 18 April

Echuca is set to host the seventh regional sitting of the Legislative Council on Thursday 18 April.

The border town is one of many still recovering from floods in 2022.

Upper House MPs agreed to hold the sitting as a show of support for the people of northern Victoria.

Members of the community with photo ID such as a driver’s licence or passport can watch parliament in action at the Echuca Library in Hare Street from 9:30 am.

These shelves will make way for seats as the Echuca Library hosts the historic regional sitting of the Legislative Council.

The business of the day will be shown live on parliament’s website and include an address to Council MPs on the floor of the House by two young people from Rochester and Echuca.

The sitting is just one of several ways MPs are directly engaging with northern Victorian communities. Other events will take place throughout the week, involving schools, businesses and local and district residents.

Youth forums will be held at Kyabram and Shepparton with young people from across the region given the opportunity to raise issues of interest and importance with members of parliament.

Mental health, education and housing are among the many topics set to be discussed.

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee will hear from teachers and other education experts as part of its inquiry into the state education system at Bendigo on Tuesday 16 April and Shepparton on Wednesday 17 April.

There will be education programs for students in Kyabram and Echuca, including the unique and interactive Mission Control program combining civics and science, developed by Science Gallery Melbourne in collaboration with Parliament of Victoria and Australian Space Agency.

The Echuca Library in Hare Street is a popular gathering place for people of all ages from right across northern Victoria.

The Legislative Council has previously held regional sittings in Bright in 2021, Bendigo in 2012, Lakes Entrance in 2008, Colac in 2005, Benalla in 2002 and Ballarat in 2001. 

'Regional sittings are an important opportunity for members of the parliament to visit communities outside of their own electorates,' Legislative Council President Shaun Leane.

Students from Echuca College will be catering the morning and afternoon teas at the sitting.

For the full order of business and other information go to the 2024 Echuca regional sitting.