Thursday, 20 November 2025

 Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (09:54): I am angry. In 2023 the Allan Labor government promised the people of South-West Coast a $4.7 million wildlife hospital. Two years later there is no timeline, no consultation and no visible progress. Meanwhile they have found $2 million for a hospital at Kyabram Fauna Park, yet they cannot even tell our region whether our own project is still alive. When I pressed the minister, the response was staggering. They claimed there is no suitable land in South-West Coast. Well, that is simply unbelievable. Our region has abundant public and private land. I know the old racecourse site at Koroit is leased, which the government owns, and that site could easily be considered. If land were required, the government can buy it as they do right across Victoria. To say otherwise is nothing but an excuse. Instead of delivering, Labor has offered 900,000 so-called targeted support packages. This is no substitute for the hospital we were promised. It is hush money taken just as a token gesture to silence dissent while carers like Mosswood Wildlife shelter remain stretched to the limit. This is a slap in the face to our carers and to our community. South-West Coast deserves transparency around the promises that were made. I will continue to hold this government to account, to discover when their commitment will be fulfilled and our wildlife hospital will be opened.