Thursday, 10 December 2020

Regional leadership programs

Mr McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (09:42): The recent Victorian budget that was handed down has again short-changed regional and rural communities. We make up 25 per cent of Victoria’s population, but we are recipients of only 7 per cent of state allocation funding. I note, with the Treasurer in the house today, that I am particularly concerned for leadership programs. There does not appear to be a line item or a definite funding stream. We have all done it tough this year, and the people in the Ovens Valley are certainly no different. The fires last summer brought the economic tourism boost that we would normally expect to a standstill.

The Alpine Valleys community leadership program is an important part of the whole north-east region. It helps to develop both leaders for higher office and, more importantly, local leaders. We need the AVCLP for our recovery and our resilience in these difficult times, and I implore the Victorian government to assure that our leadership programs will be funded into the future. Give them the security that in turn will help them to offer continuity and a path forward. Without good leadership our communities will struggle. Without leadership our towns and communities will vacillate. We need the government to commit, and to commit soon, so that the AVCLP and other regional leadership programs will continue. History will show that 2020 is not the time to play politics with local leadership.