Western Victoria Region
Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:50): (1650) My constituency question is for the Treasurer and relates to a budget funding request I have submitted for the second time now. Ballarat needs a new animal shelter. It is an important and vital step for the region. In 2020 there were over 20 000 cats and dogs registered within the City of Ballarat. With this comes a strong demand for critical animal welfare services that the current shelter operating out of the old abattoir building simply cannot keep up with. This shelter also plays an important role in emergencies, taking in pets during bushfires and offering accommodation for the companion animals of women and children escaping family violence. This project has allocated land and is even shovel ready. Will the Treasurer agree to funding a purpose-built animal shelter in Ballarat in this year’s state budget?