Northern Victoria Region
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:41): (1745) My constituency question is to the Minister for Health on behalf of the volunteers at Wangaratta Community Garden. The Wangaratta Community Garden was established in 1993, and it has relied on volunteers to bring together gardeners from diverse backgrounds of different abilities and ages who share an enjoyment of growing affordable and healthy produce. The evidence is growing that the relationship between gardening, mental health benefits and community resilience is strong. Wangaratta Community Garden has room to welcome more but desperately needs funding for a full-time gardener and manager. Mary Daly and Eric Bittner are Wangaratta Community Garden’s coordinators. They are tireless, generous volunteers of their time and fierce advocates for the importance of community connectedness and personal wellbeing that come from the garden. However, the future of the garden cannot rely on volunteers alone. My question is: will the minister consider funding $200 000 towards a garden manager and ensure that it can successfully continue to support the wellbeing of those people in Wangaratta who continue to utilise this market garden?
Mr Ondarchie: On a point of order, President, I draw your attention to standing order 8.08, specifically part (4), which indicates that answers to constituency questions must be provided to the Clerk within 14 days of them being asked. It says ‘must’, not ‘may’, not ‘if you choose to’, not ‘if you can get around to it’—it says ‘must’. I have a number of constituency questions that are outstanding: 1602, which is 56 days late; 1624, which is 44 days late; and 1666, which is 29 days late. These are questions all members ask on behalf of their constituents that are very important issues, and I think it is imperative that the government stick by the standing orders and respond within the 14 days.
Ms Pulford: On the point of order, President, let me undertake on behalf of the government to ascertain the status of outstanding responses and follow those up at the earliest opportunity. I thank Mr Ondarchie for raising this matter.