Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Northern Victoria Region

Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (13:01): (419) My question is to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and it concerns funding to Anglicare Victoria to provide two financial counsellors to help victims of the October 2022 flood event in Rochester, which is due to expire in November. I previously raised this issue with the former minister via email and personal conversations and in Parliament. On 1 September the former Premier was asked by a Bendigo radio station about the funding extension, and he promised to look into the matter, adding:

The resilience and passion of the Rochy community is well understood by our government and if there’s anything more we can do to support them we will.

Then just 17 days later I received a response from the former minister that failed to commit to extend the funding past November. Minister, government understanding the resilience and passion of the Rochester community is all well and good, but what this community needs from the government is help, not lip-service. Will you now give a commitment to extend the funding for the financial counselling services delivered to the Rochester community through Anglicare?