Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:53): (2069) My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and it asks: can the minister confirm that VicRoads has no plans to close offices in the Western Victoria region, and can the minister confirm that funding will be provided after the alleged five-year extension in Maryborough, as announced by Martha Haylett? There is growing concern from residents in Ararat, Kyneton, Echuca and Portland that their local VicRoads office could be shut, and there is no guarantee that the one in Maryborough will remain open, given that the funding arrangements in place are temporary. Rural Victorians have had a gutful of governments and statutory authorities cutting services they rely on, be it the local VicRoads or Australia Post, as it makes it increasingly hard to live in these communities.