Tuesday, 3 March 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) presented a petition bearing 2336 signatures:

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that Central Goldfields Shire Council (Council) is currently reviewing the future of the Maryborough VicRoads agency service, following a change by VicRoads to its funding model. This service has operated in Maryborough as a sub-office, hosted and administered by Council for many years, providing a comprehensive suite of services including driver-licence testing and vehicle inspections. VicRoads has previously reimbursed Council for all costs associated with this service, covering staff wages, rent, utilities and cleaning. VicRoads wrote to Council in April 2025, advising that the funding model would change from 1 July 2025 to a transaction-based model. At Council’s request, an interim hybrid funding model was introduced to enable a full review of the service and its sustainability. The service is due to end at the end on 31 October 2025. Council is currently undertaking this review, considering all implications for staff, businesses, residents and the community. Losing all or part of the service would have a significant adverse impact in the Central Goldfields Shire and neighbouring communities. It’s not possible for a small rural council to subsidise a VicRoads service at a cost to ratepayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to reverse the new funding model and ensure that all services currently provided by the Maryborough VicRoads remains.

Bev McARTHUR: As this is a petition qualifying for debate under standing order 11.03(10), I give notice that I intend to move ‘That the petition be taken into consideration’ on Wednesday of next sitting week.