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small business Emergency Services Health Roads Volunteers | January 14, 2016

Kealy to highlight local issues during Coalition visit

Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy will host a visit to the electorate next week by the Hon. Matthew Guy, Leader of the Coalition and Mr Brad Battin, Shadow Minister for Emergency Services and Environment.

“The Coalition is committed to rural and regional Victoria. Both Matthew and Brad are keen to give our local communities the opportunity to discuss and highlight important issues facing regional Victoria,” Ms Kealy said.

Emma Kealy, Matthew Guy and Brad Battin will be visiting the Nhill, Jeparit, Brim, Warracknabeal and Horsham areas. They will be speaking with local communities about a range of issues including resources needed to assist with the ICE epidemic, deteriorating road conditions, the scrapping of the Regional Living Expo, support for volunteer fire fighters and current seasonal conditions.

“The Andrews Labor Government did not fund the Regional Living Expo in this year’s budget and instead launched a review – one of around 100 reviews initiated in 12 months,” Ms Kealy said.

“The Regional Living Expo has been a fantastic way to showcase our local region to people living in Melbourne, and to attract more people to live and work here. Brett Ireland and Leslie Rowlands who run the Jeparit Supermarket and Café, moved from the city as a direct result of the expo and are a perfect example of the benefits offered to regional areas.

Matthew Guy and Brad Battin will also be meeting with the Wimmera Drug Action Task Force to gain further understanding for what resources are needed in rural and regional community to assist them in dealing with the ICE epidemic.

“We need services on the ground in our local regional and rural towns,” Ms Kealy said.

“It is critical that we have services in our own communities that can deal with the addiction and take immediate steps to tackle it. It is also critical that family members have local options to help them with a loved one dealing with an addiction.

“The Lowan Electorate has excellent health service providers who are well placed to provide specific services that, with additional funding, would be able to accept direct client self-referrals and provide counselling for family members,” she said.

“While in the area we will also be taking the opportunity to meet with the Brim Community Active Group and to view the amazing artwork on the silos which has attracted enormous attention across the country”, Ms Kealy said.

Matthew Guy and Brad Battin said they were looking forward to meeting with community members and groups, councils and business owners to ensure their voices are heard and to highlight some of the great assets and services in the region.