Member’s Statement – Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals

I also raise a separate matter for the Premier in relation to the mental health and wellbeing locals that were promised for my electorate back in May 2023. We were told back 2½ years ago that planning had begun for mental health and wellbeing locals in Horsham, Ararat and Hamilton, but we still have not had any progress on that. We have had a fantastic report published by Dr Cathy Tischler around understanding the impacts of new developments, energy and mining on farmers in the Wimmera Southern Mallee. It highlights some serious issues we have around government engagement and consultation with our communities and the impact it is having on mental health. Again, it is a failure of government to provide the appropriate supports and manage consultation in an appropriate way. This is important because we have lost four tradies in the past three months to suicide. I pay my utmost respects to the family and friends of those impacted. May you rest in peace, TJ.