General News
23 January, 2024
Loddon Herald editorial: Democracy requires involvement, answers
THE JOY of Christmas and New Year has been somewhat diminished by storms and floods across our part of the state. Residents, business owners and farmers have been tested by nature unleashing torrents of rain in proportions that although seen before...
THE JOY of Christmas and New Year has been somewhat diminished by storms and floods across our part of the state.
Residents, business owners and farmers have been tested by nature unleashing torrents of rain in proportions that although seen before, have raised questions about resources and funding made available to maintain drainage easements and waterways.
Premier Jacinta Allan told this newspaper at a media conference in Bendigo last week that the Loddon Shire staff did an amazing job.
Indeed they do Premier. But always facing a battle for funds from governments at state and federal level to do enough work. Even small hanging fruit allocations for roadside weed management programs have been pretty much stagnant for more than a decade.
Government leaders should really come and see for themselves how much is being achieved with so little yet leaving much more to be done. If only their budgets put a focus on core functions - roads, drainage the crying-out prime examples - departments and councils deprived of vital funds and resources while the percentage of the money pie increases for bureaucrats and social policy expansion and implementation.
The plight of rural communities in the Loddon Shire and other parts of country Victoria can struggle to be a blip on the political radar.
Even after the floods - remember some areas were hit three times in a fortnight - sightings of political representatives have been rare. Nationals leader and Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh was on the ground calling for assistance within days.
It was only when Bendigo, and then Rochester, were impacted that the State Government kicked the festive lethargy and there was acknowledgement of what some Loddon communities had already experienced.
The Premier returtned from leave, called a media conference at short notice and then a meeting of Cabinet. In one day, there was the promise of assistance for Loddon communities.
That such action took two weeks to put on the agenda of Government is a sad reflection on the Premier’s colleagues.
The Premier did indeed answer questions at that media conference from the Loddon Herald. A contrast to the visit to Bendigo Health by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to celebrate the second chance of life by Korong Vale teenager Tyson Woodman.
When asked about the decision and the angst that erupted in the Inglewood community when the old ambulance station was demolished last September, Ms Thomas kept replying that the town had a new station.
And then when questioned about community-donated CERT ambulance team equipment in Pyramid Hill and plans for a permanent station in Wedderburn, we were told to put the questions in writing.
It was a good thing that minsterial visits to Bendigo were able to be covered by your local newspaper. Some questions were answered others not. If only these ministers could travel a little further and call in on Loddon communities.
And that leads us to another looming disconnect with democracy and accountability. The Victorian Electoral Commission is about to start a review of Loddon Shire ward boundaries but the VEC says it has no plans to communicate with the very people its processes and decisions will impact other than telling us to “keep an eye on our website for the precise dates and times” for information sessions and an advertisement in a Melbourne newspaper.
This should not be how democracy works. Democracy is about engagement and participation. If there’s to be local engagement, the VEC must realise it doesn’t emanate from Melbourne.
Welcome to the New Year. Let’s hope smoother waters flow after a rocky introduction.