General News
26 July, 2024
Member for Mallee visits
Federal Member for Mallee and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Dr Anne Webster visited Maryborough and Dunolly yesterday as part of a series of mobile office sessions across the district.
Dr Webster said it’s always a positive experience to hear from communities as far as Sea Lake and Halls Gap or as close as Avoca.
“As I travel around, we have seen around 45 people face-to-face and they have the opportunity to talk to me about the things that matter to them — that matters to me,” she said.
“To be in their town and hear firsthandthethoughtsofresidents is part of my job, if I’m not going
around meeting people and hearing from them, I’m failing.
“It’s powerful to have people’s stories told in Canberra at Parliament House because it keeps everybody real — we don’t need to be highfalutin about issues and ideologies, this is about people.”
While on her travels, Dr Webster said numerous issues had been discussedthroughouttheregion.
“Energy of course has been a key concern surrounding transmission lines, renewables and the impact on residents’ farms,” she said.
“People are talking about the health system, the lack of doctors, lack of aged care and the lack of workforce to be able to provide home care packages and support.
“Lack of child care has been anotherissueandwhatitmeansto the families, we have nurses and
teachers who want to go back to work but there is no child care availablesotheycan’t.
According to Dr Webster, it’s integral for residents to reach out about their concerns so that she can supportallMalleeresidents.
“I had a 10 and an 11-year-old who wanted an appointment with me to talk about cleaning up the Carisbrook Creek and the Maryborough Outdoor Pool,” she said.
“People need to be like them and talk about the things that matter because I don’t live in Maryborough, so if people don’t tell me I don’t know.
“It’s not just about listening to councils and people in business, this is about everyday lives — these mobile visits shape the way I think about things and the way I represent them.”