THE DEPUTY Premier has become the first member of the Andrews Government to plan to visit the Swan Hill region, promising to tour Robinvale in November.
Last week, The Guardian reported that Advancing Country Towns (ACT) Robinvale project manager Glenn Stewart had organised in February for Minister for Education and Deputy Premier James Merlino to visit the town.
Mr Stewart said he would take the opportunity to bring up funding issues for community projects in Robinvale which had been overlooked in last week’s state budget.
However, he had not heard from the Deputy Premier since their initial conversation three months ago.
A spokesperson for Mr Merlino told The Guardian yesterday that Mr Merlino had booked in to visit Robinvale on November 4.
“Minister Merlino is looking forward to visiting Mildura and Robinvale in early November this year,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Stewart said he hadn’t been notified of the arrangement but would begin organising meetings for the deputy.
“We want to talk to him about the unique industry partnerships here,” Mr Stewart said.
“We wanted to coordinate a meeting in Robinvale to discuss the growing opportunity in this region around horticulture and mining.
“I actually can facilitate with the NSW Education Minister to meet him here, which will be a very historic meeting.”
No one from the Andrews Government is known to have made an official visit to the Swan Hill region since it was elected into office last November, while the district received no direct funding in last week’s state budget.
