THE story Left in Limbo (October 11, The Guardian, pg 1) has some misconceptions relating to the refugees in Swan Hill area.
We are calling for humanitarian visas for the families of our refugees who are still in danger in Afghanistan.
Also, we are working to apply for permanent visa status for these refugees who are on temporary visas in our area.
Local support for refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, who live in Swan Hill, is provided by a group of dedicated volunteers.
Unlike larger city centres, our group works with minimal government support, two part-time workers through SMECC to support the whole multicultural community. We are reliant upon grants and donations to run education and assistance programs.
The core work is assisting refugees with appropriate visa applications – it is a time consuming and detailed process assisting those without good English skills.
Lawyers and agents, necessary for the process, are also expensive. Our self-trained volunteers spend many hours liaising and recording details required.
The lack of government action, promised in the election, is disheartening, for volunteers and refugees.
Thus, the mental health of both groups is of great concern.
However, we keep positive and look forward to welcoming and supporting families safely coming to join their husbands in Australia when the government finally processes applications.
Swan Hill Uniting Church auspices this mission through the Community Issues Group (SHUCCIG) and welcomes volunteers who want to contribute in any way, to contact Joy 0408 771 557, or David 0417 800 656.
Joy Jones
Chair
Community Issues Group
TRAVELLING the length and breadth of our state, I’ve met incredible people doing great things in their communities.
It’s something I enjoy the most about my role as Leader of The National Party.
But no matter what direction I head, the community sentiment is the same, and it’s something I have witnessed firsthand – our road network is crumbling right before our eyes.
By this point in the lead up to the election, we’ve heard that sentence a million times over.
But our regional communities have to deal with it every day; these are people who rely on Victoria’s road network to make a living and keep our state moving.
It must be said, this neglect doesn’t happen by accident, and it certainly doesn’t happen overnight.
Our roads have perished under the neglect of the Andrews Labor Government which has pared road maintenance to the bone.
This budget, it is approximately $600 million for all of Victoria, which has more than 150,000 kilometres of road.
Daniel Andrews and Labor try to pull the wool over our eyes with a spring blitz to patch up the cracks and potholes – but I don’t need to tell you that these band aids only last a matter of weeks.
I am not going to give political spin. The fact that the roads have been neglected for so long means we have a mammoth task ahead to bring them up to scratch – but I am up for the job.
That is why the Liberals and The Nationals have set aside $1 billion every year for 10 years to fix the roads properly – making them safer for us and our vehicles.
There is a clear choice this election.
A vote for Labor is for more burst tyres, buckled rims and speed reductions on country roads.
The Liberals and The Nationals have a long-term plan to improve our road infrastructure.
The choice is yours this November.
Peter Walsh
Leader of The Nationals
Member for Murray Plains
