MEMBER for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell is pushing for the state Upper House to sit for one day in a flood-ravaged local government area later this year.
The Liberal MP tabled a motion in parliament on Tuesday calling for a sitting in October or November of the 40-member Legislative Council to be held in a regional area impacted by the floods.
Ms Lovell moved a similar motion in 2020 that resulted in the Legislative Council sitting in Bright, a community that had been affected by bushfires.
She said the sitting provided a significant boost for the local economy as most members stayed two or three nights.
It also enabled schools and residents to observe parliament at work without the need to travel to Spring Street, Ms Lovell said.
“It is important that members of the Legislative Council continue to visit communities that were devastated by the October flood event, to hear first-hand what additional support is needed by people as they rebuild after the floods,” she said.
“A regional sitting of the council in a flood-affected LGA is an ideal way for this to occur, while providing an economic boost in communities still doing it tough.”
Victoria’s response to the floods is the focus of a parliamentary inquiry.
The Legislative Council environment and planning committee has been tasked with investigating how prepared the state was, and how it handled the flood event.
The committee will hold public hearings in flood-affected areas before it delivers its findings and recommendations by June 30, 2024.
Submissions can be made at new.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/floodinquiry/submissions up to May 8.
